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Mid 2009 Model A1278 / 2.26 or 2.53 GHz Core 2 Duo processor EMC 2326

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Why won't my computer recognize my original harddrive in dual HDD?

Hello,

I have made my Macbook pro 2009 model a dualharddrive, by replacing the optical drive.

But for some reason the harddrive (even if I switch them) placed in the original slot won't show up. Its neither showing when I hold the option button on start up or in disk utility. (both have OSX on them, so they should show at startup).

I've tried replacing the hdd cable and tried switching the drive. It is not the drive nor the cable.

Any ideas what it could be?

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Does the machine read both hard drives from the optical slot? What was the source of the new HD/IR cable?

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It reads borh hard drives from the optical slot yes. The cable is from ifixit.

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Can you give us the specs for the two drives (make & model).

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One is Western Digital Scorpio Blue 500 GB 8 MB Cache, 5400 RPM SATA II WD5000BEVT

The other is an Intel SSD model: ssdsa2cw120g3, 120 gb, memory component: MLC, SATA II.

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I am having this same problem actually. I have a macbook pro 2009 model. I do not have the extra hard drive optical bay, but on boot my hard drive does not even start spinning.

I verified that my harddrive is not the problem. I used a usb tool to read from it. I also was able to boot from it when putting it in a different mac. I was also able to verify that it is not the hard drive cable, because I put in a brand new cable and I am getting the same issue.

I am forced to think it must be the Logic Board. Can anyone help me verify this?

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Chosen Solution

Let's first try updating the systems firmware. Follow this Apple T/N: EFI and SMC firmware updates for Intel-based Macs. And here the Intel SSD updater: Intel Solid-State Drive Firmware Update Tool

This series has a SATA II (3.0 GB/s) optical drive port. The Intel SSD needs to run at this I/O speed when installed in the optical drive carrier. You may want to mount the driver externally and see if the Intel firmware update is able to access the drive.

You should leave the HD on the HD SATA port as the drive you have does not have crash guard technology onboard. So, if you place it in the optical carrier you could kill it with a good bang. The crash guard services is on the logic board but only the HD SATA port.

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3 Comments:

You still could have a bad SATA cable if the HD still won't work on the HD SATA port.

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Hey Dan,

Thanks for the reply. I have updated the firmware for both. But it still isn't recognized. Thanks for the tip about the HD in the HD sata port, didn't know that.

I'll order a new SATA cable and see if that helps.

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After replacing the cable it shows in finder, disk utility and all. So hopefully it keeps showing in the future.

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