Mac Mini 2018 - Erased HD - Blinking Question Mark Fail - Help Needed

[Scottinfinity]

Hi all -

I was gifted a family member's Mac Mini 2018 and it was working fine until I decided to wipe it clean as my own.

The first tutorial online suggested to "Erase the HD" which I did, and of course this deleted the OS much to my dismay when I rebooted.

I'm now faced with a blinking question mark/folder symbol and none of the commands to reach Disk Utility etc seem to be working in the slightest - it just goes from Apple Logo straight to the blinking question mark.

Using a Windows wired keyboard which seemed to work fine with this before.

Any guides to get this up and running?

Thanks in advance.

 

[NoBoMac]

How to start up from macOS Recovery - Apple Support

macOS Recovery is your computer’s built-in recovery system, with utilities to reinstall macOS, repair or erase your startup disk, restore from a Time Machine backup, and more.

support.apple.com

See steps for internet recovery.

 

[Scottinfinity]

I had no joy with getting Recovery mode to start.

I will of course try again.

Is there a reason why Recovery / Disk Utility etc wouldn't show up?

 

[CoastalOR]

My memory is a little fuzzy of the details, so you may need to do a little more research.
What I do know:
Your 2018 Mini has a T2 Security Chip which has a Security Enclave with a default to only allow booting from the internal drive only.

What I believe is you erased the internal HD and wiped the macOS on the internal drive, hence the folder with a ? mark.

I think to recover you need to contact Apple support and may be require a trip to an Apple Store to restore the 2018.

 

[Fishrrman]

Try internet recovery one more time.
Follow these steps closely.

a. Be powered down, all the way off.

b. Connect to ethernet if you can. Wifi may work, but ethernet is better.

c. Use A WIRED KEYBOARD. PC keyboard if you must.

d. Hold down this key combo:
Command-option-R
(if it's a PC keyboard, I think you need "Windows key/option/R" instead. I've never used a Windows keyboard with a Mac, so I'm guessing on that.

e. DO NOT LET GO OF THESE KEYS!

f. Press and release the power-on button (keep holding those other keys down! Don't let go!)

g. IF you are using wifi, you will be asked for your wifi password. NOW let go of the keys and enter it. You don't need to hold them down anymore.
(If you're using ethernet, let go of the keys when you see the spinning globe).

h. You should see "the spinning globe" as the internet utilities load. It takes a while.

Can you get this far?
Can you get the utilties to load?

If you CAN, then you can probably use the installer to re-install the OS.

If you CANNOT, then it's probaby time to think about taking the Mini to an Apple Store genius bar, where they can probably help out. I don't believe there's any charge if it's a "software only" issue.