MacBook Pro doesn’t detect internal SSD on boot screen, but detects it in OS

[NovaLFS]

So basically i have a MacBook Pro 2014 that I replaced the SSD from a MacBook Air A1465 from 2015. I tried to install macOS Catalina on it (as a HFS+ drive) and it installed and then the MacBook doesn’t detect the drive to boot off of. Is there any way to fix it? (I can reproduce this when I try to install OS X Yosemite on the drive as well)

if I try to install Catalina on the SSD as a APFS drive, it asks for a firmware update. I tried to use an external HDD in order to install Catalina and force update the firmware, it will not work, as it can’t verify the firmware. Is there a fix or will I have to get the original part?

 

[KeesMacPro]

Maybe it's helpful for the reader to get some more info about your MBP.
If you go to: "about this Mac"> hardware info and post a screenshot(without Serial Number), people can see the exact model and BootRom version.
e.g:

 

[Audit13]

Did you try using Internet recovery's disk utility to wipe the SSD and install macOS?

The SSD from a 2015 Air will work in a 2014 Pro.

 

[NovaLFS]

Did you try using Internet recovery's disk utility to wipe the SSD and install macOS?

The SSD from a 2015 Air will work in a 2014 Pro.

I can wipe the SSD and then reinstall macOS onto the SSD, but then the boot picker does not detect the SSD.

 

[DeltaMac]

Does that mean that you reinstalled macOS on the SSD - after you swapped the SSD into the MBPro?
The last part of the install is after your MBPro reboots with the new system, where you get some choices about restoring files from another drive or from a backup - or the choice to set up as a new user. Does the SSD boot to that point for the setup?
Of course, your SSD is booting automatically as part of the macOS install, so you don't need to go through the boot picker at that time. Does it boot to that point (the setup windows)?

How are you installing macOS? Booted to an external installer? Internet recovery?

 

[NovaLFS]

Does that mean that you reinstalled macOS on the SSD - after you swapped the SSD into the MBPro?
The last part of the install is after your MBPro reboots with the new system, where you get some choices about restoring files from another drive or from a backup - or the choice to set up as a new user. Does the SSD boot to that point for the setup?
Of course, your SSD is booting automatically as part of the macOS install, so you don't need to go through the boot picker at that time. Does it boot to that point (the setup windows)?

How are you installing macOS? Booted to an external installer? Internet recovery?

Tried both a bootable macOS Catalina usb and internet recovery. Both time it reboots, but it doesn’t know where the internal SSD is at and doesn't boot to internal SSD.

 

[Audit13]

I can wipe the SSD and then reinstall macOS onto the SSD, but then the boot picker does not detect the SSD.

Normally, the EFI gets updated from an OS install, either upgrade or clean.

Have you tried removing and reinstalling the drive? Is the drive detected in the Air it came from?

 

[NovaLFS]

Normally, the EFI gets updated from an OS install, either upgrade or clean.

Have you tried removing and reinstalling the drive? Is the drive detected in the Air it came from?

I bought the SSD stand-alone (maybe that was a bad decision on my end). Tried reinstalling, no change.

 

[Audit13]

I bought the SSD stand-alone (maybe that was a bad decision on my end). Tried reinstalling, no change.

This is a Samsung SSD, correct?

 

[NovaLFS]

This is a Samsung SSD, correct?

It’s a Toshiba SSD

 

[KeesMacPro]

Normally, the EFI gets updated from an OS install, either upgrade or clean.

From what I understood the OP bought the MBP recently without SSD, and bought this SSD separately.
Could it be that the Firmware version of the MBP doesn't match with the EFI of the SSD?

 

[Audit13]

It’s a Toshiba SSD

It was my understanding that all 256 GB and higher Apple SSDs were Samsung, especially from a 2015 Air.

There is no need to match the SSD firmware and Mac firmware. All 128, 256, and 512 GB Apple SSDs from the 2013 to 2015 Pros and Airs are completely interchangeable. There is no requirement for the MacBook to be running a specific firmware to use an original Apple SSD. The 1 TB drive from a MacBook Pro is physically too wide to fit in an Air.

I have been fixing up and piecing together Airs and Pros for a few years. Every 256 GB Apple SSD I have seen has been the Samsung SSUAX or SSUBX.

 

[NovaLFS]

From what I understood the OP bought the MBP without SSD, and bought this SSD separately.
Could it be that the Firmware version of the MBP doesn't match with the EFI of the SSD?

I’ve actually bought a A1502 2014 SSD to see if it’s an EFI issue.

It was my understanding that all 256 GB and higher Apple SSDs were Samsung, especially from a 2015 Air.

I have been fixing up and piecing together Airs and Pros for a few years. Every 256 GB Apple SSD I have seen has been the Samsung SSUAX or SSUBX.

yeah this is a 128gb toshiba ssd

 

[Audit13]

I’ve actually bought a A1502 2014 SSD to see if it’s an EFI issue.


yeah this is a 128gb toshiba ssd

The MacBook's bootrom and the SSD's firmware should make no difference as long as the SSD is an original Apple SSD.

 

[DeltaMac]

Sounds like OP did not buy a "came with a Mac originally, pulled for sale" SSD
Did you buy the SSD as an Apple-original SSD (came from another Mac), or is this one that you purchased somewhere, expecting/hoping that any SSD will work, and doesn't have to be an original Apple part?

From what I can find: you should re-insert the original SSD for the 2014 MBPro, and update the firmware by installing at least High Sierra (macOS 10.13.6) on the old SSD, which should give you firmware that will accept your new replacement SSD.

 

[Audit13]

The MacBook must be running at least a High Sierra bootrom in order to install macOS to a non-Apple internal SSD.

 

[KeesMacPro]

That's why I asked for the BootRom version