Can't install Big Sur into a third-party SSD in a Macbook Air 2013

[cachimotle]

I have a Macbook Air 2013 with a faulty SSD. I got a generic NVMe SSD drive of the same size (256GB) and an adapter, which I installed. The SSD drive is not new, but it was wiped clean of whatever was there before (in Linux, using nvme format -s1 <device>).

When I boot the device using option-command-R, the Big Sur installer starts loading. I go into Disk Utility, I do "View - show all devices", I select my SSD drive and I proceed to format it to APFS, using guid partition map. It then starts doing that. It shows:

Unmounting Volumes
Switching disk02s to APFS
Creating APFS container
Creating new APFS container disk21
Preparing to add APFS volume to APFS Container disk21
Creating APFS volume

After some 15 seconds, the screen flashes white and the computer reboots. The drive seems to be formatted to APFS but there's something wrong with it, as when I proceed to install Big Sur, after a while it flash-reboots as before.

What can I do to successfully install macOS in this drive?

 

[DeltaMac]

Your MacBook Air will restart 3 or 4 times during the install, so just wait for it to complete.
You will know that the install is complete, when you see the user setup screens..

After you formatted the new drive, did you then start the install, where you selected the drive that you have formatted, and you can see that the download starts? (Don't disturb the install, just let it continue. Again, your Mac will reboot 3 or 4 times during the install, that is completely normal. Just let it continue until you see the setup screens appear, starting with selecting your country.)
Do you ever see an error message of any kind? "Cannot find necessary files", or "not compatible with this computer", or anything like that?

 

[cachimotle]

No, I didn't even get to the installation part. I'm just in Disk Utility formatting the drive. It attempts to format the drive but flash-reboots, and then it boots to a flashing folder with a question mark.

If I attempt to do the installation, it also flash-reboots to a folder with a question mark at some point.

No error messages are ever shown.

P.S: The previous SSD was faulty because it was sometimes working, sometimes not, as in this old question. But when it was managed to boot, the computer was working perfectly fine. So I'm quite convinced it's an SSD problem.

 

[Jhonjhon236]

What drive is it? I know some NVMe SSDs don’t play nicely with macOS.

 

[cachimotle]

I'll come back to that in a sec -- am currently trying something else, so I can't open the macbook and check at the moment.

But one thing is confusing me. This computer had Catalina running on the previous faulty original SSD. That should mean that the firmware got updated to a recent one enough so as to have the macbook recognize third-party NVMe SSDs, right? (that happens from 10.13 onwards from what I've read) But then why when I boot with a Catalina USB boot drive and the new, empty SSD (fresh after formatting in linux, no partitioning) do I get the circle with a line through it?

 

[cachimotle]

The new SSD drive is a Samsung MZ-VLB2560.

After a fresh formatting using nvme-cli (as in the OP), the diagnostic tool that is booted up when you keep 'd' pressed says "there may be an issue with a storage device. Reference code: VDH002"...

 

[Jhonjhon236]

The new SSD drive is a Samsung MZ-VLB2560.

After a fresh formatting using nvme-cli (as in the OP), the diagnostic tool that is booted up when you keep 'd' pressed says "there may be an issue with a storage device. Reference code: VDH002"...

Some Samsung drives do not play nice with Macs. I don’t have the list but it could be a possible issue.

 

[cachimotle]

Oh, yes, that looks like it: this user says Samsung MZ-VLB2560 = PM981, and those are incompatible. Here somebody recommends using a PM961 instead. May give that a try.

 

[DeltaMac]

If you are trying to use the (recommended) Sintech NVME adapter, then you might have missed that the Samsung MZ-VLB2560 (correct model name is PM-981) is specifically NOT supported by the Sintech adapter.

Question: What macOS version was your OLD SSD booting with?
The oldest macOS that provides support for NVME is High Sierra (or newer) The Sintech adapter may not support booting with an NVME drive, unless the firmware is uppdated with High Sierra or newer. Booting to a USB installer, and installing High Sierra (or newer) onto an OEM SSD stick (not a third-party SSD, an original Apple one) may be necessary to successfully update the firmware.
Again, your Samsung PM-981 is specifically NOT supported --- get an SSD that is listed as compatible. That might be all you need to get going. Don't forget to format the new NVME first, before starting the install.
Finally, note that the Sintech adapter also does not support internet recovery. Use a bootable USB installer for the system that you want.

 

[cachimotle]

Question: What macOS version was your OLD SSD booting with?

Catalina, so the firmware should be fine. In #5 I said I was trying to boot from a Catalina USB boot drive. It does detect it but after a while with the progress bar advancing it showed the circle with the lin through it. Presumably, when I get the new, compatible SSD drive, this won't happen and I'll be able to install Catalina from this USB, right?


EDIT: My NVMe adapter is an NFHK N-941A.

 

[DeltaMac]

If the install still doesn't work with a supported NVME stick, swap your adapter for the Sintech.

You could also try installing Catalina, with your SSD installed in an external USB enclosure. If THAT is successful, then insert your SSD, with a good Catalina system installed, back into the internal slot on your MBPro. Should boot now.(?)
(There's lots of alternate methods.. )

 

[zgagato]

Its incompatibility problem. The 2013/14 macbooks does not like mvme drives. They tend to disappear randomly.
Get the Fanxiang AP2000PRO 1 TB M.2 PCIe 2013-2017 Apple. capacity is 512 gb up to 2 tb. Those are dedicated drives for pcie macbooks/ 2014 mini/ trashcan 2013 mac pro.
I have installed this drive in 2013 13 Air and it works without issues/sleep problems or need of patches. Trim works too. And those drives are design for macs so they dont need adapters just like genuine apple's SSDs.
it has long warranty. Seems to be good quality. Friend tested one in a 2015 imac in pcie slot. It was fine too.
It also seems quite fast at about 900mb/s in that Air 2013.

Here is the amazon link:

fanxiang 512GB SSD for MAC PCIe Gen3 NVMe Internal Solid State Drive, Up to 3500MB/s Compatible with MacBook Air 2017, MacBook Pro 2015, iMac 2016, Mac Pro 2013, Mac Mini 2014

fanxiang 512GB SSD for Mac M.2 SSD PCIe Gen3.0×4 NVMe1.4 Read up to 3500MB/s TLC 3D NAND Compatible with Mac Mini/Mac Pro/iMac/MacBook Air/MacBook Pro AP2000Pro

www.amazon.com

 

[cachimotle]

@zgagato: Interesting, didn't know this. Where I live, it's a bit over 2x more expensive than a Samsung PM961, which seems to have been tested by a lot of people as working fine in Macbooks, but this Fanxiang one bypasses the adapter. Didn't find much info about them online. Any other opinions?

 

[zgagato]

Other option is a used apple drive. from even 2015 mbp. i works fine in 2013/14 i have tested it.

 

[zgagato]

which seems to have been tested by a lot of people as working fine in Macbooks, but this Fanxiang one

The problem is that 2015 or 17 mb pro and air have full nvme support, 2013 dont. The newer os helps a bit with it but the problems remain in those machines even in big sur or newer with open core legacy patcher.

The fanxiang is quite new, that’s why its not known yet online. After my tests they seem to be a good value.

 

[cachimotle]

OK, I got the Fanxiang and it's working fine. I installed Big Sur using Internet Recovery.

I wanted to install Catalina from my usb pendrive that has it, but I once again got the forbidden "circle with a line through it" icon, even though Catalina was the OS that was running on the previous, original SSD. I don't understand why... I'd like to understand, out of curiosity, but it's kind of a moot point now, will stay with Big Sur.

 

[DeltaMac]

If you get the prohibitory sign when you try to boot to the installer, then there is two likely reasons:
1. Incorrect boot version (version not compatible, or just not supported by your Mac.
Not too likely, when Catalina is a supported system.
That leaves...
2. Something missing, or corrupted in the boot files on your pendrive. You could fix this (if you need that Catalina system installed on another Mac) by downloading a Catalina installer, and use the fresh download to make a new bootable installer (one that works!) on that pendrive.

 

[cachimotle]

1. Couldn't possibly be the case, since the bootable drive was created from the very same macbook running Catalina in the old SSD, right?

2. This could be the case, but it'd be strange, I followed this guide to the letter...

 

[DeltaMac]

Well, it will be one of my two choices. You don't have a compatible system on that bootable pendrive (so not Catalina, but maybe, somehow, an early beta for a newer Mac? Or, there's simply something wrong with the drive, some missing or corrupted files. (or maybe an older pendrive that is ready to be retired...)
Either one is directly related to the system you are trying to boot from (on the pendrive). So, I would suggest that this is, for example, not likely a firmware problem.
That's why I suggested re-making that bootable installer.
As you say, it's really just a moot point, if you have successfully installed Big Sur. (and the Big Sur installer will have updated the firmware, too.)

 

[AppliedMicro]

Finally, note that the Sintech adapter also does not support internet recovery. Use a bootable USB installer for the system that you want.

Why wouldn’t it?
Isn’t internet recovery supported in firmware, and the drivers should be available on the image downloaded through it?

 

[DeltaMac]

I was just posting what is in the Sintech's adapter information on Amazon.

Sintech NGFF M.2 nVME SSD Adapter Card for Upgrade MacBook Air(2013-2016 Year) and MacBook PRO(Late 2013-2015 Year)

NOTICE:because too many customers can use it,I suggest you to try it again if your MAC can't detect nVME SSD. Pls notice to insert card fully into SSD slot and you must prepare bootable USB disk(see third point) with High Sierra to format M.2 SSD first, it can't support recover from internet. mai...

www.amazon.com

from the adapter's About this Item

Important Notice: It can't support recovering from internet, important to prepare bootable USB disk drive(M.2 PCIe has no OS systerm inside,it must be erased first),if you don't know how to do this, you can ask for help.

What do you think that bold text means?

 

[StardustOne]

The Fanxiang AP2000Pro SSDs can also be ordered on Aliexpress by the Factory Store(not sure if this is a legit one, no reviews, but good prices). They sell 512, 1TB and even 2 TB SSDs.

If you weight the cost for an adapter, the eventual issues with the SSD of your choice, maybe incompatibilities or higher power consumption, I think it is an okay investment just to buy an SSD that comes with the 12+16 pin adapter (used by Apple for the 2013-2017 Apple MacBook Air or some Pro and iMacs). If you need to maybe try two adapters and have to find a good NVMe SSD, the competetive prices of these vendors like Fanxiang, Oscoo or even KingSpec seem to be a quite budget friendly option. Long time results are not there yet so I would of course advise to use a backup strategy for these drives, but considering the low price for a 1 TB drive, this is worth the try and you still can keep the original Apple drive in case something goes wrong.

I think Fanxiang AP2000Pro drives have very interesting Total Bytes Written (TBW) values:

256 GB: 160 TB TBW
512 GB: 320 TB TBW
1 TB: 640 TB TBW
2 TB: 1280 TB TBW

These drives outlast every Crucual P1, P2 drives, because of the TBW values being much much higher, but as mentioned only time will tell.

Nevertheless, I have ordered one 512GB and two 1TB SSDs (for a MBA 2013 with 4GB RAM 1.3 GHz Intel Core i5 and for two MBA 2015 with 8 GB RAM 2.2 GHz Intel Core i7). I got my Fanxiang SSDs directly from Aliexpress:

Fanxiang M.2 SSD AP2000 Pro For iMac 3500MB/s 1TB 2TB PCIe3.0x4 M.2 NVMe Internal Solid State Drive Only For Macbook Pro/iMac - AliExpress 7

Smarter Shopping, Better Living! Aliexpress.com

www.aliexpress.com

I have updated the 2013 MBA and one 2015 MBA to MacOS 13.7 Ventura with Open Core Legacy Patcher 2.0.2 and the boot ROM is something with the number 577 on both, I hope this is okay because I will directly try the MacOS Ventura installation on both using the OCLP USB installer stick after I got the drives.

I will let you know how it will work, they should arrive around October 18.

MacBook Air 2013 4GB RAM 256 GB SSD upgrade with Fanxiang 512 GB PCIe for Mac SSD experience

I received my Fanxiang 512 GB SSD on October 18 2024 and I paid about 35 for it plus shipping.

The kit contains the SSD plus screwdrivers to open the MBA case and also comes with a screw for the SSD.

Steps performed:

• I have removed the original Apple SSD and installed the new SSD, no adapters.
• I then did the internet recovery to re-install MacOS Big Sur.
• I also did a test before and after for read/write speeds. The original Apple 256 GB SSD maxed out at about 690 MB/s for read and write.
• The Fanxiang 512 GB SSD has about 1.3 GB/s write and about 1.3 GB/s read speed. This is expected since the test system MBA 2013 only uses 2 PCIe lanes (if that same drive is used in a 2015 or newer MBA these measurements would be twice as fast than what was originally installed since these models use 4 lanes)
• I tried closing the lid and re-opening the lid, no issues, as far as I can tell this is another success story.

Update from October 27, 2024: Successfully updated 2 MBA with Fanxiang 1TB PCIe for Mac SSD

MacBook Air 2015 8GB RAM 256 GB SSD upgrade with Fanxiang 1TB PCIe for Mac SSD experience

I also received my Fanxiang 1TB SSD on October 18 2024 and I paid about 50 for each plus shipping. The two MBA 2015 have also been successfully updated, but since they have 8 GB of RAM, I have successfully installed macOS Sequoia 15.0.1 on the two systems. No issues were noticed during the upgrade process.