Hey guys. I erased the solid state HD on my 2016 MB Pro, and now when I try to start it up it just shows address for an Apple support page. Please help. Thank you.
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Erased HD on MacBook Pro- Won't Work Now. Please help.
- Thread starter Christopher11
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No, I was trying to reinstall Sierra, and it keeps telling me an error occurred! I should try recovery mode?
Try one of the "internet recovery" options:
- Option-Command-R: Start up from macOS Recovery over the internet. Use this key combination to reinstall macOS and upgrade to the latest version of macOS that’s compatible with your Mac.
- Option-Shift-Command-R: Start up from macOS Recovery over the internet. Use this key combination to reinstall the version of macOS that came with your Mac or the closest version that’s still available.
I downloaded Catalina from Apple, with the intention to install it on another computer that is stuck. Can you tell me please where my Macbook stores it? I'm on Mojave. It's not in Downloads. Thank you.
Thank you, trying both of those, but I can't seem to figure out how to install over the internet. A friend came to look at it, and says that because I erased the HD rather than just the user profile, I now have to go to an Apple store and pay to have it unlocked. Is this true?
It will be in /Applications, named something like "Install macOS Catalina.app"
If you want to install it on another mac, you'll have to create a "bootable USB installer" on a flash/thumb drive or external USB drive.
Commands are here: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201372
It would be easier to use Internet Recovery.
No, I'm confident that is not true.
Hmmm. You do need to make sure WiFi on the Mac is connected to your WiFi network in order to connect to the Internet. Otherwise it should be straightforward.
So glad you're confident that isn't true! I just want to restore it to Sierra or higher. It's connected. I enter my wifi password. I can open Safari and browse the Internet. But still, I can't seem to find a way to open the App Store, when I click on links it won't open. So I'm not sure how I will install Sierra, or Catalina, or any other OS that allow me to move forward.
I'm a little confused. If you're in Internet Recovery mode you don't need the App Store -- if I remember correctly it will show you a window with "Reinstall macOS" icon in it (or something very similar).
Yup, it does. But when it gets to the end of reinstalling Sierra, it tells me it failed. I've done it like 5 times now.
Oh, I see. That's unexpected. Does it give any sort of error message? Did you physically change or replace the SSD inside?
Oh no, I didn't touch the SSD! Not competent enough for that, and no need. I just wanted to get it ready so it says "Welcome" and all that, like a new computer. Yes the error says "An error occurred while preparing this installation. Try running this application again."
Hmmmm. That's important, but I don't know why it would display that.
I had another thought. I wonder if the internal drive is really completely erased. Recent versions of macOS have made disk formatting confusing -- there can be several "volumes" in one or more "containers" on a single "device". Maybe you only erased one of those volumes, and maybe you're trying to do the install on one of those other volumes.
Do the internet recovery again, but BEFORE you hit Install, go to the menu and open Disk Utility. Now, and this is very important, go to the View menu and select "Show all Devices". The the very TOP of the left pane of Disk Utility now you should see the actual internal device, at the top of the hierarchy. Usually it's called "Apple SSD.....". THAT is the thing you need to select and click Erase. That will ensure that every container and volume on that device are deleted. I think it will leave you with one volume.
Then go through the installation again and make sure you select the new volume when it asks where to install to. (Although I can't remember whether it wants you to pick a device or a volume, sorry).
Other than that, options I can think of right now:
1) On another Mac, download macOS (I think youve already done this) and make a bootable installer. Connect it to your MBP and hold Option while you boot. You should be able to select the bootable installer and boot from it to install. Again, though, you have to pick the correct destination where you want the install to happen -- the newly-formatted volume, I think.
2) With another Mac, if you have an external drive, you could install macOS onto that drive. Then carry it to your MBP and boot from it. From there you can erase the internal drive again and install macOS onto the internal drive. This will just take more time, probably that #1.
3) You could take it to an Apple store. In my experience, they won't charge you just to look at it and make a recommendation. They might even be able to install macOS for you right there.
The more I think, the more likely it seems that you've been trying to install onto an incorrect, old volume. The volume may have been only 16GB, and thus too small, and maybe given that error. So yeah, I recommend try the stuff before my "numbered options".
The two key things are to erase the entire device, and to pick the correct destination when it asks where to install to. (I think this last will be just one choice if you succeed in erasing the entire device).
I'll be AFK for awhile, good luck!
The two key things are to erase the entire device, and to pick the correct destination when it asks where to install to. (I think this last will be just one choice if you succeed in erasing the entire device).
I'll be AFK for awhile, good luck!
I love your ideas, thank you. I just tried what you suggested in Disk Utility. I selected the top drive, AppleAPFSMedia, but it tells me "Erase process has failed. Click Done to continue."
I'm really really surprised at that, IF you're truly booted in Internet Recovery (cmd-option-R).
The name AppleAPFSMedia doesn't sound like a physical device. I don't think that's the right thing to erase. What are the other choices?
Can you take a photo of the disk utility screen and post it?
The name AppleAPFSMedia doesn't sound like a physical device. I don't think that's the right thing to erase. What are the other choices?
Can you take a photo of the disk utility screen and post it?
OK. I'm not sure what the AppleAPFSMedia is. Do you have any external storage devices attached?
In any case, I see "Apple SSD SM02..." and I think that is the internal SSD (my 2015 MBP's storage starts with the same letters).
I'm pretty sure you need to erase "Apple SSD SM02.." and, importantly, pick that destination as the target of the installation. But I don't know what the AppleAPFSMedia thing is. I think we can ignore it for now (and delete it later, if need be). In any case, we know we cant Erase it.
So, try again with "Apple SSD SM02..." At this point there's ntohing to lose.
In any case, I see "Apple SSD SM02..." and I think that is the internal SSD (my 2015 MBP's storage starts with the same letters).
I'm pretty sure you need to erase "Apple SSD SM02.." and, importantly, pick that destination as the target of the installation. But I don't know what the AppleAPFSMedia thing is. I think we can ignore it for now (and delete it later, if need be). In any case, we know we cant Erase it.
So, try again with "Apple SSD SM02..." At this point there's ntohing to lose.
Well it let me run first aid on SM02, so that's good. ; ) But, when I try to erase, it tells me erase process has failed. When I try to restore, it tells me that has failed also.
So you get the same error, no matter which one you try to erase.
Hmmm. Wonder if we need to Partition it. Is the Partition button enabled (not grey-ed out) when SM02 is selected?
I'm still puzzled that there seem to be two internal devices. Do you have an SD card in the slot, maybe? Or a thumb drive plugged in?
Hmmm. Wonder if we need to Partition it. Is the Partition button enabled (not grey-ed out) when SM02 is selected?
I'm still puzzled that there seem to be two internal devices. Do you have an SD card in the slot, maybe? Or a thumb drive plugged in?
I am puzzled too! Also concerned. So grateful for your help. No, no card, and I unplugged the USB external drive. I was able to see the Catalina install on the external drive by the way, it showed as "InstallESD.dmg". However it told me, Operation failed...
I have the feeling that this can be fixed fairly easily, assuming the MBP worked ok before. It just doesn't seem like a hardware issue.
But I'm sorry, I'm drawing a blank right now. Someone else might have the answer -- the hard part is getting their attention, now that I've lengthened your post so much.
But, to re-cap:
- You have checked Disk Utility-->Show All Devices
- You've posted a screen shot of DU (this helps a lot)
- You're getting the error "Erase process has failed. Click Done to continue." when you try to Erase
AppleAPFSMedia or Apple SSD SM02.
But I'm sorry, I'm drawing a blank right now. Someone else might have the answer -- the hard part is getting their attention, now that I've lengthened your post so much.
But, to re-cap:
- You have checked Disk Utility-->Show All Devices
- You've posted a screen shot of DU (this helps a lot)
- You're getting the error "Erase process has failed. Click Done to continue." when you try to Erase
AppleAPFSMedia or Apple SSD SM02.