Momentus XT, Momentus, Momentus Thin, MobileMax, and other notebook drives

[sdmullen]

Hi,

I bought a 500GB Seagate Momentus XT from eBuyer this week and I'm having problems.

I successfully installed the disk in my MacBook Pro (bought new in June 2009) and proceeded to run a fresh install of Mac OS X Lion, the installation was looking good until a message appeared stating "Install failed" and that I would have to restart and try again. I did try it again but received the same message.

I then tried installing Mac OS X Snow Leopard using the DVD that came with my MacBook Pro, I also got the "Install failed" message.

Prior to running each failed installation I partitioned the drive with a GUID partition table.

I've now removed the disk from my MacBook Pro (so I can post this message) and I'm honestly not sure what to try next, it would seem my only option at this stage is to return the disk which is something I didn't really want to do as the reviews for the speed of this disk look great.

Any help is much appreciated!

[WiseDrive]

Put the drive in a PC, or an external housing --- if it works fine --- it is not likely the culprit.

Are you installing via a disk clone program, or a fresh install from the DVD or via a USB stick?

If you are cloning.. that is almost sure to be a suspect.

Check the connection / ribbon cable, etc.  of drive to the Mac --- that is the biggest source of problems.

Damaged / ill fitting cable / improperly seated connectors... are all known trouble.

[sdmullen]

I don't have external housing but I will see if either my PC or a friends PC/laptop will accept it for testing.

I have tried installing from a Lion USB stick and an original Snow Leopard DVD so I don't think they're the culprit.

The connection/ribbon cable within my Mac can't be at fault as its working perfectly with the original drive (I'm using it now!).

I will do some further testing but I'm still swaying towards a faulty drive given the suggested solutions here.

Thanks for your help, if you have any further suggestions please let me know.

[lemon]

Don't worry about loose cables or connections. In the mac it is so easy to change the drive, that only a complete nut could have such problems. But then you can also not format the drive.

I wonder if you performed a firmware update on the drive prior to formatting. I would also check if you chose the right format.... for macos...

I have a 2009 macbook pro 13" and in my computer it worked untill now. The preferred method to my humble believe is to make a clone from your drive using Carbon Copy Cloner. You can by an external housing for the drive for a few bucks and it is worth the try. Later you can use your old drive in the external housing.

Don't worry about cloning causing troubles because it doesn't.

[sdmullen]

Yeah I certainly didn't struggle with installing the drive, the MacBook made things very easy.

I haven't performed any firmware upgrades to the drive (as yet).

I partitioned the drive using the disk tool in the Lion/Snow Leopard installation and used the default format, Mac OS Journaled from memory.

It doesn't seem like I'm getting any closer to a fix here

[sdmullen]

Quick update:

I upgraded the disks firmware to the latest, SD28, and the problem remains, both on Lion and Snow Leopard clean installations.

I'm going to arrange a refund as this isn't right. Very disappointed.

[lemon]

Check this:

http://liten.be//m88a9

[rmcamp_0]

I am having the very same issue, I have tried to install Lion on this thing several times; I even took my MBP to the Apple Store to see if I was missing something. The tech support guy was also unable to figure out what was going on, whether it was Lion, Snow Leopard, or the recovery DVD for my MBP's particular build. I even thought that it might be the partition map, as in, lemon's link one post up, but even with GUID, no dice.

Do I have a bum drive, or is it the model itself?

[WiseDrive]

---

AskTheLeaf wrote:

In order for the Momentus installation to work right with your Mac system, be sure to select "GUID, Mac OS extended Journaled." when you set up the drive.

Let me know how that works out for you.

---

If you tried this and it didn't work... it is time to call tech support... and see what they say.

[rmcamp_0]

I was afraid it would come to that. First thing in the morning.

I'll let you know what happens.