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Spinning Beach Ball to a Speedy 2012 Machine

jonathanstewart -

MacBook Core Duo

MacBook Core Duo Hard Drive Replacement

MacBook Core Duo Hard Drive Replacement

5 - 30 minutes

Easy

My Problem

Beach Ball, all the time. I think the hard drive cable was the real issue, it still worked, but was just ridiculously slow on our MacBook Pro 2012. I tried the electrical tape thing for the cable, but that didn't fix it.

My Fix

We changed the Hard Drive Cable. Well I was in there, figured we might as well also add RAM and change hard drive to a hybrid model. So now Mom and Dad have a speedy little computer running the latest OS like a champ. No more pauses! and they also know they have a hard drive they won't need to worry about for another 3 or 4 years! We hooked up the old drive using the USB drive holder and copied the contents to the new drive in its entirety using Disk Utility. rebooted and viola! The old hard drive functioned wonderfully once plugged in via USB, so I think the cable was the real issue.

My Advice

It was easier than I thought it would be. Feel like I have gained a new skill set, directs on fixit were excellent and having read through them a few times, watched videos online, etc... it went very well. Likely took barely an hour. Way to go ifixit. Cable was the real issue behind the spinning ball on the MacBook Pro and reading online, it does seem that they really are an issue for that model A1278!

PC3L-12800 8 GB RAM Chip Image
PC3L-12800 8 GB RAM Chip

$44.99

MacBook Pro 13" Unibody (Mid 2012) Hard Drive Cable Image
MacBook Pro 13" Unibody (Mid 2012) Hard Drive Cable

$34.99

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