Need Mac Help!

[jyl]

Help. Stuck trying to replace OEM 128GB SSD in early 2015 MacBook Pro Retina 13" running High Sierra with a 480GB OWC Aura Pro SSD that is supposed to work with this model MBP.

Basically the problem is that I can't get Startup Manager.

I opened the MBP, removed the old OEM SSD, installed the new SSD, placed the OEM SSD in the Envoy Pro USB enclosure that came with the OWC kit, connected the USB enclosure to the MBP's USB port, and started when hold the Option key. I thought I'd see Startup Manager, boot to the old OEM SSD in the USB enclosure, then use Disk Utility to clone the new SSD to the old OEM SSD, then boot up normally from the new SSD.

However, I can't get Startup Manager. I only get Internet Recovery. I have reset PRAM and SMC, no help.

What's going on? Is the old OEM SSD in the USB enclosure somehow not bootable? Is there some security feature that is blocking Startup Manager?

If my only choice is Internet Recovery, what do I do? Install OS X on the new SSD from internet, then can I boot to OS X on the new SSD and use Disk Utility to clone the new SSD to the old OEM SSD? I vaguely recall some issue with using Disk Utility to essentially overwrite the boot drive.

I don't want to do a clean install because I don't want to spend hours reinstalling all my applications . . . I run High Sierra, Parallels, etc. I want to clone my OEM SSD.

[stomachmonkey]

You are not getting the Startup Disk select because the new drive has no bootable OS and the OEM is not being recognized.

Could be a power issue, defective external case.

Swap the drives back.

If the new drive in the external case shows up as a volume use Super Duper to clone the OEM drive to the new one then do the parts swap.

[jyl]

Swapped old OEM SSD back in, MBP boots and runs normally.

Irritating thing is the USB enclosure does NOT work with the new SSD, ONLY with OEM Apple PCI SSDs. The documentation warns very explicitly not to put the new OWC SSD into the OWC USB enclosure and that the OWC SSD may be damaged. I don't know why.

I'm thinking I need to rummage around, find an external USD HDD, wipe and format it, make it a bootable clone of the old OEM SSD, then repeat my original steps. Make sense?

[stomachmonkey]

Originally Posted by jyl

Swapped old OEM SSD back in, MBP boots and runs normally.

Irritating thing is the USB enclosure does NOT work with the new SSD, ONLY with OEM Apple PCI SSDs. The documentation warns very explicitly not to put the new OWC SSD into the OWC USB enclosure and that the OWC SSD may be damaged. I don't know why.

I'm thinking I need to rummage around, find an external USD HDD, wipe and format it, make it a bootable clone of the old OEM SSD, then repeat my original steps. Make sense?

That's odd.

I'd return the external case and look for a compatible one.

Or do the two step clone using a standard HD as you suggest, probably the quickest route and as long as the OEM SSD works in that case you are good, so yeah, pain in the ass but that seems to be the ticket.

[Gogar]

Can you install a fresh (wiped) OS in recovery mode onto that new drive in the computer, and then use time machine to get your stuff off the old drive from the enclosure?

[jyl]

Originally Posted by Gogar

Can you install a fresh (wiped) OS in recovery mode onto that new drive in the computer, and then use time machine to get your stuff off the old drive from the enclosure?

In theory, sort of. My MBP is backed up with Backblaze. In practice, I think restoring from a Backblaze backups gets your data back but not necessarily all your applications, preferences, settings, etc. Oh, I also have my Documents on iCloud but that definitely won't bring back applications.

My Mac Mini is backed up with Time Machine, Backblaze, and Carbon Copy Cloner, to local and external and cloud. But I don't have as robust a backup scheme for the MBP.

[jyl]

Arrgh, booting and running from an old 2.5" HDD via a SATA-to-USB A cable is stunningly slow.

[stomachmonkey]

Originally Posted by Gogar

Can you install a fresh (wiped) OS in recovery mode onto that new drive in the computer, and then use time machine to get your stuff off the old drive from the enclosure?

Cloning is the best way.

Depending on what software he currently has in place he may lose licensing with other methods.

[jyl]

I think this is working, but it is taking a bizarrely long time for Carbon Copy Cloner to clone the new SSD (installed in the MBP) from the 2.5" HDD (external, connected to the MBP with a SATA to USB cable). After three hours, only 15 GB has been cloned. Cloning the HDD from the MBP's old OEM SSD was much faster.

I wonder if the APFS file system could be showing things down? I don't see why it should. Or is the problem that the MBP was booted from and is running from the HDD?

[RKDinOKC]

I have an old Mac Mini with a big fireproof waterproof external drive.

The mini is setup with Server for file serving. The internal drive is my Archive storage. The external drive is partitioned for Bootable backup of Archive Server, Bootable Backup for my Laptop, and Time Machine for my Laptop.

For bootable backup I use Tri-backup it has a nice scheduled changes only backup that runs nightly.

Server lets me set the Time Machine partition so it looks like a Time Capsule to the Laptop.

Use the Time Machine backups for recovery of individual files, or earlier file edits.
Use Bootable backups for catastrophic drive failure OR upgrading drives.

When I have upgraded my laptop drive, or the laptop itself I just make sure it has the newest system, then migrate from the bootable backup. Then reset the backups.

I do email and web site hosting and have a Mac Mini for email hosting and another for web hosting.
Have Time Machine and bootable backup partitions for each of them on my Archive Server as well.

Has saved my butt on a couple of occasions when boot drives were dying. Run Drive Genius to alert me to drive problems well before failure. Can just upgrade the drive, restore, and go about my merry way.

[stomachmonkey]

Originally Posted by jyl

I think this is working, but it is taking a bizarrely long time for Carbon Copy Cloner to clone the new SSD (installed in the MBP) from the 2.5" HDD (external, connected to the MBP with a SATA to USB cable). After three hours, only 15 GB has been cloned. Cloning the HDD from the MBP's old OEM SSD was much faster.

I wonder if the APFS file system could be showing things down? I don't see why it should. Or is the problem that the MBP was booted from and is running from the HDD?

It's the read speed of the HDD.

Most laptops drives are 5400 rpm.

They are dog **** slow.

It's why the first thing I do is rip them out and drop in a 7,200 or SSD.

[jyl]

Finally done. MBP boots and runs from the new SSD, the old OEM SSD is working in the USB enclosure.

Now upgrading wife's 2011 MBP to a SSD. With that plus the 16GB RAM upgrade, it should be pretty much fine for her to use for another few years.

Next chore is installing the new Eero mesh Wifi system.

And then there is a bathroom sink leak.

Sigh.

[jyl]

Wife's 2011 MBP is running off the SSD, that went smoothly. Upgrading it to High Sierra.

Over the next couple weeks I also need to buy my daughter a MBP (thinking refurb 2015 Retina 15") and install a SSD in the Mac Mini. Then our local IT will be more or less fixed up.

Hey, anyone happen to have any Firewire cables laying around?. I'm trying to revive my first gen iPod. It needs a Firewire 400 to Firewire 400 cable for charging (I found the Firewire AC adapter). And also a Firewire 400 to Firewire 800 cable that I'll pair with a FW800 to Thunderbolt adapter to connect it to my MBP.

[gprsh924]

Good news on Eero, setup takes about 5 minutes. I love my system. I went from 40mb next to the router, 20 in the living room and no connection in the bedroom to 90mb, 85, and 70.

[stomachmonkey]

Originally Posted by jyl

Wife's 2011 MBP is running off the SSD, that went smoothly. Upgrading it to High Sierra.

Over the next couple weeks I also need to buy my daughter a MBP (thinking refurb 2015 Retina 15") and install a SSD in the Mac Mini. Then our local IT will be more or less fixed up.

Hey, anyone happen to have any Firewire cables laying around?. I'm trying to revive my first gen iPod. It needs a Firewire 400 to Firewire 400 cable for charging (I found the Firewire AC adapter). And also a Firewire 400 to Firewire 800 cable that I'll pair with a FW800 to Thunderbolt adapter to connect it to my MBP.

PM me your address.

Won't ship till Tuesday though, think postal is closed Monday.

[jyl]

Done. Thank you!

[stomachmonkey]

Originally Posted by jyl

Done. Thank you!

Received.

Have 400-400 and 400-800.

Will send.

[jyl]

Ran speedtest.net while switching between the WiFI networks. This is from the MBP on the 2nd floor.

Old WiFi network 1 (AEX on 3rd floor, connected to modem via Powerline): 6.2 Mbps down, 5.9 Mbps up
Old WiFi network 2 (AEX on 1st floor, cabled to modem): 18.5 Mbps down, 6.0 Mbps up
New WiFi network Eero with beacon on stair between 3rd and 2nd floors, beacon on stair between 2nd and 1st floor, and hub on 1st floor cabled to modem: 57.3 Mbps down, 6.2 Mbps up

Hmm. I hadn't realized my old WiFi network had become quite that crappy.

[stomachmonkey]

Originally Posted by jyl

Ran speedtest.net while switching between the WiFI networks. This is from the MBP on the 2nd floor.

Old WiFi network 1 (AEX on 3rd floor, connected to modem via Powerline): 6.2 Mbps down, 5.9 Mbps up
Old WiFi network 2 (AEX on 1st floor, cabled to modem): 18.5 Mbps down, 6.0 Mbps up
New WiFi network Eero with beacon on stair between 3rd and 2nd floors, beacon on stair between 2nd and 1st floor, and hub on 1st floor cabled to modem: 57.3 Mbps down, 6.2 Mbps up

Hmm. I hadn't realized my old WiFi network had become quite that crappy.

FWIW, powerlines work like dog poo if they are not on the same circuit.

Also, any devices on the old networks when testing?

How many attached to new while testing?

Remember, WIFI operates at the speed of the slowest connected device so a fair test is if only one (the same) device is attached during testing.

[RKDinOKC]

Have a 50/10 cable connection.
Goes to an 8 port 1GB switch. Switch is wired to Airport Extreme and another 1GB switch with 3 servers.
Wifi has 2 laptops, TV, AppleTV, Color all in one laser printer, 2 phones and 2 iPads. Also provide a guest wifi for visitors.

Office that has the printer and use one laptop working from home was only getting 20/10 with speedtest.net. Everywhere else in the house was getting 50/10. Put an Airport Express in the office set to extend network wirelessly. Now have 50/10 wifi everywhere including office. Was considering getting another base and have it extend the wifi wired, but did not need it. Express is cheap and does dual band, but wired is only 100MB instead of 1GB like everything else I have wired.

Wifi is fast enough that I don't notice the hourly Time Machine backups from the laptops even when streaming content with the AppleTV.