Downgrading High Sierra to Sierra (2017 MBPtb) urgent

[Fishrrman]

I chuckle when I read posts, and solutions, like those posted above by the OP and respondents.
There are ways that are so much easier, that folks will never understand unless they try.

The "quick and easy" solution to "getting back to where you once belonged" after an upgrade-gone-wrong is to have a bootable cloned backup of your prior installation on an external drive.
You can make one with either CarbonCopyCloner or SuperDuper.

If things go wrong with the upgrade, it's simple and trivial to do this:
1. Boot from the backup
2. Re-initialize the internal drive.
3. RE-CLONE the "cloned backup" BACK TO the internal drive.

Three simple steps, and takes only as long as the time spent "in the copying" of step 3.

Frankly, I think those who jump at installing beta software onto their "main, working machines" are nuts.
I "test fly" all the latest software on external drives that exist "for test purposes only".
This way I can fool with the latest betas, while leaving "my important stuff" Untouched!

 

[greg624]

Hey sorry life got in the way.

this is how you proceed:

1. boot into internet recovery (cmd + option + R)
2. go to disk utility, format your drive (MacOS journaled extended, the default one)
3. close disk utility, install Sierra onto the drive
4. let it do its thing, it will result in the circle with the dash through it and it will look like it failed
(it won't show a time and installing indicator underneath the progress bar)
5. hold the power button until the laptop shuts down
6. once again boot into internet recovery
7. go back to disk utility and again, format the main drive (MacOS journaled extended, the default one)
8. close disk utility and let the installer download and install Sierra one more time
9. this time it should say installing with a time indicator and should finish the installation without a problem


TL;DR

Do two internet recoveries in a row whilst formatting your drive each time
[doublepost=1499833748][/doublepost]

Please check my post, forgot to reply to you

I figured it out haha, thank you. It didn’t take me too long but I’m sticking on Sierra until High Sierra is public. I use logic a lot and beta 3 basically made it useless. I couldn’t partition my drive either. I was using boot camp off an external HDD and it was too slow. Sierra runs so much better.

 

[HeatherA]

Yup, this was my exact experience downgrading via Internet Recovery. Was worried I'd have to take a trip to the Apple Store. Had to wipe it twice. I didn't really have any issues at all with High Sierra, ran nice and smooth, other than an app I was using was crashing and I needed it for school. I've since re-upgraded to the beta and still have no issues with High Sierra.

I've been trying this today and I don't have the option to re-install sierra it wants to just re-install high sierra even though I've erased the drive. Is this something new with Beta 4? I'm trying to give my husband my iMac but he does not want a beta on it.

NVM I was booting into recovery and not internet recovery. I think that should fix my issue.

 

[LarryJoe33]

I chuckle when I read posts, and solutions, like those posted above by the OP and respondents.
There are ways that are so much easier, that folks will never understand unless they try.

The "quick and easy" solution to "getting back to where you once belonged" after an upgrade-gone-wrong is to have a bootable cloned backup of your prior installation on an external drive.
You can make one with either CarbonCopyCloner or SuperDuper.

If things go wrong with the upgrade, it's simple and trivial to do this:
1. Boot from the backup
2. Re-initialize the internal drive.
3. RE-CLONE the "cloned backup" BACK TO the internal drive.

Three simple steps, and takes only as long as the time spent "in the copying" of step 3.

Frankly, I think those who jump at installing beta software onto their "main, working machines" are nuts.
I "test fly" all the latest software on external drives that exist "for test purposes only".
This way I can fool with the latest betas, while leaving "my important stuff" Untouched!

Exactly what I do.

 

[LarryJoe33]

I chuckle when I read though this post that was "urgent" and the OP resolved it and didn't tell the others in the same boat eager for a resolution until the next day.

 

[benguild]

If anyone encounters problems like this, I think the solution is honestly to use Terminal (via Recovery Mode) to delete the APFS container(s) etc. entirely on the main drive instead of using Disk Utility (which may have bugs), then doing an Internet Recovery.

 

[JacekSD]

If anyone encounters problems like this, I think the solution is honestly to use Terminal (via Recovery Mode) to delete the APFS container(s) etc. entirely on the main drive instead of using Disk Utility (which may have bugs), then doing an Internet Recovery.

You are so right. On Sierra the Disk Utility has bugs and requires a second run to do things right.

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/formatting-flash-drives-always-fails-the-first-time.2058483/

 

[Ethosik]

Time to take into a Apple Store and have the genius guys help restore the machine.

EDIT: My suggestion going forward after the computer is restored, create a new partition on your internal hard drive and install High Sierra on the new partition to use.

Except if you want to remove it later, Disk Utility will not let you delete that partition . I am stuck with my High Sierra partition since I cannot remove or resize it through Disk Utility.

In the past I have used Parted Magic and issued an ATA Secure Erase command to the SSD which wipes it clean (by marking all cells as writeable). Then I install the OS again.

 

[JacekSD]

Except if you want to remove it later, Disk Utility will not let you delete that partition . I am stuck with my High Sierra partition since I cannot remove or resize it through Disk Utility.

In the past I have used Parted Magic and issued an ATA Secure Erase command to the SSD which wipes it clean (by marking all cells as writeable). Then I install the OS again.

If you like to live dangerously you might try diskutil from the command line. man diskutil is your friend here.

 

[Ethosik]

If you like to live dangerously you might try diskutil from the command line. man diskutil is your friend here.

I don't mind waiting until High Sierra officially comes out. I made the partition very small on my large SSD so I am fine with it. When HS comes out, I will perform a full disk cleaning when I run the installer. Hopefully I can delete all partitions by then.

 

[LDesign1]

Hey sorry life got in the way.

this is how you proceed:

1. boot into internet recovery (cmd + option + R)
2. go to disk utility, format your drive (MacOS journaled extended, the default one)
3. close disk utility, install Sierra onto the drive
4. let it do its thing, it will result in the circle with the dash through it and it will look like it failed
(it won't show a time and installing indicator underneath the progress bar)
5. hold the power button until the laptop shuts down
6. once again boot into internet recovery
7. go back to disk utility and again, format the main drive (MacOS journaled extended, the default one)
8. close disk utility and let the installer download and install Sierra one more time
9. this time it should say installing with a time indicator and should finish the installation without a problem


TL;DR

Do two internet recoveries in a row whilst formatting your drive each time
[doublepost=1499833748][/doublepost]

Please check my post, forgot to reply to you

[doublepost=1534423955][/doublepost]I am having this same problem
I have done all you have said except (excuse my ignorance) but how do I install Sierra? As stated in your point 3 (3. close disk utility, install Sierra onto the drive)
I only get the option to reinstall high sierra in the utility panel.
[doublepost=1534424584][/doublepost]

I've been trying this today and I don't have the option to re-install sierra it wants to just re-install high sierra even though I've erased the drive. Is this something new with Beta 4? I'm trying to give my husband my iMac but he does not want a beta on it.

NVM I was booting into recovery and not internet recovery. I think that should fix my issue.

How do I boot into internet recovery? I'm only getting option to reinstall high dieter too.

 

[madrich]

Having read this thread, I am glad I am still on El Captain.