Cannot perform Internet Recovery after installing SSD

Question

Cannot perform Internet Recovery after installing SSD

Hi all

ive installed a new crucial SSD and some ram in my mid 2012 MBP. I'm now having trouble restoring said machine. I initially tried a USB install using a download of El Capitan from my other MacBook. This didn't work, but during the process I removed original ram. I have then tried (several) internet recovery sessions. on all occasions it gets to downloding additional components, the time counts down and when it eventually reached no seconds remaining it reverts to 22 mins (or thereabouts). Eventually it says it can't download components. Any thoughts? Am desperate here.

FOr for note the previous drive went belly up with flashing folder icon. I have assumed duff drive. Can I test controller?

Posted on Aug 4, 2016 12:24 AM

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Answer 1

lllaass

Level 10

210,519 points

Aug 4, 2016 12:28 AM in response to Jasonthejoker

You said "I initially tried a USB install using a download of El Capitan from my other MacBook. This didn't work,"

Exactly what happened?

Also, have yo tried downloading the El Capitan installer on your other Mac and making a bootable USB installer using:

http://liondiskmaker.com/

and boot from that and install EL Capitan

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Answer 2

Aug 4, 2016 12:41 AM in response to lllaass

it failed extracting a pkg file. Always failing at the same point. I initially was using a version downloaded in January and latterly a version downloaded yesterday. Bootable USB was created using terminal command.

FOllowing his his I tried the Internet recovery. That launches the Mavericks installer, presumably because this was the version that shipped with the Mac.

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Answer 3

lllaass

Level 10

210,519 points

Aug 4, 2016 12:59 AM in response to Jasonthejoker

You said "That launches the Mavericks installer, presumably because this was the version that shipped with the Mac."

What happened when you tried that?

Next try running Apple Hardware Test/Diagnostics

Using Apple Hardware Test - Apple Support

You may have problems with the memory or SSD. You can try reseating the memory sticks.

Having one of those bad can prevent fully going into Internet Recovery and installing OSX since good RAM and a storage device is needed to download and install the necessary files even for Internet Recovery

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Answer 4

Eric Root

Level 10

685,293 points

Aug 4, 2016 8:54 AM in response to Jasonthejoker

Try reinstalling the original RAM to see if that helps. Did you try lllaass's method for making a bootable USB disk? Sometimes that works when the Terminal method was unsuccessful.

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Answer 5

Aug 4, 2016 10:53 AM in response to Jasonthejoker

IInterestingly I have now managed to successfully install El Capitan. I was using a combo of USB install (made using terminal command), original ram (I think misleading in this case) and a stable internet connection. I however think there may be a problem with the SATA controller or cable as the machine is behacing very strangely. Often fails to start, regular no entry signs at power and failures to install other programmes once in OS X.

I Completed a successful AHT previously, but may repeat to Test again.

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