Can't clean install high sierra. Help appreciated.

[Naver9000]

Hi all,

I am currently trying to install high sierra on my late 2009 iMac (one of the last iMacs that can still regularly update to the newest OS). However, I am encountering a massive problem when installing to the extend that I am now stuck. I followed an online tutorial to do a clean install of my mac. This always involves first backing everything up, creating a bootable installation USB, booting from it, erasing the HD (SSD) in my case, and installing. That's indeed what I do. However, once I have gone through first part of the installation and the computer restarts automatically for the first time, what I get is this (see picture attached). I have tried everything, several reinstalls, but nothing. Also, I noticed that when deleting I chose the new file format AFPS. It seems I can't go back to macOS journaled. Any idea why that is? Either way, would be most thankful if anyone has any advice! Thank you!

 

[Marcopolo53]

Have read that some after market SSD as internal drives have serious issue with installing HS. Do not have this issue with Rotational HD late 2012 iMac.
Try booting from USB install disc HS, DU internal SSD, choose Show ALL drives, choose AFPS drive, unmount it, choose upper drive ( with name of Maker of drive ) DU erase as HFS+, exit DU and try installation again. Have done it this way 4 times on 12" Retina MacBook 2016 with stock Apple 512 GB SSD and no issues.

 

[Darmok N Jalad]

Have read that some after market SSD as internal drives have serious issue with installing HS. Do not have this issue with Rotational HD late 2012 iMac.
Try booting from USB install disc HS, DU internal SSD, choose Show ALL drives, choose AFPS drive, unmount it, choose upper drive ( with name of Maker of drive ) DU erase as HFS+, exit DU and try installation again. Have done it this way 4 times on 12" Retina MacBook 2016 with stock Apple 512 GB SSD and no issues.

Yes, HS for some reason hides the drive details by default, which makes properly setting up the drive harder than it needs to be. It sounds like that may be the cause of the problem.

 

[Naver9000]

Thanks for your suggestions. I will try re installing HS. Although in the meantime I had created a sierra (rather than HS) boot stick. Was able to roll back my SSD to HFS+. Then tried to install Sierra. After around 10 minutes of installation taking place, my computer auto restarts and ... same problem. I automatically boot from stick again. It shows that 5 gig of my SSD space are now taken, so something must have happened when installing, but I can't boot from ssd. When I unplug the USB, I get the same sign as posted above. Any more suggestions?

 

[Marcopolo53]

Maybe try Using "Option + Command + R" which is Internet Recovery. Will take some time to load. If you can use very good and fast Wifi or ethernet connection even better. Use their Disk Utility oi erase SSD, then their Repair disk. Shut down. Restart from USB Sierra install drive and try again.

 

[Naver9000]

Hi Marcopolo53, thanks for your advice. I will definitely try that. Interestingly, when I boot using my USB, DU shows there are three drives. My SSD, MacOS X Base System, and another 1 or 2gig drive that also has something to do with mac. However, when I press Cmd+R when booting, nothing happens. I either get the question mark box signaling there is no bootable software, or if my USB is plugged in, then its boot from the USD. Hence, it has no effect. I was wondering why that is..

I will try Options+Cmd+R now and see if that helps.

Will report back once I have an update!

Thanks a lot folks!

 

[Marcopolo53]

Hi Marcopolo53, thanks for your advice. I will definitely try that. Interestingly, when I boot using my USB, DU shows there are three drives. My SSD, MacOS X Base System, and another 1 or 2gig drive that also has something to do with mac. However, when I press Cmd+R when booting, nothing happens. I either get the question mark box signaling there is no bootable software, or if my USB is plugged in, then its boot from the USD. Hence, it has no effect. I was wondering why that is..

I will try Options+Cmd+R now and see if that helps.

Will report back once I have an update!

Thanks a lot folks!

Yes, do keep us posted. Do you have both USB Install of Sierra and USB Install High Sierra?
[doublepost=1512906483][/doublepost]Omitted to mention, that Options+Cmd+R will allow installing the latest available macOS which would be High Sierra. Therefore, no need to use USB Installer media. Just be sure to Format internal SSD to HFS Journaled. The installation with auto convert back the APFS.

 

[Naver9000]

Folks, I wanna report I have been successful with re-installing mac OS. When I came back to my computer earlier, I had performed yet another attempt to install mac OS Sierra using the bootable USB I created (must have been the 4th attempt or so). Just this time, apparently when it rebooted it booted to the installed system rather to the USB. I do not know why this time it worked. But at least it did. For the next time I am stuck in this situation, I think the tip Marcopolo gave me could be a good solution.

Again, thank you all! Problem solved.

 

[Marcopolo53]

Congratulations Naver9000 on your success. Good idea at this time to back a TimeMachine backup and maybe a Carbon Copy Clone all to external HD

 

[chrfr]

Folks, I wanna report I have been successful with re-installing mac OS. When I came back to my computer earlier, I had performed yet another attempt to install mac OS Sierra using the bootable USB I created (must have been the 4th attempt or so). Just this time, apparently when it rebooted it booted to the installed system rather to the USB. I do not know why this time it worked. But at least it did. For the next time I am stuck in this situation, I think the tip Marcopolo gave me could be a good solution.

Again, thank you all! Problem solved.

The 2009 iMacs don't support internet recovery, so you won't be able to use that tip on that computer. (With luck you wouldn't need it anyway!)

 

[Naver9000]

Marcopolo, I will definitely do that in order to avoid this kind of problem in the future. Again, thanks for the support. Also, good to no that inet recovery apparently doesnt work on the imac 2009.

Have a nice 2nd advent everyone.

 

[Fishrrman]

Naver --

With all the problems you're having trying to go from Low Sierra to High Sierra, I'd just stick with Low Sierra and be happy about it!