Laid off, employer digitally wiped MBP, I can’t restore. Help?

[ozreth]

I was able to keep my work issued 2016 MBP, but when trying to download and restore MacOS, I get the attached error. I tried changing the date in terminal but it is correct. I tried erasing various disc images but it won’t let me. I also tried repairing them, they all say they are fine but one tells me to repair but says to do so in recovery mode...but I’m in recovery mode.

I’ve attached a pic of my disk utility.

What the heck can I do here? I emailed IT at my job but haven’t heard back yet.

Thanks!

 

[AnonMac50]

Apple's recovery modes have been finicky the last few weeks, at least with the Macs I've been working on.

What date did you set it to in Terminal?

 

[ozreth]

Apple's recovery modes have been finicky the last few weeks, at least with the Macs I've been working on.

What date did you set it to in Terminal?

I tried setting it to current date and time. Should I try something else?

 

[DeltaMac]

The various disk images in your Disk Utility do not help you in any way.
The one that you want to use is the top item in Internal. (AppleAPFSMedia).
Select that line. Click erase. Give your volume a name (so it doesn't show Untitled), then click the Erase button.
That will delete all the volumes, and create fresh for your internal boot drive.
Then, Quit Disk Utility, and choose Reinstall macOS.
If it still gives you that error, change the date in the terminal, typing

date 1010101018

should work OK. The date will reset to correct date when you next connect to the internet, after the system installs.

 

[ozreth]

The various disk images in your Disk Utility do not help you in any way.
The one that you want to use is the top item in Internal. (AppleAPFSMedia).
Select that line. Click erase. Give your volume a name (so it doesn't show Untitled), then click the Erase button.
That will delete all the volumes, and create fresh for your internal boot drive.
Then, Quit Disk Utility, and choose Reinstall macOS.
If it still gives you that error, change the date in the terminal, typing

date 1010101018

should work OK. The date will reset to correct date when you next connect to the internet, after the system installs.

Tried that unfortunately. Anytime I try to erase a volume it immediately gives me the error “Erase process has failed. Click done for continue.”

If I click show details details it says”

Unmounting disc
Couldn’t unmount disc.
Operation failed...

I just tried changing the date to what you recommended and then it says UNTRUSTED_CERT_FILE when I try to reinstall OS.

 

[DeltaMac]

You probably have to completely erase the device. You would need to boot to internet recovery (Option-Command-R), instead of the normal Recovery system, so you can fully erase the boot drive. The only choice that you have is the system that is offered through Internet Recovery. If that fails, then you need some other method to reinstall a boot system. Best plan would be (first) download the system installer that you want, make a bootable USB installer (can be on a USB flash drive). Boot to THAT flash drive, where you will be able to do a complete erase of the internal drive, and a good install of a fresh system, without waiting for the install to download first.

 

[ozreth]

You probably have to completely erase the device. You would need to boot to internet recovery (Option-Command-R), instead of the normal Recovery system, so you can fully erase the boot drive. The only choice that you have is the system that is offered through Internet Recovery. If that fails, then you need some other method to reinstall a boot system. Best plan would be (first) download the system installer that you want, make a bootable USB installer (can be on a USB flash drive). Boot to THAT flash drive, where you will be able to do a complete erase of the internal drive, and a good install of a fresh system, without waiting for the install to download first.

Sorry. To be sure, you’re saying first try deleting the drive through internet recovery and then reinstalling OS that way and if that fails THEN try downloading the installer onto a drive and going that route?

 

[DeltaMac]

You want your installer drive BEFORE you erase everything - unless you have access to another Mac (the process isn't as reliable on Windows, for example, and if you succeed in completely erasing the drive, then the internet restore fails (which it might not), then you run into a catch-22 situation in a hurry... Make the bootable reinstaller USB while you still know your Mac will boot to its own system )

 

[ozreth]

You want your installer drive BEFORE you erase everything - unless you have access to another Mac (the process isn't as reliable on Windows, for example, and if you succeed in completely erasing the drive, then the internet restore fails (which it might not), then you run into a catch-22 situation in a hurry... Make the bootable reinstaller USB while you still know your Mac will boot to its own system )

sorry, before waiting for your response I jumped the gun and booted with Cmd+opt+r rather than just cmd+ r and then choose reinstall MacOS and it seems to be working. I’ll know in about 10 more minjtes. If it does indeed work is there anything I should be aware of? Anything that will be leftover that I should delete/remove?

 

[ozreth]

Ok so that worked and my disk utility now looks like this- do I need both of these volumes? What is the data one?

 

[DeltaMac]

The -data volume is part of a Catalina install. It is needed because of how the system works now.
Don't try to remove, or rename it.
Catalina now separates (and protects) the system files. The -data volume has your files and docs
When you are booted to the system, you won't normally notice it, only when you look in your Disk Utility.
(The system knows what to do with the two volumes, and should be transparent for you to use - you shouldn't ever need to decide which volume to move a file. Again, the system decides, nothing new that you need to do in normal use.

 

[Fishrrman]

OP:

Looks like you installed Catalina.
What you're seeing in disk utility is normal for Catalina (the "new normal" for Mac disks from Catalina onward...).

 

[ozreth]

The -data volume is part of a Catalina install. It is needed because of how the system works now.
Don't try to remove, or rename it.
Catalina now separates (and protects) the system files. The -data volume has your files and docs
When you are booted to the system, you won't normally notice it, only when you look in your Disk Utility.
(The system knows what to do with the two volumes, and should be transparent for you to use - you shouldn't ever need to decide which volume to move a file. Again, the system decides, nothing new that you need to do in normal use.

Awesome thank you for all the help.