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You need to update the firmware using an internal apple SSD. Don't think there is any other way to do it. Maybe the apple store can help you update the firmware using their own ssd?

I can't format the only ssd that I have, I just can't, it's from my work pc, I just can't do it. Apple Store won't help me, I already asked, they can't help me. If I install the MacOS to the external ssd, won't it update the firmware?
 
I can't format the only ssd that I have, I just can't, it's from my work pc, I just can't do it. Apple Store won't help me, I already asked, they can't help me. If I install the MacOS to the external ssd, won't it update the firmware?
Nope, firmware updates require an internal apple SSD. People have already tried with an external drive without success, me included with an early 2015 13" Air.

You could make a time machine backup of your available drive and restore later. This may be your only option if you can't borrow or buy an internal apple SSD.
 
I can't format the only ssd that I have, I just can't, it's from my work pc, I just can't do it. Apple Store won't help me, I already asked, they can't help me. If I install the MacOS to the external ssd, won't it update the firmware?


You could make a time machine backup of your available drive and restore later. This may be your only option if you can't borrow or buy an internal apple SSD

I would recommend using Carbon Copy Cloner or SuperDuper in addition to Time Machine -- something that replicates the entire drive in one go is easier to use and is a double backup.
 
The only ssd that I have available it's from a machine that's needed 24/7 around the office, I really can't use it, it's impossible for me... So my only hope is buy a used apple original ssd? damn, that sucks...
 
The only ssd that I have available it's from a machine that's needed 24/7 around the office, I really can't use it, it's impossible for me... So my only hope is buy a used apple original ssd? damn, that sucks...
Yes, unless you can find someone that is willing to loan you their SSD.This is why I have a spare SSD at home from a busted air.
 

Yes, I had. "Update the macOS on the MacBook that you would like to upgrade with an NVMe drive to the latest version of macOS using the original Apple SSD" . As I said, I can't do that, as I don't have a original Apple SSD

EDIT: Also, how would I get a updated EFI if I don't have acess to one?
 
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Hi. I REALLY need help. So, I got a Macbook Pro 2015 13inch, and the ssd just died. I had a Intel 760p 128gb here, so I bought the black sintech adapter to use it, instead of buying a whole new ssd. But I can't get it to work. It won't show up on my MacOS installed on a external ssd or on ubuntu. I think it's because I don't have 10.13 firmware installed on it. Is there any way to update the firmware without a original apple ssd? Will the firmware update if I install MacOS again to the external ssd? It's really urgent, as I need the laptop to work! thanks!+

EDIT:
- MacOS not showing the ssd
- Ubuntu not showing the ssd
What version of macOS was installed on the dead SSD? If it wasn't 10.13 then you won't be able to use the 760p as there was a bootrom update as part of macOS High Sierra (10.13) that added NVMe support.

Get an old SATA drive (hard drive or SSD) and use a SATA to USB adapter to plug it into the mac. Install a fresh copy of High Sierra; update to 10.13.6 to get the latest update and then see if your NVMe is recognised.

P.S - Wait Ubuntu should recognise the SSD - have u opened up parted or something?
 
What version of macOS was installed on the dead SSD? If it wasn't 10.13 then you won't be able to use the 760p as there was a bootrom update as part of macOS High Sierra (10.13) that added NVMe support.

Get an old SATA drive (hard drive or SSD) and use a SATA to USB adapter to plug it into the mac. Install a fresh copy of High Sierra; update to 10.13.6 to get the latest update and then see if your NVMe is recognised.

P.S - Wait Ubuntu should recognise the SSD - have u opened up parted or something?

On Ubuntu, I just did the lsblk, and got that. That's it.

EDIT: The SSD had windows on it, but I plugged it in to my PC and I formated the disk with minitool partition wizard before pluggin it in on my macbook.
 
On Ubuntu, I just did the lsblk, and got that. That's it.

EDIT: The SSD had windows on it, but I plugged it in to my PC and I formated the disk with minitool partition wizard before pluggin it in on my macbook.
Would lspci not bring it up as its an NVMe and technically uses the PCIe bus.
 
You said you have power nap enabled? Disable that and see if you still experience the ~30w power draw.

It appears this did the trick, thanks! I've had 3 out of 3 proper sleeps since turning off power nap.

I didn't expect power nap to be the issue because it was intermittent, but it turns out I was wrong.
 
pedrorubster : I don't think an efi flasher will work, as the way we were using them was to dump the (already updated) firmware and modify it, then flash it back with the EFI flasher. You risk corrupting the ME region if you try to simply use the firmware payloads contained inside the High Sierra installer. Until someone can prove the machine doesn't do any magic with the files, like dumping the ME from the EFI, and incorporating its values into the EFI payload prior to flashing, it would be very risky. Sadly your only option is to use an apple SSD to do the update.

If you were to add your home town to your profile (as I have done) you might find a friendly forum member with a working apple SSD that would be able to donate their drive to you temporarily to do the firmware update - I was willing to help out a fellow forum member who was about 100 clicks away, but he found a second option by using his daughters MBA SSD.
 
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This post just to share another full success with
  • a MBAir early 2015 (original ssd was a Samsung 128GB). High Sierra 10.13.6.
  • an ADATA XPG SX8200 480GB as replacement SSD
  • Sintech Model# ST-NGFF2013-C (long black adapter); note that it came from China with some front pin insulation already in place; no need for Kapton tape, as I understand.
Just swapped the original SSD with the SX8200 + Sintech, and used SuperDuper to bring back a working 10.13 system. Blackmagic now reports W/R performances around 1500/1600MB/sec (was 500/1500 with the original disk). The block "adapter+new SSD" is significantly higher (1mm more) than the original Samsung SSD, but it stills seems to fit OK with the enclosure. And, finally, the power drain on the battery in sleep and deep sleep modes is a little bit higher than before (say 5%-10% faster battery decrease)

I am very happy with the result :). Thanks a lot to Gilles_polysoft, to Cmd+Q (his summary in text format on page 65 of this thread is pure gold), and to all the other contributors to this thread, which discovered and shared this solution.
 
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I initially briefly read this thread and and ordering my drive and adaptor. I've since read through in detail and bought a proper sintech C type long black adaptor. Heres my review / input.

rMBP 2014 13"

I initially bought an unbranded adaptor off amazon, kapton tape and a Samsung 970 EVO. It worked right out of the box using superDuper to clone a High Sierra backup onto and was found in disk utility on the OSX usb boot drive. All reviews for the adapter said it worked fine with a 970EVO so I was confident.

It felt a tad sluggish and was reflected in a disk test. (380mbps in comparison to the stock drives 700-800mbps) I was obviously a bit peeved and went back to this thread to see if anyone had the same issues. No amount of kapton tape could get the speeds up as some people had suggested.

After seeing posts in here saying the sintech long black adapter was the holy grail so to speak, I thought it must be this thats causing the speed issues.

I can confirm this is correct: sintech long black adapter fired up straight away and i'm getting 1300-1400mbps speeds right away.


I can't comment on any bootrom firmware issues with sleep or power draw but I will update as i go along. I'll more than likely be taking the "disable sleep" or similar fixes rather than flashing as I do use it for a workhorse and it sits on my desk 95% of the time other from the odd hour meeting.


Hopefully this may be helpful to people struggling with drive speed, and again a big cheers to everyone and all their research on this in the thread top work guys and gals.
 
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For those interested in the Intel 760p, the price has dropped to $140 on Newegg, compared to $170 on Amazon. According to Newegg the sale ends on Monday.

I will report back my experience for when I have all the parts needed, see y'all until then!
Happy Labor Day weekend!
 
For those interested in the Intel 760p, the price has dropped to $140 on Newegg, compared to $170 on Amazon. According to Newegg the sale ends on Monday.

I will report back my experience for when I have all the parts needed, see y'all until then!
Happy Labor Day weekend!

Speaking of pricing, prices are dropping. I've been watching SSD prices for the past ~3-4 months and they are sliding quickly. I paid $100 for a SATA Samsung 870 EVO after stacking several discounts in March and considered that an excellent price. It's now selling for <$100 nearly ubiquitously.

The 760p was $157 at Newegg a couple of weeks ago - I would not be surprised to see further declines heading into the end of the year as newer M2 models hit the market.
 
For those interested in the Intel 760p, the price has dropped to $140 on Newegg, compared to $170 on Amazon. According to Newegg the sale ends on Monday.

I will report back my experience for when I have all the parts needed, see y'all until then!
Happy Labor Day weekend!

I got back from Micro Center today and found the half-terabyte 760p for $125. Like I said, prices dropping. I am waiting for a terabyte to be <$200 and I'll bite.
 
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