New SSD in MacBook Air 13" Mid 2013 - Can't install MacOS

[tb1204]

Hi all,

because memory was running out I bought a new SSD (Samsung PM981 512GB NVMe M.2, with adapter) for my MacBook Air 13" Mid 2013 (A1466).

Before the installation I made a TimeMachine-Backup on an external SSD. I also created an installation USB stick for macOS Catalina (is also currently installed on the MacBook).

I installed the new SSD and started the MacBook in recovery mode, the SSD was recognized without any problems. But I have problems to install MacOS on the new SSD. What I have tried so far:


Install from TimeMachine-Backup:
Ran the whole night, loading bar stopped just before the end and he only showed me the Rainbow Spinner

Install Catalina from USB stick:
Installer has recognized the SSD, shortly before the end it reboots (sometimes with kernel panic), MacOS was not installed

Catalina installed from the Internet:
Same behavior as from USB stick

Format the hard disk with DiskUtility before installation:
With DiskUtility I can't format the new SSD in APFS format, i.e. it aborts during formatting.
Mac OS Extended (Journaled) works, but installations fail anyway

Install MacOS Mavericks from Recovery Mode:
The MacBook was shipped with Mavericks. When I try to install it, it does not recognize the new SSD, probably because of missing drivers


Unfortunately, I can't find any clues on the internet how to solve the problem or what might be the reason that I can't install MacOS or format the SSD in APFS format. In some forums I've read that it might be due to a wrong system time. I have checked this with the terminal, it is also correct.

Do you have any further ideas what could be the reason or what else I could try?
Thanks for your help!

 

[christiann]

Hi all,

because memory was running out I bought a new SSD (Samsung PM981 512GB NVMe M.2, with adapter) for my MacBook Air 13" Mid 2013 (A1466).

Before the installation I made a TimeMachine-Backup on an external SSD. I also created an installation USB stick for macOS Catalina (is also currently installed on the MacBook).

I installed the new SSD and started the MacBook in recovery mode, the SSD was recognized without any problems. But I have problems to install MacOS on the new SSD. What I have tried so far:


Install from TimeMachine-Backup:
Ran the whole night, loading bar stopped just before the end and he only showed me the Rainbow Spinner

Install Catalina from USB stick:
Installer has recognized the SSD, shortly before the end it reboots (sometimes with kernel panic), MacOS was not installed

Catalina installed from the Internet:
Same behavior as from USB stick

Format the hard disk with DiskUtility before installation:
With DiskUtility I can't format the new SSD in APFS format, i.e. it aborts during formatting.
Mac OS Extended (Journaled) works, but installations fail anyway

Install MacOS Mavericks from Recovery Mode:
The MacBook was shipped with Mavericks. When I try to install it, it does not recognize the new SSD, probably because of missing drivers


Unfortunately, I can't find any clues on the internet how to solve the problem or what might be the reason that I can't install MacOS or format the SSD in APFS format. In some forums I've read that it might be due to a wrong system time. I have checked this with the terminal, it is also correct.

Do you have any further ideas what could be the reason or what else I could try?
Thanks for your help!

Did you open Disk Utility and Erase the drive?

 

[tb1204]

Yes, that's what I did when I tried formatting the SSD to APFS or MacOS Extended (Journaled) with GUID partition map.

 

[cb750]

According to this thread on installing an NVME SSD in an MBA.

NVMe SSD known not to work on MacBook Pro / Air. DO NOT BUY:

• Samsung PM981
• Samsung 950 Pro
• SK hynix Gold P31

You lucked out my friend, you bought one of the three SSDs that fail to work with the MacBook Air.