New Hard Drive MBP 2011

[TamPep]

After installing a new hard drive to my MBP 2011, I now have Lion installed
Can I update this to a later OS X and if so, how do I go about it

I am a bit new to the MBP

 

[ruslan120]

Go to the App Store and search for "High Sierra". Download and install from Apple.

Apple's Documentation for High Sierra: Link
Apple's Documentation for Mojave: Link

High Sierra is the last officially supported version of macOS on the 2011 Macbook Pro. You could theoretically run Mojave or even Catalina but they rely on user-based workarounds and patches and I wouldn't recommend it.

 

[TamPep]

Go to the App Store and search for "High Sierra". Download and install from Apple.

Apple's Documentation for High Sierra: Link
Apple's Documentation for Mojave: Link

High Sierra is the last officially supported version of macOS on the 2011 Macbook Pro. You could theoretically run Mojave or even Catalina but they rely on user-based workarounds and patches and I wouldn't recommend it.

Thanks for that
However my MBP states its running OS 10.7.5 and the link you give states it should be 10.8 or higher

 

[CoastalOR]

Thanks for that
However my MBP states its running OS 10.7.5 and the link you give states it should be 10.8 or higher

You could upgrade to El Capitan (10.11.6);
https://support.apple.com/en-gb/HT206886

and then you could upgrade to High Sierra.

 

[TamPep]

You could upgrade to El Capitan (10.11.6);
https://support.apple.com/en-gb/HT206886

and then you could upgrade to High Sierra.

Thanks
I will try that at the weekend

Step One


used Disk Utillity to erase drive

Then partitioned drive as Mac OS Extended (Journaled)

Did an internet installation of Lion

All went well and Lion runs perfectly

The drive is a 750 GB


Step two

Went to App Store and downloaded El Capitan

When I chose to install, a message stated that some features of OSX 10.11 are not supported for this disk. Filevault and recovery mode wont be available.

I went ahead and started the installation anyway

Approx half way through an error appears “OSX could not be installed on this computer”

The target drive is too small for this operation.


Step three

I took the hard drive out and replaced it with a brand new drive and got exactly the same error.

I have two thoughts. Am I formatting the drive properly before installing LION and could the Hard Drive ribbon be faulty

I have sent for a new Hard Drive Flex Cable Replace kit 821-1200-A for MacBook Pro A1297 Laptop

I thought that may be worth a shot.


Finally, could someone take me through the steps to format the drive properly

Thanks in advance

 

[CoastalOR]

Step One
used Disk Utillity to erase drive
Then partitioned drive as Mac OS Extended (Journaled)
Did an internet installation of Lion
All went well and Lion runs perfectly
The drive is a 750 GB

Step two
Went to App Store and downloaded El Capitan
When I chose to install, a message stated that some features of OSX 10.11 are not supported for this disk. Filevault and recovery mode wont be available.
I went ahead and started the installation anyway
Approx half way through an error appears “OSX could not be installed on this computer”
The target drive is too small for this operation.

Step three
I took the hard drive out and replaced it with a brand new drive and got exactly the same error.
I have two thoughts. Am I formatting the drive properly before installing LION and could the Hard Drive ribbon be faulty
I have sent for a new Hard Drive Flex Cable Replace kit 821-1200-A for MacBook Pro A1297 Laptop
I thought that may be worth a shot.

Finally, could someone take me through the steps to format the drive properly

Thanks in advance

Mac OS Extended (Journaled) is the correct format, but make sure you also are using GUID Partition Map and not MBR.

You are correct that the SATA cable could be a problem since they are known to go bad over time.
EDIT: A way to test if the internal SATA cable is causing a problem is to put the hard disk in an external enclosure and try formatting and installing the OS. That would bypass the internal cable. It will be slower because of the slower external ports, but it should work fine.

 

[TamPep]

Well that looks like the answer
I installed LION onto an external USB hard drive
When that was done, I updated to El Capitan

IT WORKED !!!

So it looks like its the sata cable is faulty.
Unfortunately, it will be at least two weeks before it arrives, but I am pleased to have got to the bottom of it.
Thanks very much
I will, of course, update you when the sata cable arrives

Mac OS Extended (Journaled) is the correct format, but make sure you also are using GUID Partition Map and not MBR.

You are correct that the SATA cable could be a problem since they are known to go bad over time.
EDIT: A way to test if the internal SATA cable is causing a problem is to put the hard disk in an external enclosure and try formatting and installing the OS. That would bypass the internal cable. It will be slower because of the slower external ports, but it should work fine.

 

[TamPep]

Well that looks like the answer
I installed LION onto an external USB hard drive
When that was done, I updated to El Capitan

IT WORKED !!!

So it looks like its the sata cable is faulty.
Unfortunately, it will be at least two weeks before it arrives, but I am pleased to have got to the bottom of it.
Thanks very much
I will, of course, update you when the sata cable arrives

[doublepost=1568127026][/doublepost]Cable arrived from China today
Installed an internal SSD and booted from a High Sierra usb and all is well
Felling very pleased with myself

Thanks to all

 

[CoastalOR]

[doublepost=1568127026][/doublepost]Cable arrived from China today
Installed an internal SSD and booted from a High Sierra usb and all is well
Felling very pleased with myself

Thanks to all

Thanks for the update. Good to hear that the SATA cable fixed your problem.