Installation Sierra on new ssd

2 questions:

1. Will cloning the internal HDD to a new SSD using Disk Utility as you described in your first answer, also work for a MacBook Pro (early 2011) running the latest version of macOS Sierra?
2. Will this procedure also clone (or create) the Recovery Partition? If not, how can I do that?

Hi Andrej,

I have a MacBook Pro 2011 (A1278) with a new Samsung 850 EVO 256 GB SSD. However, when I try to upgrade my current Mac OSX Sierra 10.12 to High Sierra it shows an error of 'Firmware Update failed'.

Were you able to install High Sierra on your system with the new SSD?

Yes. Here's what you need to do. You will need an enclosure for the SSD so you can connect it to your computer. Any enclosure that supports USB 3.0. Do the following:

Clone to New SSD

1. Restart the computer. Immediately after the chime hold down the Command-R keys until the Apple logo and progress bar appear.
2. When the Utility Menu appears select Disk Utility, and click on the Continue button.
3. When Disk Utility loads select the disk (usually, the out-dented entry) from the side list.
4. Click on the Erase tab in Disk Utility's main window. A panel will drop down.
5. Set the partition scheme to GUID.
6. Set the Format type to Mac OS Extended (Journaled.)
7. Click on the Apply button, then click on the Done button when it activates.
8. Select the newly formatted SSD volume (indented entry,) then select Restore from the Disk Utility's Edit menu.
9. From the drop-down menu select the volume you want to clone.
10. Click on the Apply button to start the process.

Test the clone by booting the computer with it:

Boot Using OPTION key:

1. Restart the computer.

2. Immediately after the chime press and hold down the

"OPTION" key.

3. Release the key when the boot manager screen appears.

4. Select the disk icon of the SSD from which you want to boot.

5. Click on the arrow button below the icon.

If all is well then you can remove the internal drive and replace it with the SSD from the external enclosure.

Ahh. Well, then, you should not clone anything. You remove the old drive and install the SSD in its place. You will need Snow Leopard installer disc such as the one that came with the computer or if the computer came with a pre-Snow Leopard version you can use a retail copy of Snow Leopard. [You can purchase Snow Leopard through the Apple Store:Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard - Apple Store (U.S.). The price is $19.99 plus tax. You will be sent physical media by mail after placing your order.]

Snow Leopard Erase and Install

1. Insert Snow Leopard DVD into the optical drive and restart the computer.
2. Immediately upon hearing the chime hold down the C key.
3. Release the key when the Apple logo appears and wait for the loading to finish.
4. After the installer loads select your language and click on the Continue button. When the menu bar appears select Disk Utility from the Utilities menu. After Disk Utility loads select the out-dented disk entry from the side list (mfgr.'s ID and drive size.) Click on the Partition tab in the Disk Utility’s right window. Set the number of partitions to (1) from the drop down menu. Click on Options button and select GUID, click on OK, set the format type to MacOS Extended, Journaled. Finally, click on the Apply button.
5. After formatting has finished quit Disk Utility. Continue with the OS X installation and follow the directions.
6. When the installation has finished the computer will restart into the Setup Assistant. After you complete the Setup Assistant you will be running a fresh installation of Snow Leopard. Open Software Update and install the recommended updates.
7. Download and install Mac OS X 10.6.8 Update Combo v1.1. if needed. It is not needed if you are selling or giving away the computer.

You can now go to the App Store and download a copy of Sierra or earlier depending on what the computer can support.

The official list of Macs compatible with macOS Sierra:

Late 2009 or Later

• MacBook
• iMac

2010 or Later

• MacBook Air
• MacBook Pro
• Mac mini
• Mac Pro

I recommend doing w fresh install of Sierra on the ssd and using the data migration tool later. Congratulations on your upgrade though.