Fix Your Stuff Community Store

Repair information and guides for MacBook Pro models with 13" displays.

9730 Questions View all

Options

Why is it running so slow?

Hello guys!

I've been using your site for a long time and it helped me often. Thank you for the project and your contribution.

I'm writing to ask your ideas on the following problem.

I have MacBook Pro late 2011 Yosemite with SSD (Crucial M4 256) and HDD (500) in stalled in DVD slot. Until couple of days ago everything forked fine for about 1 year. But without any reasons MacBook started running very slow. I needed to wait several minutes to boot and 15-30 seconds to open a software (e.g. Word or R). I didn't happen before.

I worked in this conditions for some time but then did the following:

1. Checked and fixed drive and permissions errors.

2. Recovered from TimeMachine

NO EFFECT.

3. Erased SSD partition with OS and reinstalled a new one.

Now I'm on Mac OS 10.7.5 Mavericks and Macbook is still slow: booting takes up to 3-5 minutes although it has become slightly faster while working on it but not as fast as it used to be with Yosemite.

I think that I'm in trouble, but don't have any idea what I should do.

Would really appreciate your help.

Dima

Answered! View the answer I have this problem too

Is this a good question?

Yes No
Score 1
Add a comment

1 Answer

Filter by:
Most Helpful Newest Oldest
Chosen Solution

Options

To confirm my hypothesis, disconnect the SSD from the logic board by popping of the hard drive/ IR cable from the logic board. You will need a bootable system on the old hard drive. If you don't have a system on the old hard drive, switch the SSD to the optical drive position. Boot and see if the problem is gone. If so, replace the hard drive/IR cable with a new one from a 2012 model. It is wider and the two holes that mount it to the case may not match up so just use one screw. If this works let me know because we need to do one small modification to protect the case from being hit by the bottom case. Make sure you get a 13" model cable as he logic board connectors are different from the 15".

Was this answer helpful?

Yes No
Score 4

6 Comments:

Thank you for this piece of advice.

Have tried it and the computers works more faster now. So, the problem is hard drive/IR cable as i can see. Why does it break so often then? I changed it a year ago and I bought the following one: OEM Original Genuine Apple MacBook Pro 13" A1278 2011 HDD Hard Drive Cable 821-1226-A

(http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009JGN...)

Was it the right cable for my MacBook?

Thank you.

by

Take a look at the width of the 2012 cable, you will note it is twice as wide. I believe it breaks or is damaged as it comes over the last angle and the bottom case contacts it. I use a couple of trimmed off plastic toothpicks and tape them with Kaptan tape to either side of the cable to prevent the case bottom contacting it. Sometimes I have to modify the the bracket that holds the hard drive in place as the 20122 cable seems slightly shorter than the original. I let the cable float freely rather than sewing it down, connect it to the hard drive then the logic board and then finish seating the hard drive and securing it into place.

by

Thank you very much. Have ordered the one for 2012 model. Will post results as soon as it arrives and I install it.

by

Yesterday I installed new HDD/SSD cable from 2012 model in mine 2011. It fit perfect: I was even able to use 2 screws because it matched ideally. Now my computer works as before. Thank you for your fast and accurate help/advice.

by

Show 1 more comment

Add a comment

Add your answer

dkolkin will be eternally grateful.
View Statistics:

Past 24 Hours: 0

Past 7 Days: 0

Past 30 Days: 0

All Time: 2,032