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I used the ifixit guide to replace the original dead 80 gb HD with a 120 gb from ifixit (Product IF107-073-1).
Upon starting up (on an external drive), System Profiler reports no ATA device present. I've double checked all connections and they are secure.
Any suggestions as to what to do now?
Is this a good question?
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Try starting up from your Disk Warrior Disk and see what the error is, it may not be the hard drive and that problem needs to be addressed first.
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Thanks for the suggestion. I can run DW on the external drive I've got connected to the Air, but unfortunately it doesn't see a drive there, so there's really nothing for it to check.
Try placing the new drive in your external case and installing a system on it. If the new drive fails when installed, I'd replace the hard drive cable: [linked product missing or disabled: IF188-009]
The new drive won't fit in an external case (I don't believe) since it uses that ZIF connector that's peculiar to the Macbook Air. I'd thought of trying a new cable, but the present one looks ok (although it's hard to be sure just visually I guess), but besides that, it is out of stock.
time to replace the cable, there are other part sources on the web
I located a pretty good price on one. I'll give it a go.
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I'd actually suggest reseating the ZIF connector cable on the hard drive. It can feel odd when seated (not like you'd expect). If that doesn't work, we'll help you move onto other possibilities. Always re-seat first.
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I've already tried reseating the ZIF connector 3 or 4 times. I admit I'm not 100% sure I'm doing it right, it's such a delicate an finicky little part. It doesn't feel like it's being inserted in far enough, but I can't force it in any further without applying enough force to kink or damage the cable. Also I have it in to the point where the dotted line and fold on the cable is flush with the edge of the drive, so I'm figuring that must be the right distance.
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I suspect that there may be a problem with the logic board. This points to a bad controller chip, which may be why your hard drive is not being detected. Try putting the drive in another computer and see if the drive is being recognized. If so, then the problem is on your logic board.
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That's what I'm suspecting. If switching the cable out doesn't do it, I'll assume logic board. Would a bad controller chip still permit an external drive to function ok?
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If it's connected via a USB port, it should be able to recognize your drive. If so, the the logic board is bad and will need to be replaced. However, I'm not sure how much they cost, so shop around. Good Luck!
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4 Comments
Does it see it as a Serial - ATA in the system profiler?
by mayer
Nope, nor does anything show up in disk utility.
by dash051
Will it still "see" the 80 GB drive? Why did you think it was dead?
by mayer
Thanks for your response. Actually, I didn't check that when I had the 80 gb drive in. Awhile back, the MBA began running slowly and erratically. I tried running checking the drive with Disk Warrior, and it told me there was a hardware problem (forget the exact wording). Then Disk Utility said there was a fatal flaw in the drive. So that's when I cloned the info over to an external, and have been running off it.
by dash051