Can't install MacOS on external SSD required firmware update?

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macdaddy967 Author

Level 1

27 points

Can't install MacOS on external SSD required firmware update?

Can someone please help?

I am trying to install MacOS onto an external SSD.

I can get up to Catalina. If I try to go higher, I get “A required firmware update could not be installed”.

I’m using the Terminal to make a bootable flash drive, booting from the flash, and following all directions.

I have tried Big Sur, Monterey, and Ventura. Same error each time.

The computer is a 2017 iMac 5k with an Apple branded SSD. Does that matter, even though I’m not installing onto it?

iMac (Retina 5K, 27-inch, 2017)

Model Identifier: iMac18,3

Processor Name: Intel Core i7

Processor Speed: 4.2 GHz

Number of Processors: 1

Total Number of Cores: 4

L2 Cache (per Core): 256 KB

L3 Cache: 8 MB

Hyper-Threading Technology: Enabled

Memory: 40 GB

Boot ROM Version: 429.80.1.0.0

APPLE SSD SM1024F:

Capacity: 1 TB (1,000,555,581,440 bytes)

Model: APPLE SSD SM1024F

Revision: UXM6JA1Q

iMac 27″ 5K, macOS 10.14

Posted on Dec 5, 2024 6:56 PM

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Answer 1

Owl-53

Level 10

102,133 points

Dec 6, 2024 2:14 AM in response to macdaddy967

What version of macOS is the iMac (Retina 5K, 27-inch, 2017) currently running ?

It does qualify to run everything up to Ventura ?

I ask because somewhere around macOS 12.3 Monterey and above.

Apple cracked down on using Third Party Aftermarket drives

Why, I do not know

The Firmware issue can be gotten around if the Computer itself has been upgraded to say Monterey

There is a Firmware included in the Monterey installer which will verify if the Destination Drive is an Apple Original Drive

If found, the Firmware will Flash the Computer ( not drive ) with a new EFI Boot ROM

Once that is achieved, in theory you maybe able to Install Ventura / Monterey onto the External Drive

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Answer 2

HWTech

Level 9

68,384 points

Dec 6, 2024 8:49 AM in response to macdaddy967

What is the partition type & file system on the internal SSD?

The Monterey installer requires a working internal Apple OEM SSD that is properly partitioned and formatted in order to install the required system firmware update even when installing the OS to an external drive. The partition type should be GUID. I don't know if the Monterey installer also requires the APFS file system or if the HFS+ file system is sufficient for this purpose. I do know that macOS 10.15+ all require the boot drive to be using the APFS file system and the macOS 11.x+ installers will no longer automatically convert the file system.

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Answer 3

macdaddy967 Author

Level 1

27 points

Dec 6, 2024 8:27 AM in response to Owl-53

Thanks

The iMac is on Mojave, which I find quite stable.

Yes, System Prefs automatically jumps to Ventura for software update.

After trying again, I did get Big Sur to install on the external SSD. I stopped there; didn’t press my luck.

If I follow you, the computer firmware still has to be upgraded even though the OS is running on a different device?

So, I should try the Monterey installer next?

Why am I doing this? For a test drive. I don’t want to find out that half my apps no longer work, or there are no updates for them, or I don’t like the GUI, or some other thing. I’m old school. Just want to be sure before I commit.

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Answer 4

Owl-53

Level 10

102,133 points

Dec 6, 2024 9:01 AM in response to macdaddy967

You are welcome

Big Sur is a step in the right direction

With each newer version of macOS, the demands by the OS for computer also increases

Generally understood and perhaps my fellow contributor @HWTech can add additional insights as they work daily on all sorts of Apple Machines

Starting around Big Sur and above, the newer OSes are basically designed to work best on ALL SSD configurations

Yes, they do work on Fusion Drives at the Expense of Performance

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Answer 5

macdaddy967 Author

Level 1

27 points

Dec 7, 2024 10:21 AM in response to HWTech

@HWTech

APPLE SSD SM1024F:

Capacity: 1 TB (1,000,555,581,440 bytes)

Model: APPLE SSD SM1024F

Revision: UXM6JA1Q

Native Command Queuing: Yes

Queue Depth: 32

Removable Media: No

Detachable Drive: No

BSD Name: disk0

Medium Type: Solid State

TRIM Support: Yes

Bay Name: SSD

Partition Map Type: GPT (GUID Partition Table)

S.M.A.R.T. status: Verified

Volumes:

EFI:

Capacity: 209.7 MB (209,715,200 bytes)

File System: MS-DOS FAT32

BSD Name: disk0s1

Content: EFI

Volume UUID: 0E239BC6-F960-3107-89CF-1C97F78BB46B

disk0s2:

Capacity: 1 TB (1,000,345,825,280 bytes)

BSD Name: disk0s2

Content: Apple_APFS

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Can't install MacOS on external SSD required firmware update?

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