(I'M NEW DONT EAT ME) MID 2011 27" IMAC HELP

[weckart]

I'm assuming

Do you mean when you're doing the OpenCore build and install onto the flash drive, or is it the actual installation of the macOS onto the iMac?

In my case I have an OWC Thunderbay 4 (the Thunderbolt 2 version) connected using to the iMac, and it contains a Samsung 850 Pro 2TB drive where I installed the macOS. Are you installing to an internal HD or SSD? Or something connected externally?

I have replaced the internal drive with an SSD and sensor a while back. I just created an APFS volume on internal drive and installed to that. I've done plenty of OC installations before but this was the only Mac where the installation failed.

 

[weckart]

As a follow up, I tried installing Monterey to an external Thunderbolt drive rather than an internal SATA drive. For some reason, this ran without a hitch. Once I got this up and running, I tried transferring the installation to the internal drive using Superduper!, CCC and Disk Utility in that order. Only DU coped with the transfer; Superduper! failed to even copy a file across before having a breakdown, CCC managed 4GB and then proudly declared it was done, whilst DU just got on with it.
The only fly in the ointment is that the drive shows up on the Desktop as Monterey - Data, whilst the hidden protected counterpart volume has a bunch of letters and numbers, which clearly don't say Monterey. At least it runs fine so far.

Can't think why installations bomb on on the internal SATA but will throw DriveDx on it and see if the drive is having a bad time of it.

 

[rpmurray]

I believe that CCC, by default, only copies the Data volume. Creating legacy bootable copies of macOS (Big Sur and later)

 

[Leandean]

Update:
After having issues with safari and Wi-Fi on OCLP 0.6.4 I reverted back to 0.6.2. Went to Post Install Root Patch and saw 2 available patches that weren’t there when I had 0.6.4 (see first image). I did the root patch and rebooted and everything and it fixed the safari crashing! However I noticed on YouTube the graphics got a little funky. Also the wifi still didn’t connect unless I went into advanced settings.
I tried 0.6.3 and saw the same two root patches available (see second image). Patched them and rebooted and everything and the funky image issues on YouTube still persist. Basically on a solid background color if there is a gradient it’s not “smooth” but splotchy. See the gray background in the last image.
Am I doing the post install root patches wrong? Or do I need to play with the Developer Settings ?

Here’s my update in case it helps anyone. I basically started over but used OCLP to install Big Sure and it was perfect. Used latest version of OCLP. no issues with safari and connecting to WiFi.
I discovered the “splotchy” color issue is what is widely referred to the “color depth issue”. If it wakes from sleep or actually ‘resets’ and works, or you can change the resolution in display settings and change it back to full resolution and it also fixes/resets it.
I then used the script someone made mentioned in the legendary 2011 gpu upgrade thread and it worked perfectly. https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/2011-imac-graphics-card-upgrade.1596614/

It took me some days to figure all this out and I couldn’t google the “color depth issue” because I didn’t know what to call it or describe it but hope all this helps someone.