Problems with high sierra and can´t install catalina on macbook pro 2012

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Problems with high sierra and can´t install catalina on macbook pro 2012

Hi there!

Ok, I try to break this question down, as much as I can.

I have a Macbook pro 2012 model A1278, which should work with Catalina and even saw someone using a patch and installed Ventura on it.

I´m using an External Harddrive to connect to my Macbook pro, it is the original internal harddrive I´m connecting as USB, because of the cable inside to the Harddrive were malfunctioning.

When trying to reinstall from Sierra to Sierra high, it comes with the message "missing firmware partition on this computer"

I have installed Sierra High before, but it was when I´ve installed it on my external USB from an IMAC.

Case1: When I install Sierra High from IMAC and use Extended(Journaled) on my harddrive, it works fine when connecting to my Macbook pro, and when I reboot I can choose to convert to APFS format in Disk utility. But when I try converting and installing it in APFS format it comes up with an Question mark folder when rebooting. It works fine when it´s in Extended(Journaled)

But High Sierra and Catalina should be in APFS, right?

Case2: I have succesfully installed Catalina on my IMAC 2009, using Dosdudes1´s Catalina patcher.

But when I try it on my Macbook pro 2012, the installation goes fine the first part, but when rebooting it comes up with an Blinking Question mark folder and can´t continue the installation.

I guess it´s something to do with APFS and it can´t find the harddrive?

Solution?:

I guess I just can reinstall the High Sierra on my harddrive again from my IMAC and it will work.

And maybe try doing it the same way with Catalina from my IMAC.

Or are there any firmware updates available to download which can solve the issue "missing firmware partition"?

I can´t seem to find any correct answers here.

I just want to install Catalina and then maybe see if the Ventura patch works after that.

Btw: I have tried this also on another external harddrive. I´ve erased them both, both the Container(and it is with GUID) and the Volume. Both harddrives is working and no errors.

Earlier displays & monitors

Posted on Jul 5, 2025 04:07 AM

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Answer 1

Jul 5, 2025 07:41 AM in response to Peter_chr

High Sierra is the first version of macOS that supports the new improved drive formats used for SSD boot drives. It is called Apple File System, APFS. APFS adds several new data structures to the drive, and by the time you try to install Catalina, these are No longer optional -- if not present, you can not install Catalina.

Some Macs from about 2012 were limited to installing High Sierra on the APPLE-Brand Internal drive. A firmware update was available that was said to remove that restriction. Depending on your Mac, it was included in High Sierra or Mojave.

The ONLY way to get that updated firmware was to actually do an Install directly ON THIS MAC on the Internal drive. The firmware update was done FIRST, and the firmware store is a private store on the processor card.

The bulk of the install does not actually have to complete or work to accomplish the firmware update, and the drive can be replaced or ignored (provided the firmware update completely) with zero impact.

The version of the firmware is shown on the main Hardware page of System Information as BOOT ROM version:

Apple menu > About this Mac > More info > (System Report) > Hardware

(please do not post the serial number field if you post a screenshot)

The illustration shows the older form of the reported firmware version. Versions that show a raw version number over 128.0.0.0.0 have likely been updated at least once. I think you MAY need versions above 130.0.0.0.0 to be happy in the long run.

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