If your drive is still good you can use this adapter StarTech SATA to USB Cable or use a USB thumb drive which is formatted with GUID journaled file system and use this OS installer here How to upgrade to macOS Sierra Jump down to Set 4 and click on the Blue URL labeled: Download macOS Sierra. So the next issue is formatting and installing a fresh copy of macOS. Here’s the needed cable for a 13” model: MacBook Pro 13' Unibody (Early 2011-Late 2011) Hard Drive Cable and here’s the guide in putting it in MacBook Pro 13' Unibody Early 2011 Hard Drive Cable ReplacementĪnd here’s the needed cable of a 15” model: MacBook Pro 15' Unibody (Mid 2009-Late 2011) Hard Drive Cable and here’s the guide in putting it in MacBook Pro 15' Unibody Early 2011 Hard Drive/IR Sensor Cable ReplacementĪnd yes the part I’ve listed is the 2012 version which is the better part. Here’s a bit more Your Hard Drive Cable Is A Ticking Time Bomb The reason we worry about this is the HD SATA cable in your system now likely can’t support the higher data rate your new drive is able to pump out. So the system can support your drive as is!īut! We do have one issue! The original drive Apple put in was a SATA II (3.0 Gb/s). Jump to the section Storage Dimensions sections on either you’ll see the requirements. Your laptop has the needed interface! As you can see here: It will only work properly in a system which has a SATA III (6.0 Gb/s) interface. “This drive requires a SATA III controller” is telling you the drive is a fixed speed SATA III (6.0 Gb/s) drive.

Macbook pro early 2011 ssd