2015 MBP advice needed

[flat4]

I have 2015 MBP, that i bought with no screen, just the bottom case. I use it with my
pretty much useless 27" thunderbolt display.
MBP did not come with a SSD and it was never updated past sierra as it missing the firmware.
High sierra can see my nvme drive and format it and install to it but when it reboots it cannot
finish the firmware update. I have another 2015 MBP fully functional with a original apple ssd
it runs Monterey and bootcamp windows 10. I thought I'd be sneaky and stick that drive on the
other mbp and trick it to updating the firmware, NOPE.
I don't really feel like buying apple SSD to get this done as it negates the good deal I got on an
a nvme drive.

SO.... i was thinking of cloning my known good ssd or doing a TM backup. Then erasing the apple SSD
installing it on the non updated MBP and install high sierra so it will update the firmware.
Once that is done switch back to the nvme and proceed with an fresh install and then restore my apple ssd for
my working MBP

Is that a plan or am i completely wrong and "do I even apple"

yes i have read the wiki on compatible ssd and gum stick adapters, im good on that.

Any help is appreciated and razzing also welcomed.

 

[organicCPU]

I didn't try it, but could be formatting your internal NVME or another external drive to HFS+, then install macOS Mojave a solution? See this link to StackExchange.

 

[flat4]

I have not tried Mojave I did the usb option and tried to install high Sierra on an external drive. Same error on the firmware. when I first got the headless mbp the external usb method with a El Capitan OS was the way I tested the functionality of the mbp.

I will try both ways to see if I can get this firmware updated.

 

[profcutter]

I think your plan sounds like a pain, but it should work. Backup original apple SSD. Wipe clean. Install Sierra. Boot headless 15 with the newly formatted Sierra SSD. Install High Sierra on headless 15. When headless machine is updating from Sierra to High Sierra, it will reboot several times and update the firmware. Now install whatever version of OS X you want on the generic NVME. And done.

 

[flat4]

Thanks for the suggestions.

In retrospect I should have kept my mini DisplayPort 27” cinema. But I thought thunderbolt was a better way to go until I discover it was useless.

I do have a 23” that my wife uses in her home office that all it needs it’s the correct adapter and boom high quality screen.

 

[Uddername]

Or buy a 128gb SSD and sell it on again after you've done the firmware upgrade. Would save a lot of time and hassle imo.

 

[flat4]

Or buy a 128gb SSD and sell it on again after you've done the firmware upgrade. Would save a lot of time and hassle imo.

Yes, but i am going to be stubborn and do it this way.
I did look at ebay and there is some cheap 128 but its also a crap shoot, it may state it works and you get it and then its does not work but when you contact them it was working when I sent it. Reputable online stores want 50 to 70 for a drive and the private resell value is not that high so you lose money.

 

[EugW]

I have 2015 MBP, that i bought with no screen, just the bottom case. I use it with my
pretty much useless 27" thunderbolt display.
MBP did not come with a SSD and it was never updated past sierra as it missing the firmware.
High sierra can see my nvme drive and format it and install to it but when it reboots it cannot
finish the firmware update. I have another 2015 MBP fully functional with a original apple ssd
it runs Monterey and bootcamp windows 10. I thought I'd be sneaky and stick that drive on the
other mbp and trick it to updating the firmware, NOPE.

That didn't work? Did you try installing Sierra on that other SSD?

If that doesn't work, I suspect eBay Apple OEM SSDs may not work either, as many would have already had later versions of macOS installed. In any case, you should probably post in the MBP SSD thread.

Upgrading 2013/2014 Macbook Pro SSD to M.2 NVMe

This thread is about upgrading MacBook Airs & Macbook Pros (2013-2015) with new high speed and/or high capacity NVMe SSDs. This thread was one of the first to talk about MacBook Pro NVMe SSD upgrades on Macrumors, and was started by user "maxthackray", which we can thank and give tribute for...

forums.macrumors.com

 

[profcutter]

The ssd can have already have had a newer OS on it. If you format it, install Sierra, then have that drive in the machine while you update it to High Sierra, that’s how the firmware is updated. The drive is just a drive, that’s not where the MacBook Pro firmware lives. You’re updating the logic board firmware to play nice with NVME drives. The magic happens as you update from Sierra to High Sierra. That’s the update that has to happen while the ssd is in the machine. The update changes files on the SSD but one step in the update, the machine reboots a couple times. That’s when it’s updating the logic board firmware.

 

[flat4]

I did not try with the nvme in the laptop and the external SDD, I did the external but that failed. So I did it the pain in the ass way. Used CC to create my clone and verify that my clone worked, it did. The formated the apple ssd and voila firmware was applied and my troubles are gone.

re-clone my nvme and boot off just fine. I have finished installing Montery on my headless MBP