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Trying to install new SSD in 2015 MacBook Air

Garyed055

Garyed055

macrumors regular
Original poster
Feb 15, 2018
224
106
Canton Georgia
Hi

Trying to upgrade from the 128GB stick to a 256gb one I bought a Inland TN320 SSD 256gb in size and a nvme to apple adapter and after installing the system doesn't see it. Its as if its not there. Tried the SSD/Adapter combo in my 2013 mac pro, same system doesn't see it. Did I goof somewhere?

Gary
 
Garyed055

Garyed055

macrumors regular
Original poster
Feb 15, 2018
224
106
Canton Georgia

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Audit13

Audit13

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Apr 19, 2017
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Toronto, Ontario, Canada
It looks okay.
Garyed055 said:
This one see pic
Click to expand...
I have used an adapter that looks identical in a couple of 2015 Air 13" MacBooks and they worked with an Intel 660p SSD.

If the firmware is up-to-date, it could be a compatibility issue with the SSD.

Can you boot the Air with a Linux or Windows installer to see if the SSD is seen?
 
Garyed055

Garyed055

macrumors regular
Original poster
Feb 15, 2018
224
106
Canton Georgia
Audit13 said:
It looks okay.

I have used an adapter that looks identical in a couple of 2015 Air 13" MacBooks and they worked with an Intel 660p SSD.

If the firmware is up-to-date, it could be a compatibility issue with the SSD.

Can you boot the Air with a Linux or Windows installer to see if the SSD is seen?
Click to expand...
did not think of that I'll give it a try
 
Garyed055

Garyed055

macrumors regular
Original poster
Feb 15, 2018
224
106
Canton Georgia
Audit13 said:
It looks okay.

I have used an adapter that looks identical in a couple of 2015 Air 13" MacBooks and they worked with an Intel 660p SSD.

If the firmware is up-to-date, it could be a compatibility issue with the SSD.

Can you boot the Air with a Linux or Windows installer to see if the SSD is seen?
Click to expand...
Linux sees the new ssd right away Maybe its not compatible with Mac OS
 
Audit13

Audit13

macrumors 604
Apr 19, 2017
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Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Garyed055 said:
Correct the drive is not seen either USB or recovery.... The revision is BXW3SA0Q
Click to expand...
It's the bootrom in the Air that is also important and it can be found by clicking on the Apple icon, about, system report. It's the numbers to the right of System Firmware Version.

My 2015 Air is running Monterey with firmware version 489.0.0.0.
 
Garyed055

Garyed055

macrumors regular
Original poster
Feb 15, 2018
224
106
Canton Georgia
Audit13 said:
It's the bootrom in the Air that is also important and it can be found by clicking on the Apple icon, about, system report. It's the numbers to the right of System Firmware Version.

My 2015 Air is running Monterey with firmware version 489.0.0.0.
Click to expand...
Mine is the same firmware version 489.0.0.0.
 
Garyed055

Garyed055

macrumors regular
Original poster
Feb 15, 2018
224
106
Canton Georgia
Audit13 said:
This means you are running the latest firmware as well and will work with NVMe drives.

Are there any firmware updates for the SSD itself? If not, you will need to try another SSD.

This is an excellent resource: https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/upgrading-2013-2015-macbook-pro-ssd-to-m-2-nvme.2034976/
Click to expand...
There are no updates for the inland ssd's I'll just have to return it. Fixed income makes it hard to get a larger SSD and inland was low priced. Oh well. thank you for your help.
 
DeltaMac

DeltaMac

macrumors G5
Jul 30, 2003
13,749
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Delaware
When the SSD+adapter is installed, did you try both an SMC reset and an NVRAM reset? For the NVRAM reset, Hold Option-Command-P-R on boot, holding those keys until you hear the boot chime, then continue to hold the same 4 keys until you hear the boot chime 2 more times... Release the keys, then boot to internet recovery. Open the terminal (from the Utilities menu), enter the command diskutil list, and press enter. You should see that SSD listed in the terminal, as some kind of storage device, which should display the size of the device (about 256GB)

Before you give up on the SSD, try a different adapter. Get the Sintech. If there is a compatibility issue with the adapter that you are trying now, the Sintech adapter seems to be more likely to work than one of the generic brands.
 
Garyed055

Garyed055

macrumors regular
Original poster
Feb 15, 2018
224
106
Canton Georgia
DeltaMac said:
When the SSD+adapter is installed, did you try both an SMC reset and an NVRAM reset? For the NVRAM reset, Hold Option-Command-P-R on boot, holding those keys until you hear the boot chime, then continue to hold the same 4 keys until you hear the boot chime 2 more times... Release the keys, then boot to internet recovery. Open the terminal (from the Utilities menu), enter the command diskutil list, and press enter. You should see that SSD listed in the terminal, as some kind of storage device, which should display the size of the device (about 256GB)

Before you give up on the SSD, try a different adapter. Get the Sintech. If there is a compatibility issue with the adapter that you are trying now, the Sintech adapter seems to be more likely to work than one of the generic brands.
Click to expand...
Resetting both had no effect. System still doesn't see the SSD its either the drive or the adapter thats incompatible. I have to wait till I return the ssd to try something different. No funds for a sintech adapter right now.Thanks for your help
 
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Audit13

Audit13

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Apr 19, 2017
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Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Garyed055 said:
Resetting both had no effect. System still doesn't see the SSD its either the drive or the adapter thats incompatible. I have to wait till I return the ssd to try something different. No funds for a sintech adapter right now.Thanks for your help
Click to expand...
I have used the same adapter in 2 different Airs and it worked. I don't know if the adapter I used is the same one but the markings on your adapter match mine 100%.

The fact that Linux sees the drive leads me to believe it's the drive itself.
 

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Garyed055

Garyed055

macrumors regular
Original poster
Feb 15, 2018
224
106
Canton Georgia
Audit13 said:
I have used the same adapter in 2 different Airs and it worked. I don't know if the adapter I used is the same one but the markings on your adapter match mine 100%.

The fact that Linux sees the drive leads me to believe it's the drive itself.
Click to expand...
I think you are right its the drive
 
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diego.caraballo

diego.caraballo

macrumors 6502a
Oct 18, 2013
699
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Garyed055 said:
Hi

Trying to upgrade from the 128GB stick to a 256gb one I bought a Inland TN320 SSD 256gb in size and a nvme to apple adapter and after installing the system doesn't see it. Its as if its not there. Tried the SSD/Adapter combo in my 2013 mac pro, same system doesn't see it. Did I goof somewhere?

Gary
Click to expand...
How your adapter look like?
Some of them aren't isolated and cause a short when installed in the Mac socket (that it's covered in metal).

Screenshot 2024-10-17 at 15.39.18.png
 
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