Macbook Pro internal HDD won't boot the OS, but if i use it by usb works perfect

Hi people I have this computer with the following problem: The computer will not start the hard drive if I left the drive internally .When start the machine with this hard drive internally I get the error foulder with the question mark, but the same hard drive boot the OS if I connect it by USB. I did the tests to verify the hard drive, but testing the hard drive they works perfect. I thought it was the hard drive SATA connector, but the computer recognizes it but will not let me do anything to this hard drive. The computer let me see the drive the file system and the capacity but can't do any change to the drive. This hard drive is formatted in journals file system that everything works fine when connected by usb and boot the operating system but does nothing when connected internally only appear but you can't make any changes in the hard drive. The machine does the same thing if a connect a new hard drive. Anyone have any idea what can happen to this machine?

If the drive is working properly outside the system but not inside the system then you have a bad piece of hardware inside the system.
If the drive does not work properly inside or outside the system then the drive has failed and will need to be replaced.
Need more info on your last post.
If you are booting the computer from that drive you can't make any changes to it with Disk Utility as the system is Running from it. You have to boot the system from some other drive to make changes.
What model year Mac do you have? When did you buy it?

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