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MacBook Air High Sierra Installation.

K

Kingsley103

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Jan 5, 2018
11
2
Please, I am seriously in a problem. I followed an instruction to erase my MacBook Air 2015 Model. Since I erased the drive, I've been unable to install MacOS High Sierra. The error message I received after download was 'could not create a preboot volume for APFS install.
I have tried to read the procedure here but I get confused. Please, I need an easier guide to restoring my Mac.

Thank you
 
After you erased it, did it give you the option to format/partition it? If so, it should be formatted to the GUID Partition Map Scheme under Mac OS Extended Journal. Then you should be able to reinstall the OS.
 
TekAdvice said:
After you erased it, did it give you the option to format/partition it? If so, it should be formatted to the GUID Partition Map Scheme under Mac OS Extended Journal. Then you should be able to reinstall the OS.
Click to expand...

TekAdvice said:
After you erased it, did it give you the option to format/partition it? If so, it should be formatted to the GUID Partition Map Scheme under Mac OS Extended Journal. Then you should be able to reinstall the OS.
Click to expand...
It didn't give me any option. After I was done, it showed me successful. When I tried to reboot, I saw a crossed circle. When I pressed Command + R, then reinstall MacOS in the utility, till now it still shows the error 'could not create a preboot volume for APFS install'
[doublepost=1515226916][/doublepost]If you could help me with a faster means of chatting with you like your WhatsApp number because I desire to solve this as soon as possible. I've had my Mac like this for three days now without knowing what to do. Please help me.
 
So you did all of this in recovery mode? When did you reboot it? I erased my drive, and it automatically out it into GUID after I selected Mac OS Extended Journal. Then I selected back and selected Reinstall Mac OS while still in Disk Utility, and that fixed it for me. If it still does not work correctly, you may have a damaged hard drive.
 
TekAdvice said:
So you did all of this in recovery mode? When did you reboot it? I erased my drive, and it automatically out it into GUID after I selected Mac OS Extended Journal. Then I selected back and selected Reinstall Mac OS while still in Disk Utility, and that fixed it for me. If it still does not work correctly, you may have a damaged hard drive.
Click to expand...
Yes, I did all of those in the recovery mode, that is, the Disk Utility.
 
hmm...I hate to say it, but you may have a problem with your hard drive. I would recommend taking your Mac to a computer shop and have them take a look at it. Good Luck.
 
TekAdvice said:
hmm...I hate to say it, but you may have a problem with your hard drive. I would recommend taking your Mac to a computer shop and have them take a look at it. Good Luck.
Click to expand...
Is there any process you can give me? I am far from a Mac store where I am. I've been able to follow instructions up to the place of erasing Container disk 1, which brings up the error message of erase process has failed.
Please help me the way you can.
 
Kingsley103 said:
Please, I am seriously in a problem. I followed an instruction to erase my MacBook Air 2015 Model. Since I erased the drive, I've been unable to install MacOS High Sierra. The error message I received after download was 'could not create a preboot volume for APFS install.
I have tried to read the procedure here but I get confused. Please, I need an easier guide to restoring my Mac.

Thank you
Click to expand...
Can you tell us a little more why you started this to begin with? Was everything working fine and you just wanted to start over fresh?

Where did you get High Sierra and how are you trying to install it? Did you make a USB key installer?

Try this... reboot and hold command-option-r at boot then select your wifi. You should then see a spinning globe while the recovery utility downloads. If you are not seeing the spinning globe, try again, because you will not be in Internet recovery if you do not see the globe. Once the globe is done, you should see the recovery screen. Go to the erase tab and then select the drive itself at the very top of the left column. Select where it say APPLE SSD above Macintosh HD. Then select Mac OS Extended (Journaled) in the dropdown to the right then apply that format.

Once that is done, quit Disk Utility and click install OS at the top.
 
Weaselboy said:
Can you tell us a little more why you started this to begin with? Was everything working fine and you just wanted to start over fresh?

Where did you get High Sierra and how are you trying to install it? Did you make a USB key installer?

Try this... reboot and hold command-option-r at boot then select your wifi. You should then see a spinning globe while the recovery utility downloads. If you are not seeing the spinning globe, try again, because you will not be in Internet recovery if you do not see the globe. Once the globe is done, you should see the recovery screen. Go to the erase tab and then select the drive itself at the very top of the left column. Select where it say APPLE SSD above Macintosh HD. Then select Mac OS Extended (Journaled) in the dropdown to the right then apply that format.

Once that is done, quit Disk Utility and click install OS at the top.
Click to expand...

I decided to clean my MacBook, something I've never done before since I bought the Mac last year. I searched on Google of how to format Mac, which I did in the utilities. When the formatting was successful, I tried to power the Mac, I saw a circle with a cross. Then I pressed Command + R which brought out the disk utility. When I tried to reinstall, I was and has been unable to do so. I read all other instructions, but I'm currently downloading the Internet recovery with the globe spinning and time set.
 
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The Mac was working fine, an act I'm regretting of now. The High Sierra was got from the MacOS Utilities when I pressed Command + R. I didn't make a USB key installer.
[doublepost=1515241008][/doublepost]
Weaselboy said:
Good deal... let us know how it goes. Make sure you format the entire drive and not just the Macintosh partition like I described. :)
Click to expand...
When the recovery is done downloading?
 
Weaselboy said:
Can you tell us a little more why you started this to begin with? Was everything working fine and you just wanted to start over fresh?

Where did you get High Sierra and how are you trying to install it? Did you make a USB key installer?

Try this... reboot and hold command-option-r at boot then select your wifi. You should then see a spinning globe while the recovery utility downloads. If you are not seeing the spinning globe, try again, because you will not be in Internet recovery if you do not see the globe. Once the globe is done, you should see the recovery screen. Go to the erase tab and then select the drive itself at the very top of the left column. Select where it say APPLE SSD above Macintosh HD. Then select Mac OS Extended (Journaled) in the dropdown to the right then apply that format.

Once that is done, quit Disk Utility and click install OS at the top.
Click to expand...
I've eventually downloaded it. But the Mac OS Utilities shown here was same windows as before. Meanwhile, I don't see any Macintosh HD. What I see here under the Apple SSD is container 2
 
Kingsley103 said:
I've eventually downloaded it. But the Mac OS Utilities shown here was same windows as before. Meanwhile, I don't see any Macintosh HD. What I see here under the Apple SSD is container 2
Click to expand...
That is okay... the Internet recovery screen looks the same as regular recovery. Open Disk Util and click the dropdown at the top left and check Show All Devices like in my screenshot. Then select Apple SSD like I did and erase like I explained.

Screen Shot 2018-01-06 at 4.56.15 AM.png Screen Shot 2018-01-06 at 4.56.04 AM.png
 
It's been erased. I want to reinstall now to see whether I'll be saved from a this stress.
God bless you. Once it's successful, I'll testify.
 
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Weaselboy said:
That is okay... the Internet recovery screen looks the same as regular recovery. Open Disk Util and click the dropdown at the top left and check Show All Devices like in my screenshot. Then select Apple SSD like I did and erase like I explained.

View attachment 745471 View attachment 745472
Click to expand...
I have a problem now. I was reinstalling when it went blank. Now it directs me to a folder with a question mark. I cannot boot the Mac again.
[doublepost=1515249361][/doublepost]Internet discovery doesn't start again and there's no way I can connect to Wi-Fi
 
Kingsley103 said:
I have a problem now. I was reinstalling when it went blank. Now it directs me to a folder with a question mark. I cannot boot the Mac again.
[doublepost=1515249361][/doublepost]Internet discovery doesn't start again and there's no way I can connect to Wi-Fi
Click to expand...
If you cannot even get Internet recovery to come up, then you have some other, underlying hardware issue going on here. Even with a bad drive, you can at least get to the Internet recovery screen.

I see a visit to the Apple store in your future. :(
 
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Winterfibre said:
Replace the drive for a ssd.
Click to expand...

A 2015 MacBook Air already has as SSD.

If replacing the drive is necessary, the drive is pretty easy to access. It does need to be an Apple specific SSD from 2014 or newer to work in your 2015 Air. The slots are different than the older ones. Aftermarket drives will not work. There are a ton for sale on eBay.
[doublepost=1515264961][/doublepost]Have you tried installing the OS onto an external drive, and then using disk utility to format the internal drive and install again?
 
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