User profile for user: Nick Hobbs
Nick Hobbs Author
User level: Level 1
5 points

Reinstalling iOS on a MacBook Pro

I bought a new MacBook Pro (top of the range...). Wanted to copy over everything from my older MacBook Pro. Followed the instructions and started the process using Migration Assistant on both machines. The process started and was due to take about 12 hours so I let them run overnight. During the night the older machine restarted for some reason which meant that the new Mac was only half-installed. I decided to turn off energy saver etc on the older Mac and reset the new Mac and then try the migration process again. I couldn't see any simple way to reset the new Mac so I erased it using Disc Utilities. This left the Mac with a flashing disc and question mark. Which means I assume that I have to reinstall the operating system. I followed the instructions here 'https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204904'. Which works fine up to connecting to my wifi network. It connects fine but I don't get MacOS Utilities just a spinning globe which after 10 minutes or so crashes. I'm stuck - ideas anyone? The old Mac is working fine and is backed up to TM. Nick

MacBook Pro with Touch Bar

Posted on Jun 1, 2019 1:38 PM

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User profile for user: Kappy
Kappy
User level: Level 10
362,007 points

Posted on Jun 1, 2019 2:10 PM

Which Mac did you erase? The old one or the new one? I would assume the new one. To reinstall macOS on the new machine:


Install El Capitan or Later from Scratch


  1. Restart the computer. Immediately, at or before the chime hold down the Command and R keys until the Apple logo appears. When the Utility Menu appears:
  2. Select Disk Utility from the Utility Menu and click on the Continue button.
  3. When Disk Utility loads select the volume (indented entry, usually Macintosh HD) from the Device list.
  4. Click on the Erase icon in Disk Utility's main window. A panel will drop down.
  5. Set the Format type to APFS (SSDs only) or Mac OS Extended (Journaled.)
  6. Click on the Apply button, then wait for the Done button to activate and click on it.
  7. Quit Disk Utility and return to the Utility Menu.
  8. Select Install OS X and click on the Continue button.


If you have also erased the Recovery HD, then do the following instead of the above:


Internet/Network Recovery of El Capitan or Later on a Clean Disk


  1. Restart the computer. Immediately after the chime hold down the (Command-Option-Shift-R) keys until a globe appears.
  2. The Utility Menu will appear in from 5-20 minutes. Be patient.
  3. Select Disk Utility and click on the Continue button.
  4. When Disk Utility loads select the target drive (will be the out-dented entry) from the side list.
  5. Click on the Erase tab in Disk Utility's main window. A panel will drop down.
  6. Set the partition scheme to GUID.
  7. Set the Format type to APFS (SSDs only) or Mac OS Extended (Journaled.)
  8. Click on the Apply button, then click on the Done button when it activates.
  9. Quit Disk Utility and return to the Utility Menu.
  10. Select Install OS X and click on the Continue button.


Instead of using Migration Assistant copy your data to an external drive that you can connect to either computer. This would be a USB drive for which you may need an adapter to use with the new computer's USB-C port. This will be faster and more reliable than using Migration Assistant.

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User profile for user: Kappy
Kappy
User level: Level 10
362,007 points

Jun 1, 2019 2:10 PM in response to Nick Hobbs

Which Mac did you erase? The old one or the new one? I would assume the new one. To reinstall macOS on the new machine:


Install El Capitan or Later from Scratch


  1. Restart the computer. Immediately, at or before the chime hold down the Command and R keys until the Apple logo appears. When the Utility Menu appears:
  2. Select Disk Utility from the Utility Menu and click on the Continue button.
  3. When Disk Utility loads select the volume (indented entry, usually Macintosh HD) from the Device list.
  4. Click on the Erase icon in Disk Utility's main window. A panel will drop down.
  5. Set the Format type to APFS (SSDs only) or Mac OS Extended (Journaled.)
  6. Click on the Apply button, then wait for the Done button to activate and click on it.
  7. Quit Disk Utility and return to the Utility Menu.
  8. Select Install OS X and click on the Continue button.


If you have also erased the Recovery HD, then do the following instead of the above:


Internet/Network Recovery of El Capitan or Later on a Clean Disk


  1. Restart the computer. Immediately after the chime hold down the (Command-Option-Shift-R) keys until a globe appears.
  2. The Utility Menu will appear in from 5-20 minutes. Be patient.
  3. Select Disk Utility and click on the Continue button.
  4. When Disk Utility loads select the target drive (will be the out-dented entry) from the side list.
  5. Click on the Erase tab in Disk Utility's main window. A panel will drop down.
  6. Set the partition scheme to GUID.
  7. Set the Format type to APFS (SSDs only) or Mac OS Extended (Journaled.)
  8. Click on the Apply button, then click on the Done button when it activates.
  9. Quit Disk Utility and return to the Utility Menu.
  10. Select Install OS X and click on the Continue button.


Instead of using Migration Assistant copy your data to an external drive that you can connect to either computer. This would be a USB drive for which you may need an adapter to use with the new computer's USB-C port. This will be faster and more reliable than using Migration Assistant.

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User profile for user: Encryptor5000
Encryptor5000
User level: Level 5
7,662 points

Jun 1, 2019 9:09 PM in response to Nick Hobbs

Just out of curiosity, do you have the necessary cable(s) to connect your Macs to each other? If yes, consider booting your old Mac into Target Disk Mode once you've installed macOS onto your new Mac. That way, Migration Assistant (or Setup Assistant) will use the cable connection and cannot fail. It will also be a lot faster.


To recover your new Mac, you can use your old Mac to create a bootable installer. You'll need the following:


  • A 12 GB or larger flash drive (preferably supports USB 3.0 or later)
  • A macOS installer


Once in Recovery Mode, follow Kappy's instructions to format your startup disk and install macOS.

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User profile for user: Nick Hobbs
Nick Hobbs Author
User level: Level 1
5 points

Jun 2, 2019 8:43 AM in response to Encryptor5000


many thanks to both of you for taking the time to reply

I erased the new one, the old one is fine, just I want to pass it on


"Restart the computer. Immediately, at or before the chime hold down the Command and R keys until the Apple logo appears. When the Utility Menu appears:"

doesn't work; I get the spinning globe but nothing else; when I connect to wifi the globe continues for 10 mins or so then crashes with the error message "apple.com/support -2002F"


"Restart the computer. Immediately after the chime hold down the (Command-Option-Shift-R) keys until a globe appears.

The Utility Menu will appear in from 5-20 minutes. Be patient."

also doesn't work; the same thing happens with the same error message


when I was using Migration Assistant the macs were connected directly to each other by a USB-C to USB-C cable and both were plugged into power supplies; the old mac restarted during the transfer which is why I decided to erase so that I could redo the process from scratch


next try

I made a Mohave installer on a flash disc; it works; if I restart my old mac with it connected and hold down the option key, it asks if I wish to use it to reinstall Mohave, at which point I quit as I don't

but with the new mac the following happens

  • reboot with the option key held
  • it sees the bootable drive and there's an arrow to click to proceed
  • I click the arrow
  • then I get the spinning globe again
  • and the same crash after 10 minutes with the same error message


so currently I'm at a loss but do have an incredibly expensive paperweight...


Nick







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Reinstalling iOS on a MacBook Pro

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