2011 MacBook Pro SSD install

[Twarren86]

ok first of want to introduce myself I’m Taylor I’m not very tech savvy but am good with my hands. So to my problem, I wanted to upgrade my 2011 Macbook so I bought 16gb of ram and 2 ssd to replace the optic drive. I downloaded Mac High Sierra on my external hard drive, once I was done with installing the hardware I booted the computer with the external hard drive and went to disk Utility to set up the new SSDs and nothing but the external hard drive showed up. I could really use some help and would greatly appreciate it.

 

[Audit13]

Try booting from a High Sierra USB installer or Internet recovery to see if that makes a difference.

 

[Twarren86]

I tried the recovery and it didn’t work. Not sure what a USB installer is

 

[Audit13]

You mean internet recovery could not see the drives or internet recovery couldn't download the required files to perform the recovery?

By USB installer, I mean a USB flash drive from which you can install High Sierra.

This is strange because I have even installed High Sierra on a 2010 13" MBP with a Samsung 850 EVO with no problems. Did the same for a 2011 15" MBP. In both cases, my High Sierra USB installer saw both drives.

 

[Brammy]

ok. try this since you can at least boot:

• Get an 8g USB stick, format it for Extended (journaled) and name it Untitled. Case matters
• Download High Sierra to the Applications folder.
• Copy and paste the terminal commands from this Macworlds article. This is why case-sensitsty matters. It looks for usb drive named Untitled
• Go make dinner. This takes a while.
• Install the SSD drive into the main drive bay; not where the optical is. Close up the computer. You don't have to do this, but I don't like even resting the computer on the bottom case.
• Boot with the USB drive inserted and hold down the option key. Have no other USB drives inserted
• You should see a boot screen where you can choose from the High Sierra installer
• I forget the next screen and the exact menu choice, but on one of the menus you can choose Disk Utility.
• If all is well, you will see the SSD and can format it to Extended (Journaled).
• Quit when done
• Install High Sierra.
• Reboot and set up the user account on the main SSD.
• Once you know everything is working ok, install the Optibay I am assuming you bought with the second SSD drive installed.
• Format the SSD drive.

I don't recommend putting your home drive on the second drive, and instead using it just for general storage. I did notice the two drives in my old 2011 impacted battery life. This way if you change your mind you can just pull the bay out. I also recommend just leaving it in there any buying an external Optical drive if you need one. I've found the ribbon cable to be pretty flimsy.

 

[Twarren86]

ok. try this since you can at least boot:

• Get an 8g USB stick, format it for Extended (journaled) and name it Untitled. Case matters
• Download High Sierra to the Applications folder.
• Copy and paste the terminal commands from this Macworlds article. This is why case-sensitsty matters. It looks for usb drive named Untitled
• Go make dinner. This takes a while.
• Install the SSD drive into the main drive bay; not where the optical is. Close up the computer. You don't have to do this, but I don't like even resting the computer on the bottom case.
• Boot with the USB drive inserted and hold down the option key. Have no other USB drives inserted
• You should see a boot screen where you can choose from the High Sierra installer
• I forget the next screen and the exact menu choice, but on one of the menus you can choose Disk Utility.
• If all is well, you will see the SSD and can format it to Extended (Journaled).
• Quit when done
• Install High Sierra.
• Reboot and set up the user account on the main SSD.
• Once you know everything is working ok, install the Optibay I am assuming you bought with the second SSD drive installed.
• Format the SSD drive.

I don't recommend putting your home drive on the second drive, and instead using it just for general storage. I did notice the two drives in my old 2011 impacted battery life. This way if you change your mind you can just pull the bay out. I also recommend just leaving it in there any buying an external Optical drive if you need one. I've found the ribbon cable to be pretty flimsy.

[doublepost=1511830674][/doublepost]Ok I will go get an 8gb usb and try that. This is the video I tried to follow

 

[Brammy]

Yeah, that is pretty much what I described.

I recommend installing on one SSD and then installing the second drive. It just makes things a little cleaner as you install and you know what goes where.