Where to get a macbook pro hard drive ribbon cable?

Nick · Feb 9th, 2008, 12:55 AM

Just as the title says, I am looking for a hard drive ribbon cable for a 2.16 C2D macbook pro.

Out of warranty. "Dead machine".
The hard drive failed. It was taken out and sent in for data recover (not by me).
New hard drive ordered, and it didn't work either. Suspected logic board problem.

Old HD came back, with data backed up and seemingly working.
I ran a hardware test, and it shows all is well.

So it's either the logic board or a damage ribbon cable (not sure which).
The ribbon cable is damaged now (not by me). But just because I replace it, the logic board could still be dead. Even though it shows in sys profiler, and notes no errors in the hardware test.

But not sure what failed first. Logic board or cable. If it was the cable, one must wonder how the ribbon cable got damaged inside the machine? Either way, its damaged now.

A hardware test (on advanaced) says the logic board is good. So I am hopeful.
Just need a new ribbon cable to test.
If its the logic board, I don't want to spend to much on the cable.
So anyone know where to get one?

Thanks,
N.

Nick · Feb 9th, 2008, 01:00 AM

Also, is the hard drive controllers known for failing on these?
Common problem? Or anyone have any ideas?

I would like to try the ribbon cable first.
Open for other ideas too.

monokitty · Feb 9th, 2008, 01:13 AM

Ribbon cables even from an AASP won't cost you more than $30 I doubt. Also, don't read into the hardware test results too literally - they're notoriously inaccurate.

It's not common for the HD controller to die in a MBP (or the ribbon cable for that matter), but yours wouldn't be the first case of its kind.