MacBook Pro doesn’t detect internal SSD on boot screen, but detects it in OS

[NovaLFS]

So basically i have a MacBook Pro 2014 that I replaced the SSD from a MacBook Air of the same year. I tried to install macOS Catalina on it (as a HFS+ drive) and it installed and then the MacBook doesn’t detect the drive to boot off of. Is there any way to fix it? (I can reproduce this when I try to install OS X Yosemite on the drive as well)

 

[KeesMacPro]

as far as I know post High Sierra, you have to format de SSD to APFS. Then install Mojave or Catalina.

EDIT: long version: High Sierra can be installed HFS+ and APFS. if you're installing Catalina from a OS before High Sierra, formatting doesn't give you the option APFS. So you could install HS on another HDD and then format the SSD to APFS, and install. Or make a bootable usb installer for Catalina, and when you open the installer, you can format to APFS before install. There is a workaround to install Mojave(and Catalina I guess) with HFS+ but thats a different story...

 

[NovaLFS]

as far as I know post High Sierra, you have to format de SSD to APFS. Then install Mojave or Catalina.

When I had it formatted as APFS, it said that I would need to update the firmware. Tried to get Catalina installed on an external drive, but it said that it was unable to verify firmware

 

[KeesMacPro]

For a firmware update, the SSD should be internal. So before the install on the SSD the installer will update the firmware.

EDIT: if you still can't install Catalina from a usb this way, you might have to install HS on the internal SSD, download Mojave/Catalina and do the firmware update and install booted from the internal HS disc without other HDD external.

EDIT2: when the installer verified the hardware and starts the firmware update, be sure to leave the power supply connected, don't interrupt it and be patient, this can take a little while..