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How to Install macOS Sequoia Despite S.M.A.R.T Errors on Internal Drive

Guide:

If you're unable to install macOS Sequoia on your MacBook Pro due to S.M.A.R.T errors, this typically indicates that your internal drive is showing signs of hardware failure. While replacing the drive is usually the recommended solution, here are some steps to bypass the issue temporarily or work around it if you’re determined to proceed.

Steps:

  1. Confirm S.M.A.R.T Status:

    • Open Disk Utility and verify if the drive is indeed reporting a S.M.A.R.T error. If so, it’s a sign that the drive may fail soon, so keep backups of important data.

  2. Consider an External Installation:

    • If you’re unable to repair or replace the internal drive immediately, install macOS Sequoia on an external drive as a temporary workaround.
    • To do this, connect a compatible external SSD or HDD to your Mac and format it to APFS or Mac OS Extended (Journaled) with a GUID Partition Map.
    • Start the macOS installer and select the external drive as the installation target.

  3. Disable S.M.A.R.T Check Temporarily (Advanced Option):

    • Disabling S.M.A.R.T checks isn’t officially supported, but some tools and terminal commands may bypass S.M.A.R.T temporarily. However, proceed cautiously as S.M.A.R.T is there to prevent drive failures from impacting data.
    • Some third-party utilities like DriveDx can offer more control over drive diagnostics and may allow you to re-evaluate the drive’s health.

  4. Attempt Low-Level Formatting (Risky):

    • You may attempt a full overwrite on the drive using Disk Utility’s Erase function to reset the drive’s mapping. This won’t fix physical issues but may reset logical sectors. If errors persist, replacing the drive is the best option.

  5. Replace the Drive:

    • If possible, consider replacing the internal SSD. For your MacBook Pro Retina (Mid 2013), many compatible SSDs (such as OWC and Transcend) can restore functionality, support APFS, and improve performance.
    • After replacing the drive, format the new drive to APFS and proceed with the Sequoia installation.

Additional Notes:

Working around S.M.A.R.T errors is often temporary; a new drive ensures more stability and performance, especially when running a newer OS like Sequoia. Keep an external backup ready to prevent data loss if you continue using the failing drive.

During Sequoia Install Can’t Select Internal Hard Drive Due to S.M.A.R.T Error

Hello, I’m updating my my MacBook Pro Retina 13 Inch (Mid 2013) to Sequoia from Catalina. During the install, I decided to erase the hard drive and format it to APFS and repair the drive for good measure in disk utility.

Then when going to install Sequoia, I get an error message saying I can’t pick my internal hard drive because of S.M.A.R.T Errors on the drive.

Is there any work around or do I just need to give up for now?

submitted by /u/abdunworth
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