My early 2011 MBP don't want to internet recovery directly to High Sierra.

[Lennyvalentin]

Is there really no way to avoid first installing Lion, if going the internet recovery route? I've googled back and forth and followed the advice I can find, and all I get is Lion regardless of what keys I hold down when starting up the thing. (Computer originally came with OS version prior to Lion; Snow Leopard maybe? I can't remember any longer.)

 

[Fishrrman]

Can you boot the MBP right now?

If you can't -- and if this is the reason you're trying to re-install -- my advice would be:
"Any port in a storm".

Get the thing working again.
Doesn't matter WHICH OS is on it.

Then... move on from there.

 

[Lennyvalentin]

Can you boot the MBP right now?

Nah, I reformatted it, as I'm going to donate it to charity.

I could make a USB key with the OS (I've done it before) and boot off of that, but it means more work than I'd prefer. Internet recovery is more convenient - had it worked satisfactorily that is. I'll just hand the computer over to the charity people, let them finish fixing it up...

 

[PieVsCake]

Nah, I reformatted it, as I'm going to donate it to charity.

I could make a USB key with the OS (I've done it before) and boot off of that, but it means more work than I'd prefer. Internet recovery is more convenient - had it worked satisfactorily that is. I'll just hand the computer over to the charity people, let them finish fixing it up...

If your going to donate it to charity. It would be better to give it to them in "original" condition. Let them decide what they want to do with the hardware. Saves everyone time in the end.

 

[Lennyvalentin]

It would be better to give it to them in "original" condition.

Eh, no. I'm not installing snow leopard (or w/e) back onto this thing, THAT would be doing them a disservice; there haven't been any security fixes for that version in years. Anyway, it's my laptop; they'll get it with the OS I install on it. They can take it or leave it.

 

[artnoi]

Is it because of that AFPS/HFS+ thing during High Sierra installation?

 

[zorinlynx]

Internet recovery will install whatever version of MacOS originally shipped with the machine.

I find this annoying too, but can understand why; Apple doesn't want to be accused of "forcing people to upgrade" their Macs.