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Model A1286. Released February 2011 / 2.0, 2.2, or 2.3 GHz Quad-core Intel Core i7 Processor

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MBP Optical Drive SSD Replacement: Error -36

I'm trying to replace the optical drive in my MacBook Pro with a 500GB SSD (Crucial M4 (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004W2J...) plus a generic hard drive caddy (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0058AH...)). Unfortunately, once I install the drive, whenever I try to write a file larger than ~200KB to it, I get the error "The Finder can't complete the operation because some data in "[file name]" can't be read or written. (Error code -36)".* I can read data from it normally.

If I put the SSD in the external enclosure I bought for the SuperDrive, it works perfectly, reading and writing any size of file.

If I put the original SuperDrive back in my computer, it can play DVDs just fine, and I have successfully burned a CD at a speed of ~25x.

Any thoughts? I thought it might be the cable between the drive and the motherboard, but I can't see any damage, and being able to write CDs would seem to rule that out.

Thanks,

Rob W

  • At one point I got "Error -50" whenever I tried reading or writing, but after checking all the cables, it stabilized on "Error -36" when writing non-trivially-sized files.

Error -36 reference: http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-13727_7-200...

Answered! View the answer I have this problem too

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I believe it's the caddy. I took a look at the web site. No SATA type/version information was available - that is crucial information. If the caddy can't support the speed of the SD card, and/or the cards automagically detecting transfer interface can't figure out what SATA to use you'll get the read/write errors (file corruption errors) that you are seeing.

Talk with the vendor to find out the cards speed or interface. Because the card works in a different caddy (case) I think the problem is not the card, The still working optical drive rules out your Logic board & cable.

The remaining variable is the caddy It might be automagic detecting too and now the two automagically detecting connectors are fighting over which speed to use, and can't reach a workable solution.

If this Answer is helpful please remember to return and mark it Accepted.

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For clarity, I put the whole disk/caddy assembly in the external CD drive enclosure and it worked fine. However, I see your point about potential conflicting automagical speed detection. I'll look into it- hopefully there's a fix besides buying a different caddy.

Thanks!

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Yep, that seems to have been the issue. I just installed the drive using an OWC caddy, and it's working just fine. Thanks!

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I have the same problem using the OWC data doubler. I can read from the disk but i cannot write mostly. Sometimes I can write, but I almost always receive 'Error -36: Finder cannot complete the operation because some files cannot be read or written'.

Any other suggestion? Thanks!

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If it's not the drive or caddy that leaves the cable/connector.

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Rob W will be eternally grateful.
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