Reinstalling Mac w/ External SSD - Missing EFI Partition (Failed Internal SSD)

[patneligan]

Hi there,

My macbook SSD failed recently with a question mark sign etc etc, it doesnt show up in Disk Utility and it sounds like it might be a hardware issue.

In the meantime I have bought an external Sandisk 500gb SSD to reinstall MacOS in the meantime and use externally using recovery mode and disk utilities (Cmd R) (before I can get it fixed in the UK).

However when trying to install Mojave, I am met with this issue: 'You may not install to this volume because it is missing a firmware partition'

How do I get around this? I am at the end of my tether with Apple.

Thanks in advance

P

 

[patneligan]

About to throw my macbook out the window.

I am now reading that the internal SSD may need to be functioning to even do this?

Any ideas?

P

 

[Weaselboy]

Try a commmand-option-r boot to Internet recovery instead of command-r. Then format the external drive and install the OS.

 

[patneligan]

Thanks for the response.

Managed to get it working in Internet Recovery by installing Catalina - a temporary fix but a good one.

Thank you!