I have successfully repaired my venerable MacBook Pro
A couple of weeks ago it stopped booting. Instead of the Apple logo it showed a file folder with a question mark. I researched the issue and found out it couldn't find the boot files. I attempted to restore the system over Internet but when I was supposed to select the drive to install to, there were none listed. "Ah. Hard drive problem." I looked up how to replace the hard drive and learned that hard drive cable failure was a common cause of such problems. I opened the case and unplugged & replugged both ends of the cable; no effect. So, not the connections. I then went on AliExpress to find a replacement and saw that there were two model numbers for the cable. It turns out there's a newer, presumably better version of the compatible cable, so I ordered that.
There followed some days of low level anxiety. Would the cable arrive? And when? Would the cheap Chinese cable be defective? Would it be delivered to the right address? Would it be damaged when shoved into the POBox? Would I install it properly? What if the problem was the SSD after all?
This morning I got an email notification from Canada Post that the package was delivered. I picked it up and it looked fine. I replaced the cable, which was more finicky than I'd hoped. There was a sensor that needed to be moved from the old cable to the new one, and the connector was both unfamiliar and microscopic. There were a couple of tight tiny screws I was afraid of stripping. Also a random little rubber thing came loose and refused to go back in its hole until I tried putting it in the right way round.
Finally I replaced the bottom panel and turned on the unit. When it successfully booted I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding. Everything worked.
Except for the email notification from Canada Post. I received a second, identical one. And a third. And they kept coming, two or three per hour, even after I turned off notifications. I am currently at 32 notifications. I expect to hit fifty by breakfast tomorrow.
Still, it wasn't my fault, so I think mild congratulations are in order. Yay me!
