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User profile for user: PMadryga
PMadryga Author
User level: Level 1
4 points

reinstalling High Sierra on an old machine

I just acquired a 2009 iMac as a backup machine. The previous owner had been running High Sierra on it, and wiped the hard drive before passing it on to me. The problem I'm having is that it won't reinstall Sierra, because it had already been downloaded too many times to that machine. "Fine", I said; "Let's try installing an older OS, like El Capitan..." Nope. It wouldn't take it, because a more recent OS was supposedly already installed. I'm stuck at the MacOS Recovery Window with nowhere to go - any advice would be welcome...

iMac Pro

Posted on Aug 15, 2020 6:41 PM

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User profile for user: BDAqua
BDAqua
User level: Level 10
245,435 points

Posted on Aug 15, 2020 7:39 PM

1. Start up from macOS Recovery

To start up from macOS Recovery, turn on your Mac and immediately press and hold one of the following combinations on your keyboard. Command-R is generally recommended, especially if you never installed macOS Sierra 10.12.4 or later… https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204904#notupdated

Command (⌘)-R

Install the latest macOS that was installed on your Mac.


Option-⌘-R

Upgrade to the latest macOS compatible with your Mac.


Shift-Option-⌘-R

Install the macOS that came with your Mac, or the closest version still available.


2. Decide whether to erase (format) your disk

If you need to erase your disk before installing macOS, select Disk Utility from the Utilities window, then click Continue. You probably don't need to erase, unless you're selling or giving away your Mac or have an issue that requires you to erase. Learn more about when and how to erase.

3. Install macOS

After starting up from macOS Recovery, follow these steps to install macOS:

  1. Choose Reinstall macOS (or Reinstall OS X) from the Utilities window.
  2. Click Continue, then follow the onscreen instructions to choose your disk and begin installation.
  3. If the installer asks to unlock your disk, enter the password you use to log in to your Mac. If it doesn't see your disk, or it says that it can't install on your computer or volume, you might need to erase your disk. 


  1. Please allow installation to complete without putting your Mac to sleep or closing its lid. During installation, your Mac might restart and show a progress bar several times, and the screen might be empty for minutes at a time.

If your Mac restarts to a setup assistant, but you're selling or giving it away, press Command-Q to quit the assistant without completing setup. Then click Shut Down. When the new owner starts up the Mac, they can use their own information to complete setup.



If you never installed macOS Sierra 10.12.4

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.

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204904 

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User profile for user: BDAqua
BDAqua
User level: Level 10
245,435 points

Aug 15, 2020 7:39 PM in response to PMadryga

1. Start up from macOS Recovery

To start up from macOS Recovery, turn on your Mac and immediately press and hold one of the following combinations on your keyboard. Command-R is generally recommended, especially if you never installed macOS Sierra 10.12.4 or later… https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204904#notupdated

Command (⌘)-R

Install the latest macOS that was installed on your Mac.


Option-⌘-R

Upgrade to the latest macOS compatible with your Mac.


Shift-Option-⌘-R

Install the macOS that came with your Mac, or the closest version still available.


2. Decide whether to erase (format) your disk

If you need to erase your disk before installing macOS, select Disk Utility from the Utilities window, then click Continue. You probably don't need to erase, unless you're selling or giving away your Mac or have an issue that requires you to erase. Learn more about when and how to erase.

3. Install macOS

After starting up from macOS Recovery, follow these steps to install macOS:

  1. Choose Reinstall macOS (or Reinstall OS X) from the Utilities window.
  2. Click Continue, then follow the onscreen instructions to choose your disk and begin installation.
  3. If the installer asks to unlock your disk, enter the password you use to log in to your Mac. If it doesn't see your disk, or it says that it can't install on your computer or volume, you might need to erase your disk. 


  1. Please allow installation to complete without putting your Mac to sleep or closing its lid. During installation, your Mac might restart and show a progress bar several times, and the screen might be empty for minutes at a time.

If your Mac restarts to a setup assistant, but you're selling or giving it away, press Command-Q to quit the assistant without completing setup. Then click Shut Down. When the new owner starts up the Mac, they can use their own information to complete setup.



If you never installed macOS Sierra 10.12.4

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.

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204904 

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User profile for user: BDAqua
BDAqua
User level: Level 10
245,435 points

Aug 16, 2020 10:08 AM in response to PMadryga

See if you can upgrade to 10.11, 10.12, 10.13, or 10.14, see sys requirements...


https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT206886

https://itunes.apple.com/app/os-x-el-capitan/id1147835434?ls=1&mt=12

http://updates-http.cdn-apple.com/2019/cert/061-41424-20191024-218af9ec-cf50-4516-9011-228c78eda3d2/InstallMacOSX.dmg


https://support.apple.com/kb/sp742?locale=en_US

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/macos-sierra/id1127487414?ls=1&mt=12


https://support.apple.com/kb/sp765?locale=en_US

https://itunes.apple.com/app/macos-high-sierra/id1246284741?mt=12


https://support.apple.com/kb/SP777?locale=en_US

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/macos-mojave/id1398502828?mt=12

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User profile for user: PMadryga
PMadryga Author
User level: Level 1
4 points

Aug 16, 2020 7:00 AM in response to BDAqua

Thanks for your reply - I've tried all of this, and it hasn't worked. I first tried to reinstall High Sierra, and was informed that it wouldn't download, because the machine in question had already downloaded it too many times. I then tried an earlier OS (El Capitan), and was told it wouldn't install, because the machine was already running a later OS (!!!). I would welcome other suggestions, if there are any...

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reinstalling High Sierra on an old machine

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