New SSD does not show up during El Captain install

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New SSD does not show up during El Captain install

Hi!

I have just installed a 80gb Intel SSD in my gf's Macbook Pro late 2011. Started it up, and went into internet recovery, used the disk utility and formatted it to mac os extended journaled. I can't use the internet recovery to install OSX, as it tries to install OSX Lion, and that's not available anymore in the app store. So I created a USB bootable drive with OSX El Captain.

When I start up and hold 'Option', the only disk that shows up is the USB with OSX El Captain. The SSD does not show up. And when I start the install, I can't find the SSD in disk utility nor when selecting disk to install OSX on.

Why does it show up in internet recovery and not during install???

Any possible solutions to this?(I'm not in a country with a genius bar).

MacBook Pro, OS X El Capitan (10.11)

Posted on Feb 19, 2016 12:25 AM

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Answer 1

W4zz@83

Level 1

4 points

Jan 6, 2017 11:36 PM in response to mrjohnsen

Found a solution. I was having the same issue when storing from time machine, the destination drive wouldn't recognise the SSD nor installing el Capitan from fresh.

Start the Mac in recovery mode, then disk utility > erase and then reformat to what ever it needs to be, then restart the Mac and it'll hopefully show up in both time machine and clean install destination drive option.

Hope that helps.

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Answer 2

OGELTHORPE

Level 9

57,329 points

Feb 19, 2016 3:31 AM in response to hiTmanhiT

If the SSD appears in Internet recovery, you can install LION and test the MBP to see if it operates. Then you can replace LION with El Capitan.

Another option is to clone the contents from the original HDD to the SSD (assuming there is enough room) and then test to see if the SSD boots the MBP externally.

If the SSD is not recognized as a boot drive externally, the SATA cable may need to be renewed.

Ciao.

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Answer 3

hiTmanhiT Author

Level 1

0 points

Feb 19, 2016 3:41 AM in response to OGELTHORPE

But when I try to install Lion from internet recovery I get the message "This item is temporarily unavailable".

As for a clone, there is not enough room on the 80gb drive.

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Answer 4

OGELTHORPE

Level 9

57,329 points

Feb 19, 2016 3:55 AM in response to hiTmanhiT

Is this a second hand MBP?

Will the MBP boot with the original HDD? If so, will the MBP recognize the SSD when connected via USB?

Ciao.

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Answer 5

hiTmanhiT Author

Level 1

0 points

Feb 19, 2016 3:58 AM in response to OGELTHORPE

No it's not second hand.

It boots just fine with the original HDD. But I have not tried to connect the SSD via USB. Have to get a cable for that asap.

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Answer 6

OGELTHORPE

Level 9

57,329 points

Feb 19, 2016 4:08 AM in response to hiTmanhiT

When you get the SSD connected to the MBP externally, format it in Disk Utility to Mac OS Extended (Journaled) and then install the OSX. Test it to see if it will boot the MBP and if successful, install it.

Ciao.

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Answer 7

Feb 19, 2016 6:39 AM in response to hiTmanhiT

Hi HiTmanhiT:

An 80 GB SSD is not big enough.

Thats probably why Apple does not sell a computer with less than 128 GB drive.

Even 128 GB is just barely big enough.

Try a 256 GB drive. And put it in an external case and use Carbon Copy Cloner to clone your existing hard drive.

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Answer 8

hiTmanhiT Author

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Feb 19, 2016 6:47 AM in response to KimUserName

80gb is not big enough in what sense? As in, not possible at all, or just very limiting?

This is macbook that is going to be used for nothing but web-browsing and text-editing. I find it hard to believe a 80gb drive will not be sufficient?

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Answer 9

keg55

Level 6

11,755 points

Feb 19, 2016 7:10 AM in response to hiTmanhiT

80GB is plenty to use with OS X. No need to get a larger one.

When you originally formatted this new drive as Mac OS Extended-Journaled, did you also click the Options button and set the Partition Map to GUID?

As far as the Mac not being able to install OS X Lion, you may need to be sure you use the AppleID that originally downloaded it. This assumes your 2011 didn't come with OS X Lion pre-installed.

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Answer 10

hiTmanhiT Author

Level 1

0 points

Feb 19, 2016 3:37 PM in response to keg55

Yes I did.

Now I've gotten an adapter, and it finds the SSD just fine when connected via USB. I formatted it as a Mac OS Extended-Journaled including GUID.

But as soon as I install it in the mac, it does not show up anywhere else than internet recovery...

I even installed El Captain from a thumb drive while the SSD was connected to USB, booted fine and everything. But as soon as I install it inside the mac, it does not recognize it anymore, and won't boot, and can't find it other than in internet recovery.

This just seems extremely weird. Any more suggestions here? I really can't wrap my head around this.

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Answer 11

keg55

Level 6

11,755 points

Feb 19, 2016 3:49 PM in response to hiTmanhiT

Are you installing it into the bay where the HDD was? Or are you trying to add it by replacing the Optical drive with a data doubler kit?

When you say it only sees the SSD in Internet Recovery, you're booting using Command+Option+R, right? What happens when you restart using the Alt/Option key? Do you see the drive to choose to boot into?

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Answer 12

hiTmanhiT Author

Level 1

0 points

Feb 19, 2016 3:54 PM in response to keg55

In the bay where the HDD was!

Yes, from Command+Option+R is the only time I actually see it!

Holding the Alt/Option it shows nothing when the SSD is installed internally. But it shows up when connected via USB.

The old HDD shows up fine when installed internally.

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Answer 13

keg55

Level 6

11,755 points

Feb 19, 2016 3:58 PM in response to hiTmanhiT

Well, I'm baffled unless the SATA cable is bad or the SSD 80GB drive is not compatible somehow with that Mac or OS X. Did you check the manufacturer's site to be sure it was compatible?

If Internet Recovery sees it, it should be bootable outside of Internet Recovery. Have you tried restarting holding down Command+R? If you see a spinning globe then it's skipping the Recovery HD because it can't find one and defaulting into Internet Recovery.

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Answer 14

hiTmanhiT Author

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0 points

Feb 19, 2016 4:03 PM in response to keg55

I've been thinking about the SATA cable as well, but it's weird since it works with the HDD, and since I can see it in Internet Recovery.

Tried restarting with Command+R, and it skips right to internet recovery.

The drive is Intel ssdsa2m080g2gc and I have read of many others using it. (It's a drive I used to use on a PC, but don't need anymore, and since my gf's macbook is slower than ever, I figured she could get my SSD).

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Answer 15

keg55

Level 6

11,755 points

Feb 19, 2016 4:08 PM in response to hiTmanhiT

Don't know what to tell you other than if you have an Apple Store nearby, take in there (Genius Bar appointment) or a 3rd party Apple service shot and see what they say.

Neweggsays it compatible with PC and Apple - all operating systems. Compatible with both PC and Apple, and all operating systems

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