jamesd1982
Level 1 (4 points)
Desktops

Q: Issues installing new SSD HD to MacBook Pro

I have followed online instructions how to install the SSD to my MacBook Pro. I have then restarted by Mac in recovery mode and formatted the drive to Mac OS Extended (Journaled). This was a little bit tricky at times giving message such as disk erase failures but eventually it worked. I then selected to install OS onto this HD. The OS picture first showed as OS X Lion but my current OS is El Capitan. I just figured it was installing the original OS that came with the mac. The installation was going fine but then one it had finished the timer wen back to 1 hour 46 minutes. It did this several times and after 6 hours I decided to quit it and start again. The second time round after erasing the HD and formatting again the OS that came up was El Capitan for installation so I continued. This time the installation was completed and at the end said "OS could not be installed on my computer, to restart and try again." On the third attempt got a similar message of failed installation "An error occurred while extracting files from the package "Essentials.pkg.""

 

Does anyone have any idea why this is not working or any suggestions please?

 

About 2 months ago I reformatted my original HD as installed latest OS El Capitan as the mac was running slow. Does this have any relation to the issues I'm having above trying to do the same thing with another HD?

MacBook Pro, OS X El Capitan (10.11.5)

Posted on Aug 5, 2016 12:19 AM

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jamesd1982

Q: Issues installing new SSD HD to MacBook Pro

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  • by lllaass,Helpful

    lllaass lllaass Aug 5, 2016 11:09 PM in response to jamesd1982
    Level 10 (188,838 points)
    Desktops
    Aug 5, 2016 11:09 PM in response to jamesd1982

    What model MacBook Pro?

    What model SSD?

    Do you have another Mac?

    Possible causes:

    - Incompatibility of your Mac with this specific SSD. Recently some users have reported what seems to be such incompatibilities

    - You damaged the flex cable between the logic board and disk.  That is a common problem and results in intermittent problems at first and if it gets worse the Mac will no longer even see the disk

    - You have another hardware problem like bad RAM or other component.

     

    I would

    - run Apple Hardware Test

    Using Apple Hardware Test - Apple Support

    - Connect a external disk and install OSX to that disk and boot from that install and see if you have problems

    - If you have another Mac download an compatible OSX installer from the Mac App Store and make a bootable USB device using

    http://liondiskmaker.com/

    and install OSX on the SSD.

     

    This is the Mac Pro desktop forum. I requested your post be moved to the appropriate forum.

  • by OGELTHORPE,

    OGELTHORPE OGELTHORPE Aug 5, 2016 6:24 AM in response to jamesd1982
    Level 9 (52,323 points)
    Mac OS X
    Aug 5, 2016 6:24 AM in response to jamesd1982

    Reinstall the original HDD in the MBP and see if it functions.  If so, install the SSD in a known functional enclosure, connect the SSD to the MBP via USB and see if you can format the SSD and install the OSX while it is externally connected.  Often the internal SATA cable will be a roadblock for a SSD but not a HDD.

     

    Ciao.

  • by jamesd1982,

    jamesd1982 jamesd1982 Aug 5, 2016 11:20 PM in response to lllaass
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Desktops
    Aug 5, 2016 11:20 PM in response to lllaass

    Illasss,

     

    Thank you for your reply. Please see answers below:

    - Model of Macbook Pro - MacBook Pro (13-inch, Early 2011) - 2.3 GHz Intel Core i5

    - SSD Bought - Mercury Electra™ 6G SSD - 2.5" Serial-ATA 7mm Solid State Drive

    - I don't have another Mac

    - I bought the SSD through amazon but checked the compatibility through the OWC website

    - I have noticed that whilst running on my HDD sometimes a message pops up to say the new HDD was disconnected unsafely. Then it disappears until I restart my MBP. That may suggest problem with the flex cable?

    - I actually upgraded my RAM from 4 GB to 16 GB 1600 MHz DDR3 just before adding the SSD

     

    I have tried turning on my MBP and holding down D to start the hardware test but nothing seems to open?

     

    I have used the first aid in disk utility and the diagnosis for the SSD is coming back ok.

  • by lllaass,

    lllaass lllaass Aug 6, 2016 12:47 AM in response to jamesd1982
    Level 10 (188,838 points)
    Desktops
    Aug 6, 2016 12:47 AM in response to jamesd1982

    - I have noticed that whilst running on my HDD sometimes a message pops up to say the new HDD was disconnected unsafely. Then it disappears until I restart my MBP. That may suggest problem with the flex cable?

    That symptom does tend to indicate a flex cable problem or hopefully just a loose connection and not damaged cable

    - I would also try reinstalling the original memory to see if the new memory is the problem

    - For your model Mac to Run Apple Hardware test yo need one of the original installation disks. You Mac came with 10.6.6

    Using Apple Hardware Test on computers with OS X v10.7 and earlier

    AHT is located on the Applications Install Disc 2 and should be included with your computer or the MacBook Air Software Reinstall Drive on a MacBook Air (Late 2010). To start AHT on these computers make sure the Applications Install Disc 2 is inserted into the built-in optical drive, external Apple Superdrive, or for the MacBook Air (Late 2010) be sure the MacBook Air Software Reinstall Drive is inserted into a USB port. Then, follow steps 1-6 outlined in the previous section of this article.