Installing High Sierra on new SSD drive

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Installing High Sierra on new SSD drive

I added a new SSD drive to my mid-2010 Mac Pro, and want to do a clean install of latest OS, but keep hitting snags.

My existing startup drive is in bay 1, and the formatted but empty SSD is in bay 2.

My current drive is still running Yosemite, so was planning to do a clean install of High Sierra on the new drive, and then migrate my data from the existing drive to the new SSD.

Original plan was to use Internet recovery to load the system onto the new drive. But I am in a building with a shared wifi, and apparrantly there are limitations to what type of wifi security works with internet recovery. I can connect to the wifi, but not to the internet through this manner, and I don't have easy access to the router or a wired connection. Also, since my current drive is running Yosemite, it seems that is what OS Recovery would install.

Wondering what the next best method for installing the OS on the new drive would be? Not sure if I can just download it, and install it on the SSD from my current startup, or if I can to create some kind of external bootable drive.

Any suggestions most appreciated.

Mac Pro, running Yosemite 10.10.5

Posted on Sep 28, 2017 7:33 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

Grant Bennet-Alder

Level 10

141,733 points

Sep 28, 2017 9:25 AM in response to John Hall3

There is no need to drop back to Recovery to download (and Install) High Sierra. As macjack says, you can do it right in the running (older version of) MacOS.

But there is a need to initialize your new SSD to the default GUID partition Map and HFS+ Volume, so that is will appear empty and AVAILABLE for the Installer.

If you prefer, you can stop the Installer right after it finishes the download, and create an Installer USB stick. This article explains how:

Create a bootable installer for macOS - Apple Support

there are a few little Utilities that can help if you find Terminal overwhelming:

How to make your own bootable macOS 10.12 Sierra USB install drive | Ars Technica

.

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Answer 2

macjack

Level 10

111,242 points

Sep 28, 2017 7:44 AM in response to John Hall3

You should be able to install 10.13 onto your new drive directly from the AppStore?

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Answer 3

Sep 30, 2017 7:22 PM in response to John Hall3

Mac Pro 5,1 may require installing new firmware.

Installing this firmware appears to require a Mac EFI firmware graphics card, as reported by User chelidon:

Re: How do I find the Mac Pro 5,1 Mid 2010 firmware latest update

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Answer 4

John Hall3 Author

Level 1

101 points

Sep 28, 2017 6:53 PM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

Thanks. Is there an explanation of how to do this you could point me too?

But there is a need to initialize your new SSD to the default GUID partition Map and HFS+ Volume, so that is will appear empty and AVAILABLE for the Installer.

I originally initialized the SSD as Mac OS Extended (Journaled), but otherwise its empty.

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Answer 5

Sep 28, 2017 7:11 PM in response to John Hall3

I originally initialized the SSD as Mac OS Extended (Journaled), but otherwise its empty.

Then you are done, and it should be seen as available and empty. If it had been shipped to you and was still an NTFS drive, it would likely NOT be seen as a candidate for Install, which is a bump in the road at the point when you want to just tell it to GO.

HFS+ extended journaled is the same as MacOS extended (journaled).

That is, until you get yours installed -- at which point APFS will become the "normal" format for Mac drives.😝

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Answer 6

John Hall3 Author

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101 points

Sep 29, 2017 3:56 AM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

Thanks, ill give it a shot today. Related to your last point with this new file system, should I be fearful of going all the way to High Sierra on this old a Mac? This is my main work computer, and I don’t need any major headaches. Thought I’d maybe do Sierra instead. ( if I could find it), but then since I’m doing a clean install I might as well go all the way, right?

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Answer 7

Sep 29, 2017 8:34 AM in response to John Hall3

This is my main work computer, and I don’t need any major headaches.

Then do not participate in the public Beta software testing program. By the time it is actually released, this software has a lot of hours on it and problems should be small ones.

Thought I’d maybe do Sierra instead.

Unless you bought it previously, and it is sitting as a Purchased item on your "Purchases" page, Sierra is not available for sale as new -- only the latest version (High Sierra) is available. I don't think you have a choice.

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Answer 8

John Hall3 Author

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101 points

Sep 30, 2017 9:10 AM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

So attempted today and not going well.

The installer does see the new disk, but keeps freezing after installing 4 files (AppleDiagnostics.chunklist, Basesystem.chunklist, Basesystem.dmg.partial, and index.sproduct). Grey bar is about 1/8 of the way through. Nothing more happens. Waited an hour, then deleted and tried a couple times. Same thing.

A few possible clues.

1) When I first downloaded it asked to update my firmware. Don't fully understand this step, but since I was booted from my old drive, was it updating the right firmware?

2) It downloaded a very small file from the app store to start the process. I have read that some users are getting a small download, rather than the full download file (see below).

http://osxdaily.com/2017/09/27/download-complete-macos-high-sierra-installer/

That appears to be what I'm getting. Didn't feel comfortable using the tool they describe above, but wonder if this is part of the issue.

3) The new disc is an SSD from OWC. I have read of issues with OWC discs not accepting the upgrade on certain machines, but the problem appears to affect a different brand disc (Aura), and a different year Mac Pro.

https://www.macrumors.com/2017/09/26/owc-aura-ssd-macos-high-sierra/

Gonna bag this for today and try later, but any possible ideas what to try next?

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Answer 9

John Hall3 Author

Level 1

101 points

Sep 30, 2017 7:48 PM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

Hmm, will have to look into that. I know nothing about graphics cards. I have whatever came with the machine originally. It seemed to run the firmware update at the start without any errors, but I'll check the info to see if whats installed is right.

On another thread, people thought the fact that I formatted the new SSD using the Yosemite disk utility could be causing a problem. I installed High Sierra on an external disk tonight from my Macbook Pro which is running El Capitan. Going to try to use the HS disk utility on the external to reformat the SSD directly to APFS, and then try to install HS again on my Mac Pro. I also was able to download the full version of the installer from my MacBook and will use that to do the next attempt at installing.

Hope that makes sense. And works.

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