I tried to install a new SSD with a higher capacity in the optical bay. But OS X cannot format the SSD. I also tried to swap with an HDD but the same problem occurs with an HDD. Failure format or something like this. The drives have SATA III, I checked Mac info. Intel 6 series chipset with 6GB for both HDD and optical bay interfaces which means SATA III (?). When I format the HDD through USB I can write to it via SATA, but Disk Utility suggest repairing. If I check this drive, Disk Utility cannot repair this drive.
How to resolve this problem?
Macbook Pro 13", late 2011
I tried to repartition in two parts. The partitions are created, but before it is complete, and names are assigned to the partitions, Disk Utility fails.
Intel 320 series works without problems in OptiBay, but it has SATA 2, so looks like a SATA problem.
Best Answer
Have just faced a similar problem with MacBook Pro (17-inch, Early 2011) and SSD installed into the Optibay. Operating system: macOS 10.12.3 (16D32).
«Disk Utility» got stuck on the «Waiting for partitions to activate» phase of the erasing process.
The solution, which worked for me, was to put the SSD into the main bay and the HDD into the Optibay.