True, but even long time Mac users have reformatted and reinstalled OS X. Of course we did so, back then because Apple offered various choices one to install, not no choice.
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Caution: Unable to reinstall macOS on 2018 MBP
- Thread starter pshifrin
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@dwdrummwer959 i too have the same situation. I changed the secure boot mode to medium, then formatted the ssd and now im an install loop. When i boot from an installer usb or the ssd, the mac starts with the installer via internet (black screen, white globe and progress bar), and when that bar completes, it says: this os needs to be reinstalled. Just to start allover again..
Anyone who has a tip?
I would contact Apple Support. When I booted mine via internet recovery, just yesterday actually, it booted just fine after the globe process and I was able to format the drives and install. Something else may have broken for you, like maybe the T2 chip somehow became corrupt. Seeing these laptops are all less than a couple weeks old you definitely have Apple Support options.
This didn't work for me last week. I had to end up swapping the computer out. I knew I wasn't the only one with this issue.
Yes. This last sentence is what got me. How could they do that?!?
Exactly, why force internet based restores? Why can't we just use what's on the recovery media? It really pissed me off that I had to deal with bricking a $2800 computer. Unacceptable. If I would've gone to the Apple Store, they would have made me wait a week or 2.
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when I tried that, it told me the back up was created from a different mac, and I couldn't do anything. I knew I wasn't alone. I just knew it. Everything posted in the first page of this thread is exactly what happened to me. All I wanted to do was change the Admin user name.
Okay so is this issue fixed now? Not that I plan to wipe and reinstall any time soon, but would be nice to know.
Don't understand why some people are wiping the drive, and reinstalling the same OS on a brand new machine. Seems rather redundant and unnecessary to me.
Apple should have been better prepared for something like this, in my opinion.
Apple should have been better prepared for something like this, in my opinion.
There are plenty of valid reason to wipe the drive after you first get it:
1) Don't want the factory iWorks Apps.
2) Want to run diagnostics tests and ensure the MacBook is working properly BEFORE restoring from Migration Assistant (and then want to start with a clean O/S when they are ready to migrate data.)
3) Failure during Migration Assistant (yes, it happens) resulting in incomplete setup. Easiest solution is to nuke and pave.
4) Failure during DEP enrollment. The official (and easiest) way to reset a DEP enrollment is to restore the OS.
5) Although not applicable for the 2018 models, typically Macs are NOT on the most current macOS when purchased. It is better (and faster) to wipe and restore with the most current version instead of during a incremental update.
I can think of plenty of reasons someone would do a fresh reinstall on a new machine. Maybe they tried to restore from a Time Machine backup and it screwed up somehow. Or maybe the brand-new laptop feels a bit glitchy to them, and they want to try a clean install in case something is wrong. Etc. etc. In any case Apple should have been ready.
But is the issue now fixed?
I get that part. I was speaking to machines that aren't showing any sign of problems.
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Thanks for pointing out some reasons I hadn't considered (reasons 2 - 5). Reason one still seems unnecessary, as the apps can be removed without having to reinstall the OS.
In my situation it was Apple Support who instructed me to wipe my computer. Otherwise, I’d never have been able to allow permission to install programs or OS updates because I wasn’t allowed to add a new admin which is what I tried first.
I had no intention of reinstalling OS X I just did a routine scan under disk utility and OS X broke itself. I’m just glad I did a brand new time machine backup beforehand or else I’d have been stuffed. It’s pretty unacceptable for Apple not to have in place a way or reinstalling. Trouble is I know the bad files are probabally still there but I can’t risk fixing them at this stage
In the same boat. I too am getting the install loop. Every time it says "The version of macOS on the selected disk needs to be reinstalled". I have tried for about 20 minutes straight to get the key combination right to try to restore the T2 chip with Apple Configurator. Every time, it boots to the recovery screen. I can't seem to get the keys to put it in DFU mode. I have gone over the instructions many times and I am using an Apple USB-C cable (like the charging cable) along with a 2017 MacBook Pro that is running Configurator 2 version 2.7.
I have also tried this, but no luck. Can you share any hints on how you managed to get it in DFU mode for T2 restore? Did you hold power down, then hold the others? Release all at the same time after 3 seconds, etc.?
I did select medium security and allow booting from external drive before I got in this mess.
Not sure about your cable choice. The Apple supplied usb-c cable is for charging only. I don’t believe it supplies data as well, unless something has changed very recently.
I have a separate USB-C cable as described in the Apple article that I will try in the morning. I have also tried another USB-C cable (non apple) that I use with an external HD that obviously does power and data, but it might not meet Apple's expectations.
I guess I expected that if I got the key combo correct that the screen would just sit there black rather than showing Apple logo after a couple seconds after I release the key combo.
Ah, I get what you're saying. From your OP I read it as you had only tried the Apple supplied cable. I'll show myself out.
edit: and yes, like you I would expect DFU mode to be the same thing...black screen... Wouldn't it be nice if there were *some* kind of visual indicator as opposed to "is this thing actually on?"
Why not?Why would you wipe a new machine?
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Certainly can with a 2017MBP.
This is only half right
Seems internet recovery is working but a true, total wipe / clean install via USB stick is still not possible
I have the base 2.6 machine and when I attempt to DL HS from the app store (to facilitate a clean install via a USB stick), I get the following error:
The version of macOS installed on this Mac is newer than the version you are trying to install. When a new update is available, you can install it from the Updates pane in the Mac App Store. If you want to reinstall macOS, please use macOS Recovery.
I'm not able to proceed any further
See my post in another thread....
https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...pro-and-imac-pro.2129594/page-6#post-26294202
You have to use terminal and a python application, but it IS possible to download the right build for the 2018 models.
Edit to Add: I have NOT tried using this build to create a key and install it on a 2018 model. However, I have successfully used this process for building USB keys for other Macs.
I'm in the same boat as many others that I always use to reinstall new Mac's shortly after I have bought them, because some apps like Garageband is turning out hard to uninstall, and I dont want the Keynote, Pages and Numbers app installed. Other than that I do a reinstall with new macOS releases.
Recovery image should be present from the day they release the machine, there could be plenty of other reasons to reinstall the machine, what if there is a software error on it? That can happen even if it's new out of store.
Recovery image should be present from the day they release the machine, there could be plenty of other reasons to reinstall the machine, what if there is a software error on it? That can happen even if it's new out of store.
This will not work, if the T2 is in locked down mode. I have to return my custom order and reorder.
Creating a USB installer works - see https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/how-to-create-a-usb-installer-for-the-2018-mbp.2130215/