Hard Drive SATA cable failing related to the battery brackets?
I have had 2 MacBook Pro Unibody laptops, an early 2011, and currently a mid 2012 which I purchased in Sept 2015. Both have had the main hard drive cable fail. The 2011 waited about 2 years before it went and the 2012 went in just over a year.
I bought a replacement cable from iFixit and installed it. It lasted a few weeks and died also. I contacted iFixit and found out that somehow the battery being loose affects the integrity of the cable, yet from what I can tell, there is no way for the battery to come even close to the cable.
I spent several hours researching and browsing the web and forums to see what this might have to do with it. I found nothing!!
The most I could find was that Apple quietly updated the cable. But, that hasnt helped at all. I did read that their might be sharp edges that are cutting the insulation on the cable. I heard that the putting extra insulation around the cable might help.
Does anyone have any insight as to why this cable fails, why the battery might be involved, and what can be done to prevent this from getting worse?
Thanks all in Advance
Edit: The 2011 has been fixed and sold. it was actually that machine that introduced me to the world of failed SATA cables.
Edit 2: This is what my computer looks like inside. I do not see the metal tab that @danj is talking about. I would agree that the optical drive is probably more of an issue than the battery. I did insulate the edges around the step yesterday when I installed the warranty cable too.
Is this a good question?
3 Comments
I have a 2009 MacBook Pro & have gone through 10 hard drive cables! About to change out the 11th & have insulated the last 4/5 with electrical tape. My MacBook sits on a table & never moves so I'm lost & confused? I have too much on this to just give up & replace it but am going to download all programs & files onto a hard drive, hoping I don't have the revert back to a Windows PC!
by Justin Marm
I've been through 5 SATA cables on my mid 2012 macbook pro. After reading this and checking, sure enough, my battery brackets were thrashed. Just ordered a new battery and (hopefully) ONE MORE hard drive cable. Crossing my fingers!
by Darrell Spivey
It's amazing that yall fight to keep a $@$*!& device that keeps breaking. I have never had a hard drive cable break in my PC. But thats probably cause it is a PC and not a crapentosh
by Sandy Lloyd Jr