MacBook Pro 2010, 21.5-inch display issues
MacBook Pro 2010, 21.5-inch display issues
Hello everyone, I understand this forum leans more toward PC users, but I'm reaching out for some guidance. I recently purchased a 2010 iMac, 21.5 inches, with an i3 processor, for my son. It came with 4GB DDR3 RAM and a 500GB hard drive. My intention was to upgrade the RAM to 16GB and add an SSD since I already had one available.
The process of upgrading the RAM went smoothly. However, when installing the Samsung 860 Evo (500GB), I encountered boot problems. Removing the SSD and replacing it with the hard drive allows the computer to start without issues. But once the SSD is installed, I can reach the login screen until I enter the password. After that, the Mac restarts on its own, then displays a message saying "computer was restarted due to a problem."
When I set up the SSD, I transferred my iOS from my MacBook Pro and was able to restart and run from the SSD on my MacBook Pro using an external USB drive. This is where I'm at now... the RAM functions correctly (confirmed via Settings about this drive), and the SSD works on another machine via USB.
I’m uncertain about the best next steps, as I’d prefer the speed of the SSD over just the hard drive. Thanks in advance for your help! The attached photo shows what happens when I try to boot from the SSD, which seems repetitive. Please assist me!
When you set up from your MacBook Pro, did you recall using the mac OS extended (journaled) file system? If it was using High Sierra, it would default to APFS, which isn’t available on older models. Since the drive is encrypted, it wouldn’t detect the format until you attempted to log in and saw what type of volume was present.
I was the first to set up the drive using APFS, but I realized the problem and removed the partition before reformatting it as OS extended Journaled. At first, it caused boot issues, but once fixed, I could reach the login screen, though I couldn't proceed further. Thank you for your assistance.
Have you managed to execute Internet Recovery on your iMac for direct SSD installation? It seems capable of handling high Sierra, which suggests it *should* function, though I’m uncertain about variations across older models. As a new Mac user since last April, I lack specialized knowledge on this topic. You might search online for problems with SSDs on those systems, and @DrMacintosh could provide helpful insights.
Begin on your MacBook and download the newest macOS High Sierra from the App Store. After saving the file, close any opened installer. Create a bootable USB drive using the provided link: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201372. Insert the USB into an iMac, press the option key while the device starts up. Choose the USB drive and let the system boot. Open Disk Utility, format the SSD with macOS Extended Journaled settings, then exit the utility. Return to the menu, pick Install macOS, and select your SSD. Completing these steps should get you a functioning iMac.
When the Mac fails to log in with the password, it might be because the device is malfunctioning or misconfigured. Don’t worry, this isn’t uncommon.