asked on

Crucial SSD only boots when connected with USB adapter

I am upgrading a mid-2010 macbook pro with a crucial mx200 solid state drive. I clone the macbook with superduper and successfully created a bootable disk. I can hold the option key down and boot from the ssd when it is attached with a usb adapter. When I install the drive into the hard drive bay and try to boot the ssd is not seen.
Thanks in advance.

strung

It sounds like you have not plugged in the ribbon cable properly on the laptop, or you have damaged it in the process.

I assume you have tried to boot holding down the option key?

ShaneCC

ASKER

Yes. I can put the other drive in and it is fine. I plug in the ssd via usb adapter and I can see them both after holding the option key on boot. But, when I put the ssd in the hard drive bay and boot while holding down option all I get is the choose Network option for internet recovery.

strung

That is strange. I suggest you contact Crucial Support: http://www.crucial.com/usa/en/support-contact

ShaneCC

ASKER

More research points to fault sata cable. The cable may work fine with the original hard drive but when the faster hard drive is attached there is interference and the hard drive just does not work. I ordered another cable. I'll let you know if that resolves the issue.

Natty Greg

Did you change the bios to achi mode, not sure if mac have a bios but on pc, you must switch from ide mode to achi

strung

Macs do not have bios.

serialband

All computers have some kind of BIOS (Basic Input/Output System) and it's needed to get everything else loaded. The Mac BIOS is called the Open Firmware(Older PowerPC), or, now, EFI firmware(Intel Models). You enter Open Firmware with Command Option o f With EFI, you can make commands to change boot order and access other items, but there is no longer a direct interface to boot to.
https://www.ehow.com/info_12206157_macbook-efi-access.html

Old Open Firmware link. (Doesn't apply to your Macbook Pro)
http://smallbusiness.chron.com/enter-bios-command-macbook-31823.html
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201518

It may possibly not be the cable. I've had no trouble with Samsung SSDs and OZC SSDs so far. I've never tried Crucial's, but each mac model is different. Can it boot from the USB with the internal drive removed?
http://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/290644-installing-os-x-on-non-ahci-drive-laptop/

Have you checked your firmware level?
http://blog.macsales.com/11895-2011-macbook-pro-sata-problems-resolved
It may possibly be caused by some TRIM support settings.
http://hothardware.com/News/AntiCompetitive-Apple-Disables-Trim-Support-On-3rd-Party-SSDs-In-OS-X/
Firmware and 3rd party SSDs:
https://discussions.apple.com/thread/6644334

ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION

ShaneCC

membership

This solution is only available to members.

To access this solution, you must be a member of Experts Exchange.

Start Free Trial

ShaneCC

ASKER

The laptop is no longer available to work on.