Fixing strange hard disk write errors in Macbook

Mijn probleem

Over the time, my Macbook started having problems with the internal hard disk which resulted in write errors. Eventually, the Macbook wouldn't be able to write to the internal disk at all. Since the error codes from "smartctl" indicated problems with the SATA cable and replacing the internal disk with a new one didn't help either, I thought I'd give a try with a replacement cable.

Mijn oplossing

The repair was very easy and thanks to the guide provided by iFixIt, there were no unexpected situations with hidden screws or other obfuscated things. I was also very happy to see that the replacement cable from iFixIt was actually new.

Mijn advies

I highly advise to buy the cable from iFixIt to make sure you get an original replacement cable. There are certainly cheaper sources for the cable on the internet, but I wouldn't trust these. Also, "smartctl" ("smartmontools" in Macports) is a neat little helper utility that will help identifying a faulty cable. If booting from the internal disk fails, simply remove the disk and hook it up with a SATA-USB adapter externally. If the disk boots fine, chances are high it's a problem with the internal cable.