Need Install Help

Hi, all!

I've got a Macbook Pro w/Retina Mid 2014 (MacbookPro11,1) that I am trying to install a newer OS on (either Sonoma or Sequoia).

Last January (2025) I came across OCLP through a Youtube video and was excited to finally be able "update" my now out of date mac. Everything was going smoothly until I got to the 'Install MacOS Sequoia' screen after the EFI Boot option was clicked. It froze with about 12 minutes remaining.

Fast forward to this January and I decided to do it again. I thought giving it a year with patches and updates would help, but nope. Still freezes; and now it's with 19 minutes remaining.

I have followed all the steps, and I know I did everything right because I was able to update my parents old iMac to Sequoia with no issues.

I have reset NVRAM, SMC, and have cleaned (erased) my hard drive; the works. The only issues I see are when I hit EFI Boot, then after clicking install OS, the screen resolution changes, and by that I mean everything gets miniature as if mirroring or being plugged into HDMI (the screen does have the same size windows/icons as a normal macOS install)

The only other thing I can think of is that it's because of the SSD...before last year I purchased a 1TB Samsung 970 EVO Plus SSD to add storage capacity for my MBP.

Has anyone else had this happen or can help, because I'm about ready to just throw in the towel. Appreciate any guidance!