install macOS Monterey on additional internal drive

[csonni]

I have installed an NVMe SSD in my Mac mini and kept the HDD buried inside the case but erased it. I'm thinking I should probably use it for an emergency backup drive with a new MacOS on it. From what I hear, there could be issues with a non-Apple NVMe drive when updating to a new MacOS. I have the Monterey Install file. Do I just drag it from my external drive to my Mac mini and fire it up from there to install on the empty HDD?

 

[Fishrrman]

IF the internal drive is large enough to hold the contents of the SSD, why not use CarbonCopyCloner or SuperDuper to "clone it" from the SSD to the HDD?

An easy process.

Both CCC and SD are FREE to download and use for 30 days.

 

[Madhatter32]

My understanding is that people are having trouble doing this because they need the current firmware that comes Monterey already installed. If you have access to an Apple installed NVMe it should not be a problem -- just upgrade to Monterey and then try cloning it as Fishrrman says to see if it works.

 

[csonni]

IF the internal drive is large enough to hold the contents of the SSD, why not use CarbonCopyCloner or SuperDuper to "clone it" from the SSD to the HDD?

An easy process.

Both CCC and SD are FREE to download and use for 30 days.

I would have done that were the drive large enough. It’s only 500 GB.

 

[csonni]

My understanding is that people are having trouble doing this because they need the current firmware that comes Monterey already installed. If you have access to an Apple installed NVMe it should not be a problem -- just upgrade to Monterey and then try cloning it as Fishrrman says to see if it works.

I would keep the original Apple drive (very slow 5700 rpm HDD) in there with Monterey installed just in case my Crucial NVMe drive won’t work with the next MacOS update after Monterey.