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Cannot install macOS from recovery after flashing question mark folder on boot.

So since Finder is terrible at locating the 2/3 of disk space "other" is taking up and all the other built in tools couldn't locate this "other" data as well. I decided to just wipe the drive, fresh install, and call it a day. I erased everything in Macintosh HD, Macintosh HD - Data, and kept what I presumed was the logical macOS Catalina partition.


That was clearly wrong as I was greeted by the folder questing itself in the most flashy manner.

Cool, cmd+R, got the spinning world, and went to reinstall macOS Sierra (Sierra, really? m'kay). It does it's thing for a few minutes and then right when it has -399 seconds remaining I get this..


An error occurred while preparing the installation. Try running this application again.


I've attempted this a few times with that same error message as the result. So here's an image of the Installer Log.


Before anyone asks or suggests a solution that uses another Mac. I don't have another Mac, and I cannot get another Mac.

MacBook Pro 15", macOS 10.15

Posted on Mar 27, 2020 11:18 PM

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Posted on Mar 27, 2020 11:59 PM

Welp, I was able to fix it myself.


Upon re-boot cmd+option+r until spinning world then reinstall macOS Catalina.

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Cannot install macOS from recovery after flashing question mark folder on boot.

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