NO DISK on "Select the disk where you want to instal macOS" screen

HI! I bought a 2017 (I think) MBP today and the previous owner did not wipe it so I did. I have done this to several MacBooks without incident, but today I am stuck and unable to find a solution. I deleted Macintosh HD - Data and Macintosh HD without a problem, but when I went to reinstall the OS the screen where it says "Select the disk where you want to instal macOS" has no disk and Install arrow is grayed out. I cannot find a fix here or anywhere online. MacBook Pro, 2017 (or 2016), 13", macOS Catalina all other info is inaccessible now that I am stuck unable to reinstall.

Posted on Aug 17, 2020 8:14 PM

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Posted on Aug 17, 2020 8:33 PM

I don't know what you did, exactly, so here is what you should do with a used computer that was not prepared for the new owner. You will need an Internet connection for the following which will install the original version of macOS that came new from the factory.


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


  1. Restart the computer. Immediately, at or before the chime, hold down the (Command-Option-Shift-R) keys until a globe appears.
  2. In the screen menubar is a Wi-Fi icon. Click on the icon to select your Wi-Fi network from the list. Enter the network password as requested. If you have an Ethernet connection, then ignore this step.
  3. The Utility Menu will appear in from 5-20 minutes. Be patient.
  4. Select Disk Utility and click on the Continue button.
  5. When Disk Utility loads select the target drive (out-dented entry w/type and size) from the side list.
  6. Click on the Erase button in Disk Utility's toolbar. A panel will drop down.
  7. Set the partition scheme to GUID.
  8. Set the Format type to APFS (SSDs, only if installing Mojave or Catalina ) or Mac OS Extended, (Journaled.)
  9. Provide a volume name, usually "Macintosh HD."
  10. Click on the Apply button, then click on the Done button when it activates.
  11. Quit Disk Utility and return to the Utility Menu.
  12. Select Install OS X and click on the Continue button.


2 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Aug 17, 2020 8:33 PM in response to voblak2

I don't know what you did, exactly, so here is what you should do with a used computer that was not prepared for the new owner. You will need an Internet connection for the following which will install the original version of macOS that came new from the factory.


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


  1. Restart the computer. Immediately, at or before the chime, hold down the (Command-Option-Shift-R) keys until a globe appears.
  2. In the screen menubar is a Wi-Fi icon. Click on the icon to select your Wi-Fi network from the list. Enter the network password as requested. If you have an Ethernet connection, then ignore this step.
  3. The Utility Menu will appear in from 5-20 minutes. Be patient.
  4. Select Disk Utility and click on the Continue button.
  5. When Disk Utility loads select the target drive (out-dented entry w/type and size) from the side list.
  6. Click on the Erase button in Disk Utility's toolbar. A panel will drop down.
  7. Set the partition scheme to GUID.
  8. Set the Format type to APFS (SSDs, only if installing Mojave or Catalina ) or Mac OS Extended, (Journaled.)
  9. Provide a volume name, usually "Macintosh HD."
  10. Click on the Apply button, then click on the Done button when it activates.
  11. Quit Disk Utility and return to the Utility Menu.
  12. Select Install OS X and click on the Continue button.


Aug 18, 2020 11:31 AM in response to Kappy

Thanks a bunch. I did all of that and it still wouldn't work so someone on the Apple Support Community Facebook page told me to delete everything and start again. I went to do that and then I was able to reinstall the previous OS for some reason. So, I am ok now. I appreciate you and that person on fb helping me fix this!

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NO DISK on "Select the disk where you want to instal macOS" screen

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