Q: New SSD does not show up during El Captain install
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Feb 19, 2016 3:31 AMby OGELTHORPE,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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Feb 19, 2016 6:39 AMby KimUserName,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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Feb 19, 2016 7:10 AMby keg55,80GB 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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Feb 19, 2016 3:37 PMby hiTmanhiT,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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Feb 19, 2016 3:49 PMby keg55,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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Feb 19, 2016 3:58 PMby keg55,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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Feb 19, 2016 4:03 PMby hiTmanhiT,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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Feb 19, 2016 4:08 PMby keg55,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.
Newegg says it compatible with PC and Apple - all operating systems. Compatible with both PC and Apple, and all operating systems
