maybe you damaged the cable that carries the data?

[quote|Skippy722]maybe you damaged the cable that carries the data?[/quote]

its the same cable as power...seems like i barely touched it, but that seems to be the only answer...though I keep thinking there is some issue that just is preventing it from seeing the HD bay..it must be the cable...anyone have a similar experience? Power, but no data?

this is the cable I am talkng about

http://www.ifixit.com/MacBook-Parts/MacBook-Pro-15-Inch-Core-Duo-Hard-Drive-Cable/IF185-030

the light works the IR, the power to the drive...only data seems to be not there...is this possible?

[quote|jreuben65]its the same cable as power...seems like i barely touched it, but that seems to be the only answer...though I keep thinking there is some issue that just is preventing it from seeing the HD bay..it must be the cable...anyone have a similar experience? Power, but no data? this is the cable I am talkng about http://www.ifixit.com/MacBook-Parts/MacBook-Pro-15-Inch-Core-Duo-Hard-Drive-Cable/IF185-030 the light works the IR, the power to the drive...only data seems to be not there...is this possible?[/quote]

Hi, I would suggest booting on Knoppix (or similar), http://knopper.net/, there is lots of information online regarding HFS and Knoppix/Linux.

I am not experienced with MacBooks but know there is a BIOS like utility that may be the best starting place to see if the drives show up before you start replacing expensive cables.

There are many bootable CD images available that may help you also.

[quote|Randee]Hi, I would suggest booting on Knoppix (or similar), http://knopper.net/, there is lots of information online regarding HFS and Knoppix/Linux. I am not experienced with MacBooks but know there is a BIOS like utility that may be the best starting place to see if the drives show up before you start replacing expensive cables. There are many bootable CD images available that may help you also.[/quote]

what model is your MacBook and whatkind andhow big (in gigabytes) was the old harddrive?

[quote|Skippy722]what model is your MacBook and whatkind andhow big (in gigabytes) was the old harddrive?[/quote]

its the early MBP, 2.0ghz core duo (not core 2 duo)

it had a fujitsu 80gb 5400rpm HD

I am replacing it with a Seagate 320gb 720rpm HD

I am running Snow leopard...

I cloned the old Hd and am booting from a 1tb external Maxtor

I have reset P vram

I have unsucessfully tried to run a hardware check at startup

No Serial AtA shows up in system profiler like the old fujitsu did

I tried connecting the new drive before closing the lid...it didn't show..i reconnected the old drive, it didn't show either (i have wiped it and it is no longer the boot drive)

it ir works...the sleep light works, but maybe not the same as before (i can't remember if it stays on while the computer is on, it isn't now), but does come on when sleeping.

i am at wits end...

[quote|jreuben65]its the early MBP, 2.0ghz core duo (not core 2 duo) it had a fujitsu 80gb 5400rpm HD I am replacing it with a Seagate 320gb 720rpm HD I am running Snow leopard... I cloned the old Hd and am booting from a 1tb external Maxtor I have reset P vram I have unsucessfully tried to run a hardware check at startup No Serial AtA shows up in system profiler like the old fujitsu did I tried connecting the new drive before closing the lid...it didn't show..i reconnected the old drive, it didn't show either (i have wiped it and it is no longer the boot drive) it ir works...the sleep light works, but maybe not the same as before (i can't remember if it stays on while the computer is on, it isn't now), but does come on when sleeping. i am at wits end...[/quote]

maybe the new drive has too many gb's and thus can't be recognized by the computer?

[quote|Skippy722]maybe the new drive has too many gb's and thus can't be recognized by the computer?[/quote]

1TB 2.5

ide to sata are thay available yet

[quote|paolo29]1TB 2.5 ide to sata are thay available yet[/quote]

wait, you said that you booted with an external drive? if so, did you remeber to switch the boot drive back to the internal?

[quote|Skippy722]wait, you said that you booted with an external drive? if so, did you remeber to switch the boot drive back to the internal?[/quote]

Skippy, what do you mean switch back? I have concluded its the data part of the ribbon cable and have another on order...but open to more suggestions

[quote|jreuben65]Skippy, what do you mean switch back? I have concluded its the data part of the ribbon cable and have another on order...but open to more suggestions[/quote]

when you boot from a different drive you have to choose tht drive right? if so, you may have to select the internal drive for it to be used

[quote|Skippy722]when you boot from a different drive you have to choose tht drive right? if so, you may have to select the internal drive for it to be used[/quote]

Try putting the drive in a different computer with an os and drive already on it. if it doesn't show up in disk utility, than the drive is most likely dead.

[quote|Chris Green]Try putting the drive in a different computer with an os and drive already on it. if it doesn't show up in disk utility, than the drive is most likely dead.[/quote]

First thing to do: put the drive in an external 2.5" enclosure (USB or Firewire) and see if it is seen by the system on this mac booted from your other external boot drive.

It should say that there is a new disk. Do you want to initialyse it?

Then disk utility will pop up.

[quote|valid]First thing to do: put the drive in an external 2.5" enclosure (USB or Firewire) and see if it is seen by the system on this mac booted from your other external boot drive. It should say that there is a new disk. Do you want to initialyse it? Then disk utility will pop up.[/quote]

@valid...I have done that...both the new drive and the old drive are fine in the enclosure...i can see them, format them, partition them etc...

but while i can hear and feel the drives spinning when in the internal drive bay, neither is recognized in any fashion...(they are both now formatted correctly and like I said, work fine when in the external enclosure...

I am hoping that the new ribbon cable will fix this...i will let you all know when it arrives..

thanks for all the advice and attention to my problem.

[quote|jreuben65]@valid...I have done that...both the new drive and the old drive are fine in the enclosure...i can see them, format them, partition them etc... but while i can hear and feel the drives spinning when in the internal drive bay, neither is recognized in any fashion...(they are both now formatted correctly and like I said, work fine when in the external enclosure... I am hoping that the new ribbon cable will fix this...i will let you all know when it arrives.. thanks for all the advice and attention to my problem.[/quote]

Just a thought - check the connector on the drive to see if there are any bent pins. I had this happen on an old laptop where it wouldn't recognise a brand new drive. Turns out I had dislodged a pin which wasn't actually in the connector. Straightened that out, reconnected the cable and all worked fine.

[quote|moldor]Just a thought - check the connector on the drive to see if there are any bent pins. I had this happen on an old laptop where it wouldn't recognise a brand new drive. Turns out I had dislodged a pin which wasn't actually in the connector. Straightened that out, reconnected the cable and all worked fine.[/quote]

Another thought - did you change the jumpers on the new drive at all ? I believe they have to be set to MASTER or CABLE SELECT (use MASTER when in doubt).

[quote|moldor]Another thought - did you change the jumpers on the new drive at all ? I believe they have to be set to MASTER or CABLE SELECT (use MASTER when in doubt).[/quote]

You need to format the hard drive before your Mac will recognize it. You can get a unit that will help you with this at most electronic supply stores. That's why it doesn't find it.

[quote|customerservice]You need to format the hard drive before your Mac will recognize it. You can get a unit that will help you with this at most electronic supply stores. That's why it doesn't find it.[/quote]

@customerservice....it doesn't recognized formatted disks in the internal HD bay either...I have formatted my new drive and it is still invisible in disk utility..

@moldor- how do you change the settings on the cable...i don't see anyway to do that.

[quote|jreuben65]@customerservice....it doesn't recognized formatted disks in the internal HD bay either...I have formatted my new drive and it is still invisible in disk utility.. @moldor- how do you change the settings on the cable...i don't see anyway to do that.[/quote]

Sorry - not on the CABLE, but on the DRIVE - there should be a set of jumpers on the back of the drive near the connector.

[quote|moldor]Sorry - not on the CABLE, but on the DRIVE - there should be a set of jumpers on the back of the drive near the connector.[/quote]

Quote from customerservice:

You need to format the hard drive before your Mac will recognize it. You can get a unit that will help you with this at most electronic supply stores. That's why it doesn't find it.

Rubbish - as soon as you plug it in the Mac will recognise it - it may not *read* or *write* to ir without formatting using Disk Utility, but it will *see* the drive.

[quote|moldor]Rubbish - as soon as you plug it in the Mac will recognise it - it may not *read* or *write* to ir without formatting using Disk Utility, but it will *see* the drive.[/quote]

http://www.helpwithpcs.com/upgrading/ins...-hard-drive-ide/installing-hard-drive-fig-1-2.jpg

that's what moldor is talking about if your still lost, check and see if it's set to master like moldor said

[quote|Skippy722]http://www.helpwithpcs.com/upgrading/install-hard-drive-ide/installing-hard-drive-fig-1-2.jpg that's what moldor is talking about if your still lost, check and see if it's set to master like moldor said[/quote]