MacBook Pro only booting from External Drive

[thebige]

I will start off by giving you the basics of what we are looking at and my diagnostic steps and actions taken thus far:

MacBook Pro 7,1
Intel Core 2 Duo
2.40GHz
Boot ROM version: MBP71.88Z.0039.B0B.1006012305
SMC version: 1.6F6
4GB RAM

Original problem was the machine would not boot. It would Chime, go to Apple logo and spinning gear then after a time I got the Circle Slash logo. I cloned the HDD to a new drive and using the install disk got to the DU. I tried to work on the HDD while installed and it would not unmount. So I slaved it USB and it worked just fine. I repaired permissions and repaired the drive FS. Reinstall and it goes through the below in verbose mode:

Running fsck on the boot volume
Executing fsck_hfs (version diskdev_cmds-491.6~3).
(Wait a long time approx: 3-5 minutes)
disk0s2: I/O error.
0 [Level 3] [ReadUID 0] [Facility........(several lines of error beginning with this)
SATA WARNING: Enable Drive PHY PM failed


Apple Hardware Test came back clean

I have reset the SMC and PRAM

So I have ordered a new SATA cable and will try that but it is so weird. It will boot just fine while slaved USB but will not internally.

Anyone have any thoughts, experience or input into this brain buster?

Thanks,
Eric

[anonymous Mac Tech]

Originally Posted by thebige

Running fsck on the boot volume
Executing fsck_hfs (version diskdev_cmds-491.6~3).
(Wait a long time approx: 3-5 minutes)
disk0s2: I/O error.
0 [Level 3] [ReadUID 0] [Facility........(several lines of error beginning with this)
SATA WARNING: Enable Drive PHY PM failed


Apple Hardware Test came back clean

I have reset the SMC and PRAM

So I have ordered a new SATA cable and will try that but it is so weird. It will boot just fine while slaved USB but will not internally.

Just because it boots usb and not internally could be as simple as the drive still being bad, but different interfaces will make the drive behave differently. Also, since it's slaved, it's out of the machine and it will run cooler being in the open, rather then clamped into a small drive compartment with no air flow.. The disk i/o error and it not wanting to unmount make me think its the drive.

What happens when booted via usb in disk utility? Check SMART? Does it get the spinning beachball of doom whenever you try to do something?

[iisjman07]

disk0s2: I/O error.

Makes me think about drives

[thebige]

Smart is clean. The drive checks out with gsmart verifies it is clean without error.

When I boot it through USB it behaves perfectly, no ball of hate. Install it back in the case and no love. No safe mode nada. Just apple logo and spinning gear. It is so irritating.

By the way it is the same size hdd as what came out and I have used the jumper to chane its transfer speeds both ways.

Thank you so much for y'alls input. I really appreciate it.

[sal13]

I have had this issue arise twice before. Both times it was the sata cable. First one was under warranty Apple diagnosed and fixed. Next time I ordered and installed. Also was able to confirm by booting the hard drive from optical disk sata port. I have one of the optical disk bay replacement tray which will house a second drive. Actually turned out be a good troubleshooting tool. I can't post links but OWC has them and few other suppliers.
Hope the cable does the trick.

[anonymous Mac Tech]

Originally Posted by sal13

I have had this issue arise twice before. Both times it was the sata cable. First one was under warranty Apple diagnosed and fixed. Next time I ordered and installed. Also was able to confirm by booting the hard drive from optical disk sata port. I have one of the optical disk bay replacement tray which will house a second drive. Actually turned out be a good troubleshooting tool. I can't post links but OWC has them and few other suppliers.
Hope the cable does the trick.

I have to say I've seen more bad SATA cables on these types of Apple laptops than I've ever seen. It used to be a bad SATA cable was quite a stretch when trying to figure out an issue like this, but now I've seen a few of these. Doesn't help those cables are like paper thin. But try the cable and post back.

[thebige]

Thanks you all do much for the priceless input. I've put an order for a cable and expect it next week. Fingers crosses and I will report back soon.

[thebige]

Ok problem solved. It was the sata cable after all. Thank you everyone for your help on this one.

[300DDR]

FYI… i/o error = input/output error, the drive cannot read or write. In the future (if you don't have spare SATA cable), run TechTools scan for bad sectors. If that passes with no bad sectors, the drive is probably ok (in fact, if the drive won't start the computer because of bad sectors, TT should definitely "see" them). If you have the spare sata cable, it's faster to test that first, so good to always keep one on hand for testing (note: it can be a sata cable from a different model, as long as the logic board connector is the same).

[thebige]

Originally Posted by 300DDR

FYI… i/o error = input/output error, the drive cannot read or write.

Oh THAT'S what it means. :-)