How do I reinstall macOS without recovery? MacOS is gone, recovery shows a Windows "recovery" screen that doesn't have any options (I'm assuming Bootcamp didn't erase properly), and I am using a USB with ChromeOS/CloudReady to write this. I do have another USB 2.0 that I can use, but my only other computer runs Windows. I don't think I can make a bootable USB on Windows. Anyone know what to do?
MacBook
No, none of those will work on a 2009. Those startup commands didn't exist until Lion, where they became necessary since Macs then no longer came with physical install media.
You're going to have to put a bootable DVD in the drive and startup to that. Either the gray machine specific disk the Mac came with, or if you don't have that anymore, a retail copy of Snow Leopard. And the only place those are available anymore are at places like Amazon or eBay. Apple is sold out. Cheapest I saw for it was $30 + shipping.
Anyone selling Snow Leopard and is showing gray disks are machine specific. DO NOT buy it. A genuine retail disk looks like this:
One you have some sort of OS installed from DVD, you can then upgrade the OS with a newer version from the App Store.
No, none of those will work on a 2009. Those startup commands didn't exist until Lion, where they became necessary since Macs then no longer came with physical install media.
You're going to have to put a bootable DVD in the drive and startup to that. Either the gray machine specific disk the Mac came with, or if you don't have that anymore, a retail copy of Snow Leopard. And the only place those are available anymore are at places like Amazon or eBay. Apple is sold out. Cheapest I saw for it was $30 + shipping.
Anyone selling Snow Leopard and is showing gray disks are machine specific. DO NOT buy it. A genuine retail disk looks like this:
One you have some sort of OS installed from DVD, you can then upgrade the OS with a newer version from the App Store.
Does recovery mode work?
How to reinstall macOS from macOS Recovery - Apple Support
if not, this is how you make a bootable installer:
How to create a bootable installer for macOS - Apple Support
Good luck!
No when i click command + R it takes me to what I assume are remnants of Boot Camp that were not deleted. It gives me a Windows recovery that does not work. I cannot make a bootable installer because I don't have macOS anymore. I deleted it (by accident, of course.)
Unless this Mac is older than 2009, you should be able to use Command+Option+R. This tells the Mac to boot to its firmware (Internet Recovery Mode). From there, you should be able to launch Disk Utility from the menu bar and erase the drive. Then reinstall the OS.
It isn't possible to make a bootable Mac installer from Windows.
I did try all the combinations but it keeps giving me the Windows recovery. Mine is late 2009. For some reason Option + Command + R doesn't work, neither does Shift + Option + Command + R, neither does Command + R, or D (to open diagnostics). I have tried each of them at different times (Slightly before, at, and slightly after the chime) but they still don't work. All of the recovery options take me to the broken windows recovery screen, and the D just gives me a grey screen.
Yeah you would need another Mac to follow that guide.
I dont see any other options really.
Maybe try and find a guide for how to make a bookable installer in some other way
Hmm.. it is possible/legal to make an installer on Windows?
I don't know
I accidentally erased macOS
