Install OpenCore with macOS Sonoma on external drive for Unsupported Macs (Step-by-Step Tutorial)

Uncover the secrets to seamlessly dual-booting and installing macOS Sonoma on your external SSD drive. Elevate your Mac experience with this step-by-step tutorial, opening up new possibilities for your system.
Link: dortania.github.io/OpenCore-L...

[@fuxbarxmedia]

Thanks a lot for making this tutorial the first that let me to successfully install the new OS on my 2013 iMac. Runs perfect!

[@vmystikilv]

Other than 10-15 reboots during install, everything went perfect. Thank you . Late 2013 27 i7 3.5 7804gb

[@fuxbarxmedia]

I forgot to mention that I had to restart the iMac about 10 (!) times until the new OS was installed but thanks to your video adressing this "problem" I didn't give up - so thanks again for that!

[@ekennedy6645]

Easy to follow instructions - just what I was looking for in order to install Sonoma on an external SSD to try it out before committing to installing on the internal SSD on my 2012 MacBook Pro 15" i7 with a 1TB SSD and 16 GB RAM. However, after following your instructions, the installer got as far as 14 minutes remaining in the installation when it stopped dead. After a few minutes, the install/recovery screen reappeared with "Restore from TimeMachine" highlighted. Since I didn't want that option, I clicked on the "Install macOS Sonoma" option and the installation restarted, but again hung with 14 minutes left. I restarted using my internal SSD as the boot drive and went through the whole procedure - starting with erasing and reformatting both the USB installer drive and the external SSD and reinstalling the OCLP installer on the USB thumb drive. Same result. I checked out your other video on installation problems but it didn't seem to fit in my situation, Can anyone else offer any advice to correct this? Thanks in advance!

[@JudgeFredd]

Great video

[@harrynorway]

Great video. It would be great to have a followup video on how to update my external drive installation. Can I update as normal on a Mac, or do I have to update using Opencore?

[@macintoshteam6657]

I'm glad you enjoyed the video! A follow-up video on updating external drive installations is currently in the planning stages. Stay tuned for more details on whether you can update as normal on a Mac or if Opencore is recommended for the update process. Your interest and feedback are much appreciated!

[@djdonbentley2141]

I recommend disabling sip system protection before you build the installer.

[@2sooke]

I love the step-by-step and I imagine if I wanted to install Ventura it would be the same, correct?

[@macintoshteam6657]

Thank you for your comment! Yes, in principle, the process should be similar if you wanted to install Ventura. OpenCore is a universal bootloader, so the basic steps should remain the same. However, the specific configuration files and drivers may vary depending on the hardware and requirements of Ventura. It's always a good idea to consult Ventura's documentation for specific instructions. Good luck with your installation! This is the link to opencore Ventura 1.4.3 the latest version: kzbin.info/www/bejne/p4W7namuo9mJrrc

[@joelspicher590]

Excellent video ! Which NVME and enclosure would you recommend to buy ? That would be for my iMac 13.1 from 2012. Thanks !

[@macintoshteam6657]

Hi Joel! Thanks for checking out the video. I'd recommend the Samsung 980 NVMe SSD, it's a solid choice with PCIe 3.0 and 500GB storage. Pair it with the ACT AC1600 storage drive enclosure, and you should be good to go for your iMac 13.1 from 2012. If you have any more questions, feel free to ask.

[@joelspicher590]

I very much appreciate the answer, I just ordered according to your advice and will try to install this week. Thanks a lot !

[@macintoshteam6657]

@@joelspicher590 You're very welcome! I'm glad I could help. Best of luck with your installation, and don't hesitate to reach out if you encounter any challenges along the way. Enjoy exploring Sonoma on your iMac!

[@LionFXmedia]

I have a problem. When I reboot my Mac I'm unable to select EFI BOOT option bc it is unavailable. I only can select the actual disk where OS is installed or the external drive. Why? I'm trying to install Sonoma on a late 2013 imac whit macos 10.15

[@dortmundgame2155]

Vídeo top

[@cemgengonul]

Thank you very much for this video. It was very helpful, but I have an other question. I have iMac (27-inch, Mid 2010) 2,93 GHz Intel Core i7 and installed MacOS Siearra 10.12.16 on HDD . I do not have internal an SSD. Therefore I didn't install High Siearra 10.13. I wonder If I can do all these installation steps to an External SSD that connects to a Macbook air (mid-2012). Then , Can I connect and use the external SSD which has installed sonomo on my iMac (27-inch, Mid 2010) 2,93 GHz Intel Core i7 ?

[@macintoshteam6657]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/jqrOhJqpnrZ7rqMsi=i84LGgD9YwbvUi1Z

[@michaelvogelsberg179]

Thx

[@macintoshteam6657]

No, thank you!

[@user-jb4ij3yq7v]

very very helpfull much appreciated

[@sandor8022]

My mac can not botting from ext. ssd,I dont know why???Maybe my model is 21.1??

[@user-kp4ud4jx7f]

It did not work until I pressed option command p r on the reboot. Then ok.

[@Katthegamer1]

every time I try and download the installer I get a wifi error plz help

[@user-kp4ud4jx7f]

Can I resume the old Catalina if I want?

[@lavierijunior]

Hi. Tks for the video. Tell me, how to do it at iMac Fusion Drive? Which drive to choose, SSD or HD? Will it continue to function as a Fusion Drive?

[@macintoshteam6657]

Thank you for watching the video! If you're considering installing OpenCore on an iMac with a Fusion Drive, here's some advice: Choosing the Drive: While you have the option to install OpenCore on either the SSD or HDD portion of your Fusion Drive, it's generally recommended to install it on the SSD portion for faster performance. However, if you're looking for even greater performance improvements, you might consider upgrading to an NVMe M.2 SSD. Advantages of NVMe M.2 SSD: NVMe M.2 SSDs offer significantly faster read and write speeds compared to traditional SATA SSDs. By upgrading to an NVMe M.2 SSD, you can further enhance the overall performance of your iMac, especially in terms of boot-up times, application loading speeds, and overall system responsiveness. Maintaining Fusion Drive Functionality: Installing OpenCore on the SSD or upgrading to an NVMe M.2 SSD should not affect the functionality of your Fusion Drive. Your iMac should continue to operate as a Fusion Drive, seamlessly combining the speed of the SSD with the storage capacity of the HDD. Installation Process: Whether you choose to install OpenCore on the existing SSD or upgrade to an NVMe M.2 SSD, the installation process will be similar. You'll need to create a bootable USB drive with OpenCore, boot into the OpenCore bootloader, and then proceed with the installation process. Backup Important Data: As always, before making any changes to your system, it's important to back up any important data. While the risk of data loss during the installation process is minimal, having a backup provides peace of mind. By upgrading to an NVMe M.2 SSD, you can further optimize the performance of your iMac and ensure that it continues to meet your needs for years to come. Good luck with your installation, and feel free to reach out if you have any further questions!

[@ItsMeSFSPlayerAndRoblox]

How to use it with a partition it doesnt work

[@pavelkucera8276]

I have similar problem as @off-road-biker, i installed Ventura on iMac 27 2017 on the NVME in the ACASIS enclosure without any problems, but installation of the Sonoma goes in loop and goes no further. The loop ends always on the dialog with install, Diskutil, Timemachine... I tried both possibilities start the installation with the enclosure connected in the beginning and connect the enclosure after boot. Result is always the same - it will not install on the external drive. SOLVED! by the reboot i have manually changed the boot on MacOS installer and then on the new drive name and after some restarts was problem solved 🙂 After initialization of Sonoma started OC, but after reboot was only one option - new drive to boot of. Sonoma works and drive icon was still the same, so i have to change it manually.

[@macintoshteam6657]

Wow, thanks for sharing your journey with us! It sounds like you went through quite the troubleshooting adventure to get Sonoma up and running on your external NVME drive. Are you finding that the NVME is living up to your expectations in terms of performance? And how's your overall impression of Sonoma now that you've got it running smoothly? We're genuinely interested in hearing more about your experience!

[@pavelkucera8276]

@oshteam6657 it was horrible like a cracked windows xp installation in 200X:-) !!! the previous installation was on the internal SATA SSD and it was exactly according the guide. But the SATA 500ish speed was not my target. so I have decided for the external drive solution because it is cheaper and labor free in comparison to installation of the internal NVME. I am totally newborn in the MacOS so I can't say anything about the behavior now. Sonoma works great in all aspects. I wanted to do a Blackmagic speediest and it was not possible to choose the external NVME. But when I´ve tested it earlier, the speed was approx. 2.300 MB/s write and read. Anyway thanks a lot for good installation guide! Another problem solved. The Startup disk is write protected from the system, I´ve created new volume for data and there it is: 2.343 / 2.357 read and write So succes 🙂

[@doublesnake1977]

@pavelkucera8276 I seem to have the same issue where the "macOS Installer" never appears as an option after running the install on an external SSD. Could you please be more specific about how you resolved your issue, or point me in the right direction? Thanks 🙂

[@BeniJune]

Everything is all installed but I can’t sign in to my Apple account … :!/

[@off-road-biker]

Unfortunately, it is not as easy on an external disk as shown in the video - at least if you have already installed macOS + OCLP on the internal disk before (e.g. internal disk: macOS Ventura / external disk: Sonoma) During the installation process (between 9:20 and 9:27) the Mac starts automatically 4/5 times. Each time my Mac wants to boot from the internal disk. I then have to turn off the Mac completely and restart it while holding down the option key again and select EFI Boot, then the installation process. Then it continues until the next reboot. I have to do this a total of 4/5 times until the initial setup screen appears. *Is there a solution for this so that the system uses the correct OCLP EFI etc. when rebooting 4/5 times during the installation? *

[@macintoshteam6657]

I appreciate your comment and understand the challenges you're facing during the installation process. It seems like the automatic reboots and the issue with the internal disk are causing some inconvenience. Feel free to check out this link for a video that could offers a solution: kzbin.info/www/bejne/pZa7lIaIgsqWkM0.

[@off-road-biker]

@@macintoshteam6657 Thanks 4 your answer. Your linked video shows the same as I "solve" the problem on my own - I wrote it in my first comment. I'm just still searching for a solution that OCLP detects the external disk with EFI on its own.

[@mcj9190]

Good video, is this process an "OS Update" or "OS Fresh-New-Install" ? Will all my current adobe apps/ms office apps/photo/video/data be wiped-out after the installation ?

[@macintoshteam6657]

Fresh new install

[@centralseac]

Great video. I installed Sonoma on an iMac 16.1, installed great, everything fine, but it was very slow. Checked the internal HDD and its damaged. I cloned the drive to an external 1TB SSD with success but it wont boot. Im getting the unsupported icon. Any idea why? Would highly appreciate your help. Thank you.

[@macintoshteam6657]

Hey there! Thanks for checking out the video and giving Sonoma a shot on your iMac 16.1. Sorry to hear about the slowdown and the damaged internal HDD, but kudos to you for successfully cloning it to an external 1TB SSD! As for the unsupported icon issue, it could be due to various reasons such as incorrect bootloader settings, missing or incorrect drivers, or issues with the cloning process. I'd recommend double-checking your OpenCore configuration and ensuring that all necessary drivers and kexts are properly installed for your specific iMac model. Also, make sure that your SSD is properly formatted and set up for booting. If you're still encountering issues, it might be helpful to seek assistance from the OpenCore community forums or other online resources where experienced users can provide more targeted troubleshooting steps. Best of luck, and I hope you get everything sorted out soon! Feel free to reach out if you need further assistance.

[@phantom0908]

I appreciate the tutorial. Mine doesn't come up to the Boot picker though. I get the 'Internet Recovery' globe and 'Choose Network'. I tried going into disk utility and trying to restore from there but it didn't work.

[@macintoshteam6657]

It sounds like your MacBook Pro is defaulting to Internet Recovery mode, which indicates it may not be able to find a valid bootable drive or there might be an issue with your OpenCore setup. Here are some steps to troubleshoot this issue: Check BIOS Settings: Ensure your Mac is set to boot from the correct drive. Restart your Mac and hold down the Option (⌥) key to enter the Startup Manager. Check if your OpenCore boot drive appears. If it doesn't, there may be an issue with how OpenCore is installed or configured. Verify OpenCore Configuration: Double-check your OpenCore setup, particularly your config.plist file. Make sure you have the correct EFI partition setup with the necessary OpenCore files and kexts. Create a Bootable USB with OpenCore: If you haven't already, create a bootable USB drive with OpenCore. Copy the EFI folder from your OpenCore setup to the EFI partition of the USB drive. Plug in the USB drive and try booting from it by holding down the Option (⌥) key during startup. Reset NVRAM/PRAM: This can sometimes help resolve boot issues: Restart your Mac and immediately hold down Option + Command + P + R for about 20 seconds. Use Disk Utility in Recovery Mode: Boot into Internet Recovery mode (Command + Option + R). Open Disk Utility and check the status of your drives. Ensure that your macOS partition is intact and properly formatted (APFS or Mac OS Extended (Journaled)). Reinstall macOS: If all else fails, you might need to reinstall macOS to ensure you have a clean and working installation. From Internet Recovery mode, choose "Reinstall macOS" and follow the prompts. After reinstalling macOS, you can try setting up OpenCore again. Check Internet Recovery Network: Ensure you're connected to a reliable network. Sometimes, Internet Recovery can fail if the connection is unstable. Check for Hardware Issues: Sometimes boot issues can be caused by hardware problems. Run Apple Diagnostics (restart and hold D) to check for hardware issues. Follow OpenCore Installation Guide: Make sure you follow the detailed OpenCore Installation Guide for your specific MacBook Pro model. If you follow these steps and still encounter issues, please provide more details about your current setup (e.g., screenshots of your EFI folder structure, config.plist settings) so I can offer more specific guidance.

[@phantom0908]

@@macintoshteam6657 I think I missed a step with the EFI creation in the 'too many attempts' that I made to try and create the USB drive. The above detail was SO MUCH MORE! Thank you!!!

[@phantom0908]

@@macintoshteam6657 Answers inline: Check BIOS Settings: Ensure your Mac is set to boot from the correct drive. Restart your Mac and hold down the Option (⌥) key to enter the Startup Manager. Check if your OpenCore boot drive appears. If it doesn't, there may be an issue with how OpenCore is installed or configured. - Using 1.5.0, for whatever reason, when I go through the process, I can never get it to show the EFI boot. If I ONLY do the Build and install OpenCore, it then boots. If I do ONLY the Create macOS Installer piece on another drive, I can see both but it won’t install. When I select the Image using the Disk Utility, I can never select it. It’s just greyed out. Verify OpenCore Configuration: Double-check your OpenCore setup, particularly your config.plist file. Make sure you have the correct EFI partition setup with the necessary OpenCore files and kexts. - I’m not sure how to do this. However, the fact that it WILL see it when I ONLY do the ‘Build and Install OpenCore, doesn’t that mean that it is working? Are there any ‘Settings’ that I need to check/uncheck? I am pretty sure that I didn’t change anything there but should I have? Create a Bootable USB with OpenCore: If you haven't already, create a bootable USB drive with OpenCore. Copy the EFI folder from your OpenCore setup to the EFI partition of the USB drive. Plug in the USB drive and try booting from it by holding down the Option (⌥) key during startup. - I can boot off of the drive that has ONLY the Build and Install OpenCore if I stop there. If I go to the next step, it never is recognized as a bootable drive. I’ve tried on 2 different USB 3.0 flash drives. One is a 32GB and the other is a 64GB. Reset NVRAM/PRAM: This can sometimes help resolve boot issues: Restart your Mac and immediately hold down Option + Command + P + R for about 20 seconds. - I’ve tried this multiple times with no effect either way that I can see. Use Disk Utility in Recovery Mode: Boot into Internet Recovery mode (Command + Option + R). Open Disk Utility and check the status of your drives. Ensure that your macOS partition is intact and properly formatted (APFS or Mac OS Extended (Journaled)). - I have chosen MacOS Extended (Journaled) with the GUID Partition Map as noted in the video. Reinstall macOS: If all else fails, you might need to reinstall macOS to ensure you have a clean and working installation. From Internet Recovery mode, choose "Reinstall macOS" and follow the prompts. After reinstalling macOS, you can try setting up OpenCore again. - I tried this as well but the OS is older than 10.7.7 and therefore doesn’t allow me to install OpenCore directly on the Mac. Check Internet Recovery Network: Ensure you're connected to a reliable network. Sometimes, Internet Recovery can fail if the connection is unstable. - I’ve been able to restore over Wifi several times without a problem. Check for Hardware Issues: Sometimes boot issues can be caused by hardware problems. Run Apple Diagnostics (restart and hold D) to check for hardware issues. - I can see the EFI drive but only if I boot to it without the actual installer installed on it. Wouldn’t that eliminate a hardware issue? I can restore it to factory defaults and that works too. Although it will not connect to the Mac store since it’s so old. And Safari can’t render some websites because of this as well. Follow OpenCore Installation Guide: Make sure you follow the detailed OpenCore Installation Guide for your specific MacBook Pro model. If you follow these steps and still encounter issues, please provide more details about your current setup (e.g., screenshots of your EFI folder structure, config.plist settings) so I can offer more specific guidance. - I made sure to select MacBookPro 10,2. It is a A1425 (EMC2672). I did replace the drive as it went out. At one point I had a different version on it but had screwed up partitioned the drive and couldn’t get it to recognize the whole thing so I decided to start over and… got this. I think I used 1.4.2 but I don’t remember. I don’t recall which OS I used to build the installer. I think it was Big Sur but it might have been an older version of it. I have tried downloading it a few times as well, thinking something was wrong with the download. When I boot off of one drive and have the ‘Installer’ on the other, I can SEE the Installer but not able to select. It.

[@phantom0908]

UPDATE: I used 1.4.2 and it worked the first time. There's something in 1.5.0 that just doesn't work. I've repeated the whole process above sooo many times I've actually lost count. I've used 3 different USB Flash drives (32GB, 64GB and 128GB) from 3 different manufacturers (Sandisk, Kensington and MicroCenter house brand) and tried just the OpenCore installer and then both... I did the 1.4.2 from memory at this point and it worked the first time without a problem.

[@Alterocopismo]

My iMac was running Open Core Legacy Patcher (Ventura), but the GPU broke, so I removed the HD and put it in an external case. The issue is that I can't access the HD on my MacBook Air or on a Windows notebook. Does anyone know how I can recover my data from this OCLP HD?

[@paulwaldrop]

Had a similar issue. I had a dell latitude laying around, so I turned it into a hackintosh (their are videos on how to do this). Once it had mac os on it, I was able to recover the data off my drive.

[@Alterocopismo]

@@paulwaldropSo do you believe if I install again the mac OS (another iMac), maybe, I'll recovery the data?

[@maxaquilino7264]

I have already using an external SSD drive as my start up disk with currently Catalina. Can I still follow the same process to install Sonoma? Obviously I would need to ignore the part that reformat the drive as I just want to upgrade. Would this still work?

[@macintoshteam6657]

Yes

[@nicomonkeyboy]

Upvote for tea drinker

[@danmastellotto9862]

Wait. At time stamp 9.11 you said "You need to select the EXTERNAL HD" But the NVME is the Internal SSD. Right? Why would you install an MacOS Sonoma to an external NVME? Are you booting your OS from an external NVME?

[@macintoshteam6657]

Yes, in this video we insttal macosl on an external nvme..

[@LarsAnders54]

I get to the point where I am about to reboot, but there I only see MacHD and Install Mac OS, no EFI Boot with the yellow drive. My iMac is a 14.1 (late 2013) and I have gone thru the exercise several times with the same result. What am I doing wrong? Please help!

[@macintoshteam6657]

It sounds like you're encountering an issue with the OpenCore bootloader not appearing as an option when you're about to reboot your Late 2013 iMac (14.1). Here are some troubleshooting steps you can try: Ensure Correct Boot Drive: Make sure you've installed OpenCore correctly on your internal drive and that it's set up to be the primary boot drive. Double-check your installation steps to ensure everything was done correctly. Check BIOS Settings: Verify that your iMac's BIOS settings are configured to allow booting from external or non-Apple-signed drives. Sometimes, secure boot settings or similar features can prevent the system from recognizing bootable drives. Reinstall OpenCore: If you suspect that the OpenCore installation might be incomplete or incorrect, try reinstalling it. Make sure to follow the installation instructions carefully and pay attention to any specific settings or configurations required for your Late 2013 iMac model. Check Compatibility: Confirm that the version of OpenCore you're using is compatible with your iMac model. Sometimes, using an incompatible version can lead to booting issues. Reset NVRAM: Resetting the NVRAM (non-volatile random-access memory) on your iMac can sometimes resolve boot-related issues. To do this, restart your iMac and immediately hold down Command + Option + P + R until you hear the startup chime a second time. Try Alternate Boot Methods: If OpenCore still doesn't appear as an option, you could try using alternate boot methods such as booting from a USB drive with the OpenCore bootloader installed. This can help determine if the issue lies with the internal drive or the OpenCore installation itself. By following these steps, you should hopefully be able to resolve the issue and successfully boot into OpenCore on your Late 2013 iMac. If you continue to experience difficulties, don't hesitate to seek further assistance.

[@LarsAnders54]

@@macintoshteam6657 Thank you so much for the advise, I have started to tackle it: First, OC is obviously not my primary boot drive. When I go to Start Up Disk, and set it to "Install iOS Sonoma", after restart I get the message; "The bless tool was unable to set the current boot disk." This leads me to the second item, the BIOS settings. Still after rebooting with CMND+Opt+O+F, it just boots me up to my old iOS. I'll keep working it, any tips of course welcome. Cheers!

[@williameverets2736]

When you open the open core download I see 2 downloads, when I open up my download I only see one Download what is the difference? Because at the end when I try to install open core on my internal drive the 15" late 2013 11,3 holding opt key goes into recovery mode?

[@macintoshteam6657]

It seems like you're encountering a discrepancy between the number of downloads you see when opening the OpenCore download compared to what you find in your actual download. Let me clarify: When you download OpenCore, you may encounter multiple files within the downloaded folder. Typically, you will find a main OpenCore package or folder, and possibly additional files such as documentation or sample configuration files. The main OpenCore package or folder contains everything you need to set up the bootloader on your system. This includes the necessary bootloader files, drivers, and configuration files. You will primarily work with this main package or folder during the installation process. As for your issue with your late 2013 15" MacBook Pro (11,3) going into recovery mode when attempting to install OpenCore on the internal drive, it sounds like there may be an issue with the boot process or the installation itself. Here are a few troubleshooting steps you can try: Verify Installation: Double-check that you've correctly followed the installation instructions for OpenCore on your specific hardware, including any necessary configuration changes. Boot Drive Selection: When booting your MacBook Pro, ensure that you're selecting the correct drive with the OpenCore bootloader installed. Sometimes, the system might default to recovery mode if it can't find a suitable boot option. Reinstall OpenCore: If you suspect there might be an issue with the OpenCore installation, consider reinstalling it. Make sure to follow the installation instructions carefully, and pay attention to any specific steps or configurations needed for your MacBook Pro model. Check Compatibility: Confirm that your MacBook Pro model is fully compatible with the version of OpenCore you're trying to install. Compatibility issues could potentially lead to booting problems. By following these steps, you should be able to troubleshoot the issue and hopefully get OpenCore successfully installed on your MacBook Pro without it entering recovery mode.

[@williameverets2736]

I tried again downloaded open core zip file, went through the process were you put in your password and download to disk, then it goes to reboot computer nothing happened and goes to recovery boot don't know what I am doing wrong?

[@xmryeofuren]

hello I tried follow your step but I’m stuck when I choosing the install to disk it say the disk is locked

[@xmryeofuren]

I'm stuck at 7:22 when I tried to erase it say error. and when I try to install the disk is locked.

[@michelespiritlevel]

HI IM FROM THE UK 🇬🇧 IHAVE A MAC PRO 8gig ram 500 gig hardrive and its a mid 2010 working absolutely works amazing ,I have a 60gig external flash drive but wen I reboot after following the prompts IT BOOTS INTO A BLACK SCREEN WITH A MOUSE AND A TRACK PAD OBLONG THING IT WILL NOT BOOT INTO SONOMA OR IVE TRIED VENTURA BUT IT WILL NOT BOOT AND NOONE WILL HELP PLEASE HELP I DONT KNOW HOW TO GET PAST THIS PLEASE IM A WOMAN ON MY OWN I CANNOT GET NO HELP LP SOS 🆘

[@macintoshteam6657]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/pZa7lIaIgsqWkM0si=yy5VvvCXZdG1LVtp

[@boskobuha8523]

I have an iMac 2011 high sierra 16gb RAM and 500gb ssd storage with AMD Radeon HD 6750M.Is it possible to do this process on my computer so that there are no problems with the graphics card?

[@macintoshteam6657]

Yes

[@boskobuha8523]

@@macintoshteam6657 What would you advise me, should I do this process on my iMac on its ssd drive or should I make this external drive? I had a bad experience upgrading this iMac over a year ago

[@macintoshteam6657]

@@boskobuha8523 i would advice the external option, the best one is a nvme m.2 drive

[@macintoshteam6657]

@@boskobuha8523 kzbin.info/www/bejne/pGLIeKyvfNJ0kKMsi=ZG2cDIzmtTQsupyn

[@macintoshteam6657]

@@boskobuha8523 kzbin.info/www/bejne/pGLIeKyvfNJ0kKMsi=ZG2cDIzmtTQsupyn

[@tongpo1002]

I did it step by step, but, I don't know where my mistake is. MacOS Sonoma just won't start?!

[@macintoshteam6657]

Check External Drive Compatibility: Ensure that the external drive you're using is compatible with your Mac and meets the requirements for installing MacOS Sonoma. Make sure it has sufficient storage space and is properly formatted. Verify OpenCore Configuration: Double-check the configuration settings in your OpenCore bootloader. Ensure that you've followed the correct configuration steps and that all necessary kexts and drivers are properly installed. Inspect Boot Settings: Verify that your Mac is set to boot from the external drive with OpenCore Sonoma installed. You may need to adjust the startup disk settings in System Preferences or use the Startup Manager (hold down the Option key while booting) to select the external drive as the startup disk. Look for Error Messages: If there are any error messages or indicators during the startup process, take note of them. These can provide valuable clues about what might be going wrong. Try Booting in Verbose Mode: Boot your Mac while holding down Command + V to enter Verbose Mode. This will display detailed information about the startup process, which can help pinpoint where the problem is occurring. Reset PRAM/NVRAM: Resetting the PRAM (Parameter RAM) or NVRAM (Non-Volatile RAM) on your Mac can sometimes resolve startup issues. Restart your Mac and immediately hold down Command + Option + P + R until you hear the startup sound a second time. Boot into Safe Mode: Try booting your Mac from the external drive into Safe Mode by holding down the Shift key immediately after pressing the power button. Safe Mode can help identify and troubleshoot software conflicts or issues. Seek Assistance: If you're still unable to resolve the problem, consider seeking assistance from the OpenCore community or reaching out to forums and support channels dedicated to MacOS Sonoma installations.