Install Mac OS Monterey 12.0.1 successfully using external SSD

[ewu]

I buy a new Samsung T5 1TB for Monterey, and install it successfully without any issue in my iMac 2017.

I didn't see too much changes comparing to Big Sur.

1. during installation, it requires more than 5 times restarting.
2. there is only one Monterey Dynamic Desktop, and the rest of desktop picture could be found in Big Sur/Catalina.
3. when I try to change Desktop picture, it failed to work, it only shows Monterey Dynamic Desktop.
4. Safari takes 2GB ram suddenly for 2 pages, when I close Safari, and reopen 2 pages again, it only takes 0.5 GB ram.
5. toolbar style is big sur style
6. I feel Monterey is a little faster than Big Sur.

 

[ewu]

after I restart twice, Desktop picture could be changed.

overall, Monterey is almost same as big sur so far I could see.

 

[Ifti]

after I restart twice, Desktop picture could be changed.

overall, Monterey is almost same as big sur so far I could see.

Agree - I changed my desktop image back to the Big Sur Dynamic wallpaper, and it feels like nothing has changed! lol

I had to chick the cloud icon fo rtes desktop image to download and then it could be changed - better that way IMO.

I usually hold off of upgrades so quickly, but I wanted to get rid of those Safari tabs!

 

[chabig]

overall, Monterey is almost same as big sur so far I could see.

Visually, Monterey has the same design as Big Sur.

 

[ewu]

I run Mac OS Monterey in my mbp 2015 13inch using external ssd, it runs as fast as mojave.

it only requires i5 CPU and 500MB/s ssd, it is much better than Big Sur.

for anyone who want to upgrade Mac Os from catalina or mojave,
check your ssd whether could reach 500MB/s,

if ssd runs fast enough, it is great to upgrade to Monterey.

 

[Daniel_Lim2300]

I installed Monterey on m.2 NVME SSD, the SSD is on my motherboard, it runs very fast.
Everything works fine with latest Clover Bootloader, Wifi, Sound, 2K monitor resolutions,
all perfect.

 

[ewu]

I upgrade from big sur 11.6.1 to Monterey,
installation is smooth.

there are a few issues in booting and login. never see any those issues if Monterey is clean installed.

1. sometime it will be an error when iMac is booting, press any key to restart, and then it could boot successfully.
2. I make docker as 'open at login', latest docker failed to start.
3. mac os Monterey is frozen for 30 seconds after login, but it becomes smooth after that.

 

[Mac Hammer Fan]

Some people mention that Monterey is slow on an external third party ssd. They say it's only fast when the EFI is updated and this only occurs if the SSD is internal. Is this true?

 

[ewu]

Some people mention that Monterey is slow on an external third party ssd. They say it's only fast when the EFI is updated and this only occurs if the SSD is internal. Is this true?

if you choose to upgrade from big sur to Monterey, only booting is slow, Monterey Booting time is slower than Big Sur, and sometime there is error. However, it will boot successfully eventually.
it seems to be acceptable, so I didn't investigate booting log.

there is a support discussion in Apple forum about booting time of updating to Monterey from Big Sur.

macOS Monterey takes 25+ minutes to boot - Apple Community

discussions.apple.com

for daily usage, Monterey apps' speed are same as big sur.

for clean installation, Monterey speed is same as big sur including booting time.

I am big fan of external ssd, because once I install/upgrade one of them with new Mac OS, I could share amount of all mac devices to test it quickly rather than installing them one by one.
I have a few copies of mac os ssd, so that I could switch mac os in one system quickly as well,
if 'big sur' ssd is inserted, my iMac/mbp will boot as big sur, if Mojave ssd is inserted, my iMac/mbp will boot as Mojave.

 

[linuxophile2]

I upgrade from big sur 11.6.1 to Monterey,
installation is smooth.

there are a few issues in booting and login. never see any those issues if Monterey is clean installed.

1. sometime it will be an error when iMac is booting, press any key to restart, and then it could boot successfully.
2. I make docker as 'open at login', latest docker failed to start.
3. mac os Monterey is frozen for 30 seconds after login, but it becomes smooth after that.

I have installed three times a clean install on an external ssd. All the time the install is horribly slow. I mean, after all is done, it take 10 minutes to boot. Disk utility is essentially not functional.

the problem seems to be the ssd via usb c