> Dead internal SSD

My trusty old MacBook Air 2013 refused to install a Security Update. When I ran Diagnostics it reported error VHD002, and now its internal SSD isn’t working at all. Can I do anything?

The official interpretation of a Diagnostics code VHD002 is a fault with a storage device, in your case confirming that your Mac’s internal SSD is dead. Although this isn’t necessarily irreversible, you shouldn’t trust a drive once it has suffered complete failure. Recycling is the only cost–free option, but for a modest investment your MacBook Air could continue to work for you.

The best option would be to replace its internal Flash storage using a kit designed specifically for that model. This should cost less than $140 and, provided you’re careful, it’s not difficult to fit it yourself as shown at bit.ly/ mac371mbssdreplace.

You could buy a SATA SSD and fit that inside a basic case, which should be cheaper. The difficulty here is connecting the drive to your Mac: Thunderbolt 1 cases are pricey and hard to find, but a cheaper USB–C case would require a costly Thunderbolt 1 to USB–C adaptor, or be connected to one of the MacBook Air’s slower USB ports, which only manage 5Gbps at best.