Failed installation to external SSD of Monterey

Question

Level 10

83,929 points

Failed installation to external SSD of Monterey

An error occurred while setting “Untitled” as the startup disk: The operation couldn’t be completed. (SDErrorDomain error 104.)

I came back after the installation completed to find my Early MacBook Book Pro 2015 booted into boot camp. I restarted the computer back in Mac OS with the startup manager, and the USB drive wasn't there. So I restarted into MacOS, and found that I had to reconnect the hard drive, and checked System Preferences -> Startup Disk. Tried to select the Monterey installed external drive, and got the above error. What on earth is this about? Do I need to reinstall?

Posted on Jan 14, 2023 7:04 AM

Reply

Answer 1

a brody Author

Level 10

83,929 points

Jan 15, 2023 7:17 AM in response to a brody

The Option key boot didn't work. Turns out, for whatever reason, Apple does not allow

Monterey to be installed on a Thunderbolt 2-Firewire 800 adapter

connected drive. My Newertech drive bay served its purpose. And my

USB-SATA adapter was also problematic at best. None of the cables

maintained a consistent connection. I'm just going to have to buy

another Thunderbolt 2-SATA LaCie enclosure on eBay.

Reply

Answer 2

PRP_53

Level 10

90,937 points

Jan 14, 2023 7:16 AM in response to a brody

Feel your pain my friend 👍

A lot of posting specific to this issue and probably many you have already seen ?

Monterey upgrade broke my external ssd bo… - Apple Community

Install Mac OS onto an external drive tha… - Apple Community

iMac 2019 5K retina won't boot from SSD d… - Apple Community

Reply

Answer 3

etresoft

Level 9

50,446 points

Jan 15, 2023 7:28 AM in response to a brody

a brody wrote:

Apple does not allow Monterey to be installed on a Thunderbolt 2-Firewire 800 adapter

connected drive.

Why would you want that anyway? That is like USB 2.2 speed. It would be horribly slow.

Reply

Answer 4

a brody Author

Level 10

83,929 points

Jan 15, 2023 8:31 AM in response to etresoft

Well Firewire 800 is 800 Mbps. It actually is faster than you think it is. Plus for whatever reason none of my USB SATA adapters keep a steady connection. So it would have been easier to use Thunderbolt. I just wish I could find a AC powered thunderbolt 2 case. Maybe one day I'll be able to afford a newer Mac, but not today.

Reply

Answer 5

etresoft

Level 9

50,446 points

Jan 15, 2023 8:57 AM in response to a brody

USB 2.0 is 480 Mbps. USB 3.0 is 5 Gbps. So Firewire 800 is more like USB 2.073. I guess I over-estimated.

I can't even find my old 2-bay Thunderbolt dock on OWC anymore. I did find this one on NewEgg: https://www.newegg.com/p/0VN-0054-00002?quicklink=true

I have no idea how well it works or not. It's definitely Thunderbolt 2: http://www.datawatchtech.com/product.asp?a=&id=100. They even have a 4-bay model: http://www.datawatchtech.com/product.asp?id=101&secid=3

Reply

Answer 6

etresoft

Level 9

50,446 points

Jan 15, 2023 12:03 PM in response to a brody

But you have USB 3 on that computer. The USB version of my Thunderbolt dock is $100 at OWC: https://eshop.macsales.com/item/OWC/TCDRVDCK/

You can buy similar devices elsewhere for prices down to $25, depending on how deep you want to go into the Chineses white-label hardware supply chain. You can spend more for more drive bays. Just remember, they only have one controller, so don't try getting too fancy with it.

Reply

Answer 7

a brody Author

Level 10

83,929 points

Jan 15, 2023 12:05 PM in response to etresoft

True, but I tried like 5 USB-3 cables on the Dock, as well as a TripLite USB 3.0 SATA adapter. I suspect my USB ports on these may be damaged. I'll know in a few days I as ordered a new Triplite adapter.

Reply

Answer 8

BDAqua

Level 10

244,925 points

Jan 14, 2023 8:02 AM in response to a brody

I think you do, my guess is perhaps low USB mA.

I installed Monterey to an external HDD but the drive was AC Powered.

Reply

Answer 9

a brody Author

Level 10

83,929 points

Jan 14, 2023 10:04 AM in response to BDAqua

Ok, my drive was powered. I think I'm going to have to see if I can get the drive to wake up in the startup manager. When I get a chance I'll check that out. Thanks.

Reply