Macbook Pro Won't Boot via USB or SuperDrive

[dmw16]

Sorry for starting a new thread when I have a similar one a few down, but I didn't want to get anyone confused and figured it'd be easier to tell the whole story in a new thread.

Thursday night I went ahead to upgrade the 500GB drive that came in my mid-2010 MacBook Pro with a 120GB Intel Series 320 SSD.

To do that I had:
1 Intel SSD
1 OWC DataDoubler - http://eshop.macsales.com/item/Other+World+Computing/DDAMBS0GB/
1 OWC SuperSlim SuperDrive Enclosure - http://eshop.macsales.com/item/OWC/VLSS9TOPTU2/
1 OSX 10.6.3 DVD

I opened up my MBP as I had before when I installed RAM when I first bought it. I removed my existing hard drive and installed the SSD. I then installed the 500GB drive into the DataDoubler.

I removed the optical drive and put the DataDoubler in place of the optical drive. Everything seemed fine up to this point.

I booted the machine and it booted to the 500GB hard drive with zero issues. I was also able to see and format the SSD via Disk Utility.

Wanting a clean install I put the OSX disk into the (now) external SuperDrive. The disc fired right up and I started the install. All the install files seemed to be copying fine, but when the computer went to reboot to continue the install it hung at the gray screen with the Apple Logo.

I thought that was odd, but after waiting I did a hard restart and using the option key booted back to my 500GB drive. I checked the SSD and could see the install files and the DVD was still showing on my desktop.

So I reformatted the SSD and started the install again. Same problem again.

At this point I downloaded CarbonCopyCloner and had no issue cloning my 500GB drive onto my SSD and then booting from the SSD. So I confirmed both drives were working fine.

Next I figured I'd eliminate the SuperDrive as the issue so I created a bootable USB drive to install OSX from. I did the clone, rather a verify disk (no issues), ran a repair disk (just in case), and ran a CheckSum to confirm the files were good (again no issues).

The USB drive when plugged in pops up with the OSX installer. I run it, same issues. It starts installing but hangs at the Apple Logo when it comes time to reboot.

I guess at this point I will need to go to the genius bar, but I am really at a loss for what could be going on. Any ideas on this?

Thanks.

 

[TheStu]

When Tyranicus did the same things as you (bought an SSD and cage, and made his optical external) he put the SSD into the cage and left the HDD where it was. The Sudden Motion Sensor only works on the HDD connection, and the SSD needs less shock protection.

That was the only difference between his setup and yours, and he hasn't had any issues. Though I think he installed from a thumbdrive to do a clean install on his SSD.

 

[dmw16]

When Tyranicus did the same things as you (bought an SSD and cage, and made his optical external) he put the SSD into the cage and left the HDD where it was. The Sudden Motion Sensor only works on the HDD connection, and the SSD needs less shock protection.

That was the only difference between his setup and yours, and he hasn't had any issues. Though I think he installed from a thumbdrive to do a clean install on his SSD.

I didn't realize that about the shock sensor. If I get everything working I'll put the ssd in the optical bay. For now I put everything back to stock and the DVD still won't boot even though it appears in the boot menu.

Going to try the genius bar tomorrow I guess.