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A Required Download Is Missing

I'm certain I've bricked my MacBook, but maybe someone can help!


I've just bought a new MBP and was going to sell the old one, a 2015 13 inch model. I was trying to erase my details for selling, and I believe I've deleted something I shouldn't have, while in disc utility


When trying to install a new OS I keep receiving an "A required download is missing" message, so can't go any further.



I've tried to repair the disc but I'm not getting any errors, and have also tried to get it going again using Time machine from another Mac, but gets around 90% of the way during the black screen with the white line then stops.


I've also tried to go via safe mode, on the off chance that offered something, but it wouldn't start that way.


I can't see there is anything I can do to solve this, as there are no other options available. But someone may surprise me.

MacBook

Posted on Oct 31, 2019 2:56 PM

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Posted on Jan 3, 2020 2:41 PM

Talked to an Apple specialist today and thought I'd post his answer in case anyone still has this issue. He had me restart my MacBook Pro and hold Command+Option+R until a spinning globe appears after the restart. He said this era of laptops' certificates for Mac OS X reinstalls have expired, so the option listed above drives the computer to search for essentially an updated reinstall certificate online. Hope this helps!

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Jan 3, 2020 2:41 PM in response to snapHappy77

Talked to an Apple specialist today and thought I'd post his answer in case anyone still has this issue. He had me restart my MacBook Pro and hold Command+Option+R until a spinning globe appears after the restart. He said this era of laptops' certificates for Mac OS X reinstalls have expired, so the option listed above drives the computer to search for essentially an updated reinstall certificate online. Hope this helps!

Nov 1, 2019 7:58 PM in response to colemanja



If you never upgraded to macOS Sierra 10.12.4 or later

If macOS Sierra 10.12.4 or later was never installed on your Mac, macOS Recovery works differently:

      • Command-R is still the recommended way to start up from macOS Recovery. This combination makes sure that the installation isn't associated with your Apple ID, which is important if you're selling or giving away your Mac.
      • Option-Command-R installs the macOS that came with your Mac, or the closest version still available.
      • Shift-Option-Command-R isn't available.


from:

How to reinstall macOS from macOS Recovery - Apple Support


If you was a more recent version, download that from within MacOS.

Dec 16, 2019 6:44 PM in response to Smilianna

Hi, I have the same problem.


When I press as you suggested - command>option>R - the globe appears on the screen with “Starting Internet Recovery. This may take a while” and then just appears to stay dormant. How long should I wait before I expect some action on the screen?


I’m attempting to fire up a mid-2011 iMac which I recently purchased and using the latest apple keyboard & mouse (both wireless).

Nov 1, 2019 12:10 AM in response to snapHappy77

Update - I downloaded the current os on to an external hard rive plugged it in and tried again with cmd and R. I doubt it was connected but the only option it gave me was downloading Yosemite, which it did, all the way through this time. I tried to install it but it wouldn't let me as I have a newer version installed.


That shows it's still there, but I'm as stuck as In was.


I really thought I had it.

Nov 1, 2019 2:59 PM in response to snapHappy77

a 2015 MacBook Pro has Internet Recovery in its ROM. Try Command-Option R to invoke it. No added software of any kind required -- it can even get there if the boot drive has been removed. Internet Recovery leaves your drive completely free to be completely ERASED.


You can tell that is where you are going when it asks to select a Network, and you see the spinning globe.


Once you arrive, launch Disk Utility, choose DEVICE View, select the drive by its immutable hardware-name, and ERASE the boot drive completely, taking the default GUID partition Map and MacOS Extended Volume. When completed (about a minute) return to the main screen and Install on your now blank drive.



Nov 1, 2019 4:58 PM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

Thanks for the quick reply Grant.


I can get into the recovery console with OS X utilities and i can click on Reinstall OS X

Once I click continue i get the popup that says "To download or restore your OS X your computer's eligibility will be verified with Apple"


once i click continue on this it says " loading installation information"


Then i get the Yellow triangle with "A required download is missing"

Nov 1, 2019 5:55 PM in response to colemanja

to download the version of MacOS that shipped in the box with your computer, only the serial number is required.

To download a different version, that =version must have been "purchased" using the Apple-ID currently in charge of the computer AND the version to be installed must be greater or equal what was last running -- you cannot go backward without erasing the drive completely, and to do that, you need "somewhere else to stand" (another instance of a Recovery partition or another working MacOS) -- you cannot 'cut off the tree branch you are standing on'.

Nov 3, 2019 8:33 AM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

None of these worked for me - I tried everything possible in the link you posted with no success.

In the end I created a bootable USB which worked fine until it told me my disk had SMART errors.

I dont know if that was what was causing the errors and the recovery install just could not determine that was what the problem was.


Now have replaced my HD and ran install from bootable USB and all working now - but the only way around the "A required download is missing" error i had was to create a bootable USB.

The only problem with this is that you need another MAC to download the install files with - which luckily I have but not everyone has.



Nov 3, 2019 9:05 AM in response to snapHappy77

Thanks for the replies folks. I finally got it working. I kept downloading the os, though it always only offered Yosemite. I got the message it couldn’t install due to having a newer version.


I finally got it , with I think cmd option r, where it offered me the latest version. It finally installed. I checked it was working properly, then legged it out the door to sell it!

Nov 9, 2019 10:11 AM in response to snapHappy77

It looks like you have to use "Internet Recovery Mode" instead of just "Recovery Mode". I was having this same issue and had to hold `option+cmd+R` on reboot to get into recovery mode, from there I was able to format the internal memory then proceed to "Reinstall Mac OS X". From there just follow the instructions on the screen. Hope this helps!


TS

A Required Download Is Missing

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