How to Fix upgrade my 2017 Macbook Pro (no-touch bar) SSD with a 3rd party NVMe while running Sequoia on Opencore During macOS Boot or Installation

How to Fix upgrade my 2017 Macbook Pro (no-touch bar) SSD with a 3rd party NVMe while running Sequoia on Opencore During macOS Boot or Installation

Boot failures need a predictable pass through firmware, USB, storage, EFI and verbose logs before reinstalling macOS. Most installer stalls come from firmware settings, an invalid config.plist, wrong SSDTs, bad USB mapping or unsupported storage/controller settings.

Quick Checks

• Backup current state: Save a copy of your working EFI and run a full system backup before changing settings.
• Identify hardware components: Note down your exact CPU, GPU, Wi-Fi card, and motherboard/laptop model.
• Ensure utility alignment: Keep OpenCore, OCLP, and ProperTree updated.

Fix Steps

1. Create a rollback point: Make a Time Machine backup and keep a copy of your last working EFI folder before editing OpenCore, kexts or root patches.
2. Boot verbose: Add -v keepsyms=1 debug=0x100 so the final visible line gives a real clue.
3. Check firmware settings: Disable Secure Boot and Fast Boot, set SATA to AHCI, disable CFG Lock if possible, and use UEFI mode.
4. Validate OpenCore: Update OpenCore, Lilu and core kexts, then run ocvalidate or ProperTree clean snapshot.
5. Recreate the installer: Use a fresh USB installer and try another USB port; older Macs may need a USB 2.0 hub for input during setup.
6. Reset NVRAM: Reset NVRAM from the OpenCore picker before retrying the installer.

Do Not Continue If

• Do not continue if: you do not have a working EFI backup, a Time Machine backup, or another bootable macOS installer.
• Stop and capture evidence: if the machine stops booting, take a photo of the last verbose line before changing more settings.

Verify It Worked

• Verbose boot moves past the previous stopping line.
• The installer reaches Disk Utility and sees the target disk.
• Keyboard, mouse and USB remain active during recovery.
• OpenCore picker still loads after a cold boot.

Rollback

• Restore the last booting EFI folder.
• Use the officially supported macOS installer to recover the machine.
• Do not erase the internal disk until the installer can boot twice consistently.

Next Action

• Test now: reboot twice, reproduce the original problem, and confirm whether the same symptom returns.
• If it still fails: record the Mac model, macOS build, OpenCore or OCLP version, GPU, Wi-Fi/Bluetooth chipset, and the last visible error.
• Read next: use the related searches below for the nearest OpenCore or OCLP fix before making another change.

Related iATKOS Searches

• OpenCore · OCLP · EFI · kexts · config.plist · macOS troubleshooting

Original Question: "Can I upgrade my 2017 Macbook Pro (no-touch bar) SSD with a 3rd party NVMe while running Sequoia on Opencore?"

submitted by /u/Atlanta-SticO-938
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Alternative / Duplicate Questions Resolved:

• "Can I upgrade my 2017 Macbook Pro (no-touch bar) SSD with a 3rd party NVMe while running Sequoia on Opencore?":
  

  TL;DR:
  I upgraded my 2017 MacBook Pro from Ventura to Sequoia using OpenCore Legacy Patcher. Seller says I need macOS 10.2+ on original Apple SSD before swapping to a third-party NVMe SSD for EFI firmware updates. I’m unsure if my current setup has the right EFI firmware or if I need to downgrade to Ventura first. Need advice!

  Hey everyone,

  I'm planning to upgrade the internal SSD on my 2017 MacBook Pro (no Touch Bar, model A1708) from the original 128GB Apple SSD --> 3rd party 1TB NVMe SSD (KINGDATA).

  Here is my situation and would appreciate any help:
  - I recently updated (last week) my macbook from Ventura --> Sequoia and it is running perfectly using OCLP.

  - When installing Sequoia, I had to install an EFI folder as part of the process I believe.

  - The SSD seller on amazon states in the product description that I need to have macOS 10.2 or later installed on the original Apple SSD before swapping to ensure the Mac's EFI firmware is updated. Something to do with the EFI/firmware being able to read the 3rd party SSD.

  - My Mac only officially supports up to macOS Ventura, but now I'm on Sequoia through OCLP.

  - I'm worried whether the EFI firmware was properly updated or has been changed or something while I installed Sequoia.

  - I checked my System Firmware Version (previously known as Boot ROM Version) and it shows "529.140.2.0.0" but I can't find any information online on whether this supposedly EFI firmware is updated enough to support 3rd-party NVMe SSDs and avoid certain sleep mode issues I have seen people face online.

  So here are my questions:

  1. Does running maOS Sequoia via OCLP confirm that EFI firmware updates from Ventura or earlier are intact and valid on my macbook?

  2. Should I downgrade back to Ventura on my original SSD to ensure EFI updates are properly installed before swapping? OR Can I just directly swap the SSD without any issues?

  submitted by /u/Atlanta-SticO-938
  [link] [comments]

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