Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Monterey install error

S

sashavegas

macrumors regular
Original poster
Jul 11, 2018
122
86
Trying to install Monterey fresh. Reformated HDD. boot from usb installer after a while get message “a required firmware update cannot be installed”
iMac 2017 quad core with 32 ram and single nvme HDD. Original 32gb disk was replace with apple 512gb. Big Sur installed fine.
 

Attachments

  • 8EE4BC84-1707-4097-911F-232A712222BC.jpeg
    8EE4BC84-1707-4097-911F-232A712222BC.jpeg
    277.9 KB · Views: 14,499
  • Like
Reactions: Mic-M4c and netchov
I’m having the same issues, and I have a 15” 2015 MacBook Pro. I upgraded the SSD to a Polaris Apple 2TB SSD from an iMac so it’s telling me “A required firmware update could not be installed. Compatible storage is required for update.” ?

Please help, not sure if there’s any workarounds here. I tried resetting the SMC controller and checking the drive for errors in Disk Utility, but to no avail.
 
You need to be connected to the internet for it to get the firmware updates. If you can’t connect to the internet, then use the ‘downloadassets’ flag when creating the bootable USB. That will put the firmware updates on the USB drive so the installer doesn’t have to go out and fetch them.

sudo /Applications/Install\ macOS\ Monterey.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia --volume /Volumes/Untitled --downloadassets
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: chabig
That extended command for making bootable disk did not help. I have the same issue with the same laptop. My laptop is 2015 Mid 15" 2.5 GHz with upgraded SSD from Samsung and Sintech adapter and now the idiotic macos 12 does not install. Anybody any idea how to bypass the firmware disk upgrade required to install Monterey?
 
  • Like
Reactions: Calaveras
Here is the solution. I really hope you kept your old SSD! Swap the drives putting back the original ssd in. Boot from your USB Install drive created with the command provided earlier by BigBlur. Allow the installation to finish on your old original drive. Then shut down the computer, swap the drives and put the new one back in. Run the installer again and it will install this time. Apparently they are not updating the HDD firmware but the controller firmware I think and once it passes then it never checks again.

Hope this helps.

Untitled.jpg
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: coso
Original iMac come with Fusion (32GB SSD + 1TB HDD). I replace SSD with drive from other macbook. While many people using Syntech adapter to place any NVME, i was using original Apple drive, without adapter. Now cannot install Monterey, stuck on Firmware update. Was using option "--downloadassets", but it did not help. Funny, i was trying to install Monterey Beta, but that time was hit with message "unable to verify firmware". So i guess apple include some checking mechanism to see if all hardware is original.
 
sashavegas said:
Original iMac come with Fusion (32GB SSD + 1TB HDD). I replace SSD with drive from other macbook. While many people using Syntech adapter to place any NVME, i was using original Apple drive, without adapter. Now cannot install Monterey, stuck on Firmware update. Was using option "--downloadassets", but it did not help. Funny, i was trying to install Monterey Beta, but that time was hit with message "unable to verify firmware". So i guess apple include some checking mechanism to see if all hardware is original.
Click to expand...
Typical Apple ****. Try looking into OpenCore. That is the boot loader for hackintoshes. It can skip a lot of checks like T2 and so on. People already installed it with OpenCore on Hackintosh so I guess this is your way to go. Just don’t tell anybody with a Hackintosh ? that would be the funniest thing - Apple hardware to require hack to install the OS ?

https://www.tonymacx86.com/ check and ask here.
 
BigBlur said:
You need to be connected to the internet for it to get the firmware updates. If you can’t connect to the internet, then use the ‘downloadassets’ flag when creating the bootable USB. That will put the firmware updates on the USB drive so the installer doesn’t have to go out and fetch them.

sudo /Applications/Install\ macOS\ Monterey.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia --volume /Volumes/Untitled --downloadassets
Click to expand...
I created a usb drive with this command last night, it finished creating it but had an error during the download of the firmware I guess, the creation of the bootable drive finished however and I used it to do a clean install on my 2020 MBP and worked just fine, what could have happened? I guess it didn't find the files needed for that part but still was able to create a useable installer?
 
TimManzana said:
I created a usb drive with this command last night, it finished creating it but had an error during the download of the firmware I guess, the creation of the bootable drive finished however and I used it to do a clean install on my 2020 MBP and worked just fine, what could have happened? I guess it didn't find the files needed for that part but still was able to create a useable installer?
Click to expand...
I had a similar issue last year with Big Sur. It turned out that my 16GB USB drive was just a tad too small to hold the additional assets. I upgraded to a 32GB USB drive and the issue went away. The createinstallmedia command will create the bootable USB first, and then attempt to download the assets. If the assets fail due to storage space issues, the bootable USB will still work...you just won't have all the assets and need an internet connection instead. The downloadassets flag isn't really necessary if your Mac is able to connect to the internet during the install process.
 
BigBlur said:
I had a similar issue last year with Big Sur. It turned out that my 16GB USB drive was just a tad too small to hold the additional assets. I upgraded to a 32GB USB drive and the issue went away. The createinstallmedia command will create the bootable USB first, and then attempt to download the assets. If the assets fail due to storage space issues, the bootable USB will still work...you just won't have all the assets and need an internet connection instead. The downloadassets flag isn't really necessary if your Mac is able to connect to the internet during the install process.
Click to expand...
OK, thank you for clarifying that, I was a bit concerned.
 
I was using 32GB USB and downloaded all assets. It is actually was around 450MB size. Still the same error
 
sashavegas said:
Trying to install Monterey fresh. Reformated HDD. boot from usb installer after a while get message “a required firmware update cannot be installed”
iMac 2017 quad core with 32 ram and single nvme HDD. Original 32gb disk was replace with apple 512gb. Big Sur installed fine.
Click to expand...
See here:
https://www.reddit.com/r/MacOS/comments/qfugix

TL;DR: If your system came with an Apple SSD, make sure you put it back in before running the upgrade to Monterey so that MacOS 12 can upgrade whatever firmware it needs to. Install Monterey on the Apple SSD, take the Apple SSD out, put back in your NVMe third party SSD, and Monterey should then upgrade on it. If your computer borks when trying to load Monterey on the Apple SSD (I got a Boot ROM error), you'll need to load Catalina or Big Sur on the Apple SSD first, then upgrade to Monterey on the Apple SSD. Afterward, you can put your NVMe one back in and run the upgrade.
 
so if your drive fails and you go through the hassle of replacing it and need to upgrade OS, your out of luck???
 
Originally tried several times to download MAC OS Monterey on OWC Aura x1. I verified it was in download folder. I called Apple Tech support and they tried to get me to restore from internet but kept getting ("Apple Support Error -5101"). Tech support told me that means their servers are not responding, try back in a WEEK!!!!

Finally gave up and came to this Forum. Got some suggestions.

Hope this helps someone out there. Here is what I did:
1. Removed Aura x1
2. Installed original Apple SSD (256GB)
3. Updated from High Sierra on SSD.(11.3) to latest version (11.6).
- Just went through "Software Update" from "About this Mac"
4. Updated Original Apple Drive to Monterey by going through App Store and downloading Monterey.
5. Update complete to Monterey on Original Drive
6. Removed Original Apple SSD and Reinstalled OWC Aura x1
7. Connected Apple SSD via USB
8. Restarted COMPUTER with NVRAM RESET (hold down Command-Option-P-R)
9. Computer restarted
10. After a few seconds an Apple logo appeared and load bar that said 28 minutes remaining.
11. Computer restarted itself after several minutes.
12. Disconnected Apple Drive from USB after system turned itself off
13. Restarted system and MAC OS Monterey was loaded.

Thanks to everyone here

Mid 2015 MBP
1TB OWC Aura x1
16GB Ram
iris Pro 1536 VRAM
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: cobra521 and mr100percent
I swapped imac 2017 SSD (32GB) with SSD from macbook 2016 (512GB) both apple original. I am not using Syntech adapter. Still does not work.
 
Went through install hell trying to install Monterey. Ultimately created a bootable HD for Monterey which I believe is what turned around a rather scary situation of not being able to complete install, reboot or fall back on the previous OS for Mac. I have a 2017 iMac w/ 40gB RAM. I'd recommend creating a bootable version of Monterey and doing lots of backups if you have any concerns about being able to successfully upgrade to the new OS.
 
Good lord, I'm SOL because I sold the original SSD that came with the laptop. I'm trying with a borrowed SSD this weekend from a Late 2013 13" Macbook Pro.
 
I decided to bite the bullet and disassembled my iMac (2017)

Put back original 32GB SSD and 1TB HDD. Create Fusion and install Monterey.

After that I disassembled it again and put back 512GB SSD (That was pulled from broken MacBook 2016). Installed Monterey again and it was OK.

System Firmware Version: 447.40.12.0.0

Since I was do it fresh anyway, I decided install Monterey first beta 12.1, that was released yesterday. Got the same error, about not able to installed firmware.

As a result, it was not an apple mistake or fluke, right now Monterey officially has mechanism to verify original hardware and will prevent to install on any outside the apple update.

The funny part was that SSD that I swap was also from Apple. I am not using Syntech adapter for regular NVMe drive, or Aura SSD, or any other aftermarket drive. SSD was swapped directly from apple machine.

So if any further update of Monterey is needed in the future, it will require to put back original SSD again, that become headache. I guess Big Sur will be the last OS that allow outside of apple repair.

Attached images: on the left Original 32GB SSD, on right MacBook 512GB SSD.
 

Attachments

  • original.jpg
    original.jpg
    341.5 KB · Views: 221
  • Macbook.jpg
    Macbook.jpg
    236.8 KB · Views: 239
Had same problem with installation of Monterey on a non original drive - MacBook Pro 13 early 2015 with Transcend 480GB drive.The solution was putting back an original drive to the MacBook and boot the computer from the transcend drive with Big Sur connected externally and upgrading macOS to Monterey on that drive. After successful installation I swapped the drives and that was it.There was no need to install Monterey on the original drive first, just do the normal upgrade on the external drive and then swap the drives.
 
For mackbook is much easy to swap the SSD. iMac require a lot of job to get to motherboard and swap internal NVMe drive
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back