Installing a new OS on a new SSD on a MBP

OK. If you have a copy of Install macOS High Sierra installer (5GB file) already downloaded and a 16GB USB flash drive you can use or any other spare USB drive you can erase, then put a copy of your Install macOS High Sierra disk image into your Applications folder. Do not change the name in any way from that of the download. Now, follow these instructions:

Bootable USB Installers for OS X Mavericks, Yosemite, El Capitan, and Sierra

First, review this introductory article: Create a bootable installer for macOS. Second, see this How To outline for creating a bootable El Capitan installer. Simply replace the Terminal command with the one from the preceding article by copying it into the Terminal window. You will need an 8GB or larger USB flash drive that has been partitioned and formatted for use with OS X.

Drive Partition and Format

1. Open Disk Utility in the Utilities' folder.
2. After Disk Utility loads select the drive (out-dented entry with the mfg.'s ID and size) from the side list.
3. Click on the Erase tab in the Disk Utility toolbar. Name the drive, "MyVolume". <---- IMPORTANT!
4. In the drop down panel set the partition scheme to GUID. Set the Format type to Mac OS Extended (Journaled.)
5. Click on the Apply button and wait for the Done button to activate. When it does click on it.
6. Quit Disk Utility.

Create Installer

Open the Terminal in the Utilities' folder. Choose the appropriate command line (in red) depending upon what OS X installer you want. Paste that entire command line from below at the Terminal's prompt:

Command for macOS High Sierra:

sudo /Applications/Install\ macOS\ High\ Sierra.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia --volume /Volumes/MyVolume --applicationpath /Applications/Install\ macOS\ High\ Sierra.app

Command for macOS Sierra:

sudo /Applications/Install\ macOS\ Sierra.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia --volume /Volumes/MyVolume --applicationpath /Applications/Install\ macOS\ Sierra.app

Command for El Capitan:

sudo /Applications/Install\ OS\ X\ El\ Capitan.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia --volume /Volumes/MyVolume --applicationpath /Applications/Install\ OS\ X\ El\ Capitan.app

Command for Yosemite:

sudo /Applications/Install\ OS\ X\ Yosemite.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia --volume /Volumes/MyVolume --applicationpath /Applications/Install\ OS\ X\ Yosemite.app

Command for Mavericks:

sudo /Applications/Install\ OS\ X\ Mavericks.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia --volume /Volumes/MyVolume --applicationpath /Applications/Install\ OS\ X\ Mavericks.app

Press RETURN. You will be asked for your admin password. It will not echo to the Terminal window. Then press RETURN again. Wait for the return of the Terminal prompt signifying the process has completed. It takes quite some time to finish. Be patient.

There are several ways to do this, but the easiest way is to remove your old HDD. Install the SSD into the computer. Then follow these instructions:

Internet/Network Recovery of El Capitan or Later on a Clean Disk

1. Restart the computer. Immediately after the chime hold down the (Command-Option-R) keys until a globe appears.
2. The Utility Menu will appear in from 5-20 minutes. Be patient.
3. Select Disk Utility and click on the Continue button.
4. When Disk Utility loads select the drive (usually, the out-dented entry) from the side list.
5. Click on the Erase tab in Disk Utility's main window. A panel will drop down.
6. Set the partition scheme to GUID.
7. Set the Format type to APFS (SSDs only) or Mac OS Extended (Journaled.)
8. Click on the Apply button, then click on the Done button when it activates.
9. Quit Disk Utility and return to the Utility Menu.
10. Select Install OS X and click on the Continue button.

Note:

1. To install the version of OS X that was currently installed use Command-Option-R.

2. To install the original factory version when the computer was new use Command-Option-Shift-R.

rrazmataz wrote:

Thanks, Kappy but here is my problem. I am in rural Chile and my internet is very slow and to use internet/network recovery would probably take hours or would just time out. Could I just take the SSD and mount it externally via a USB 3 cable, format it and install the new OS's which I have already downloaded ( I have both Sierra and High Sierra) on my current HHD and also on pen drives. Reboot it and confirm that it is installed and then replace the HHD with the SSD?

I have a mid-2012 MBP and recently transitioned to a new SSD. I did it as a direct clone (using CCC) of my internal hard drive using a 2.5" USB enclosure. I transferred the SSD to the internal drive bay using a #00 Phillips screwdriver for the case/drive bracket and a T6 Torx screwdriver for the mounting screws. It's still working after two months.

Some people don't recommend using CCC (especially with APFS), but in your case it might be worth a try if using the internet is painfully slow. Just keep around your old drive around and don't reformat it just in case.

And after getting an SSD I can say it's the one thing that I should have done a long time ago.

rrazmataz wrote:

Thanks. This seems the simplest way. The only thing I would do is install an update Sierra or High Sierra (have not decided on which one yet) on my HHD first, verify that there are no hiccups and if so, then clone it to my SSD. Did you go with High Sierra? I have read yays and nays on it and that is why I thought I would go to Sierra first from El Cap. Did everything work out for you?

Mine already had 10.13.2 when I cloned my hard drive to an SSD. I actually had a replacement hard drive first where I cloned from a bootable HFS+ backup to an APFS-formatted clone. It actually worked. Then when I got an SSD it was just APFS.

If you're going to do anything, it might be a better idea to just clone everything first, then update - especially if you don't have a backup. That kind of establishes two working copies. If your attempt to update borks the drive (and there are many posts on this board about just that) then you're not going to have a backup. And you'll be hoping you can recover the data. But if you can establish that the clone works, then you can install the SSD and then update via the SSD.