Fix Your Stuff Community Store

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

745 Questions View all

Options

Disk is good, but why won't the system boot from it?

This is my son's mac. He dropped it and told me it worked fine right after. He powered it off and the next day it wouldn't boot. He gave it to me and I tried the install DVD which doesn't see the hard disk drive. I removed the drive, plugged it into a SATA-to-USB and plugged that USB into my mac. I can see the drive just fine. I put it back in his mac, reseated the system board end of the cable, but the system wouldn't boot from it. I put a new, spare drive in his mac. I booted from the install DVD, which didn't see the new disk. I plugged in his drive via SATA-to-USB, selected it as the startup disk and did a restart. It booted fine from his old drive. I am guessing the only remedy is to replace the system board, but I was hoping for something simpler and less expensive. Anyone?

Answered! View the answer I have this problem too

Is this a good question?

Yes No
Score 1
1 Comment

Apple MacBook Pro "Core 2 Duo" 2.53 13" (SD/FW) Specs

Identifiers: Mid-2009 13" - MB991LL/A - MacBookPro5,5 - A1278 - 2326*

by

Add a comment

4 Answers

Filter by:
Most Helpful Newest Oldest
Chosen Solution

Options

Here's the correct hard drive cable for your machine 922-9062: MacBook Pro 13" Unibody (Mid 2009-Mid 2010) Hard Drive Cable

http://www.welovemacs.com/mb991lla.html

MacBook Pro 13" Unibody (Mid 2009-Mid 2010) Hard Drive Cable Image

Product

MacBook Pro 13" Unibody (Mid 2009-Mid 2010) Hard Drive Cable

$34.99

Was this answer helpful?

Yes No
Score 1
Add a comment
Most Helpful Answer

Options

I would actually try the hard drive cable first. If you pull the cable out, do you notice any tears in it?

If you give us the model number, we can point you in the right direction for the hard drive cable.

Was this answer helpful?

Yes No
Score 1

2 Comments:

It's an A1278. I actually pulled it out and inspected it between leaving the question and now. I don't see any tears in it, but I did think that replacing it might not be a bad idea. I erroneously thought the superdrive cable would fit the hard drive and thought to try that, but the connectors are not the same. I didn't see a MacBook Pro 13" cable like mine (with the IR sensor, sleep indicator). It's

Model Name: MacBook Pro

Model Identifier: MacBookPro5,5

Processor Name: Intel Core 2 Duo

Processor Speed: 2.53 GHz

by

This [linked product missing or disabled: IF161-039] looks like my cable, but it's for a 15" MacBook Pro?

by

Add a comment

Options

It was the cable. All fixed.

Was this answer helpful?

Yes No
Score 0
Add a comment

Options

I got a new cable and it was not fixed, same problem. Both drives are good because they power up in other machines. I got a new cable for this machine and it doesn't even power up the drive.

The SATA controller shows up when I boot from USB though. Not really sure what the problem is.

Was this answer helpful?

Yes No
Score 0
Add a comment

Add your answer

alanglasser will be eternally grateful.
View Statistics:

Past 24 Hours: 0

Past 7 Days: 0

Past 30 Days: 1

All Time: 2,689