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Big Sur Internet Recovery is unsuccessful, I see a globe with an alert symbol

I am getting error with Big Sur installation where Mac starts up to globe with alert symbol and error -1008F.

I have installing the Big Sur via Flash drive. The installation step also asks for internet connection and ends up with -1008F.

Has any one faced this situation, please suggest how to revive the Mac. Its Macbook pro A2159


Thanks,

MacBook Pro 13″, macOS 11.1

Posted on Jan 9, 2021 10:07 AM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Jan 9, 2021 4:57 PM

Hi 7jeevs,


Error -1008F appears when your Mac has Activation Lock enabled, and you're trying to downgrade macOS or launch an older version of macOS Recovery. This error occurs for security reasons (to prevent someone bypassing Activation Lock).


To resolve the issue, try the steps in the article that you linked. I'll include it here for convenience: If your Mac starts up to error -1008F - Apple Support


Or, if you have a bootable installer of Big Sur, try these steps:


  1. Connect the bootable installer to your Mac.
  2. Power on or restart your Mac while holding down the Option key. Release the key when a selection of startup disks appear.
  3. Use the arrow keys to select "Install macOS Big Sur", then hit Enter (Return).


5 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Jan 9, 2021 4:57 PM in response to 7jeevs

Hi 7jeevs,


Error -1008F appears when your Mac has Activation Lock enabled, and you're trying to downgrade macOS or launch an older version of macOS Recovery. This error occurs for security reasons (to prevent someone bypassing Activation Lock).


To resolve the issue, try the steps in the article that you linked. I'll include it here for convenience: If your Mac starts up to error -1008F - Apple Support


Or, if you have a bootable installer of Big Sur, try these steps:


  1. Connect the bootable installer to your Mac.
  2. Power on or restart your Mac while holding down the Option key. Release the key when a selection of startup disks appear.
  3. Use the arrow keys to select "Install macOS Big Sur", then hit Enter (Return).


Jan 9, 2021 10:16 AM in response to 7jeevs

In Internet Recovery, these low negative thousands error messages indicate that your provided Wi-Fi Network is inadequate in some fashion, and cannot be used (for this purpose) in its current state.


Common problems include:

Hidden Network-name

required use of a proxy server to get Internet access

required use of a login page to get Internet access

Use of a login server or certificate to get Internet access

Use of PPPoE in the Mac to get Internet access (typically only applies to DSL)

Use of Fixed IP address rather than good old DHCP

Variance of the time by more than five minutes

Failure of Router to provide workable DNS server addresses, or providing 0.0.0.0 [may produce -2002f]


If you have an Ethernet port, you may in some cases be able to move your Mac close to the Router and connect to the Router using Ethernet.


The higher the number, the more obscure the problem.


If your battery was completely depleted, the Date&Time could have reverted to the default, which will not work. There is a terminal command to reset to current Internet Date&Time -- post back for assistance.

Jan 9, 2021 4:16 PM in response to 7jeevs

I presume by "Wired network" you mean Ethernet. That leaves out almost all of the items on the list above -- except TIME. Has your battery run completely flat, so that the network time could be set to something crazy?


can you boot up MacOS and synchronize to a time server?


That number looks up to MacBook Pro 13-in 2019, two Thunderbolt ports, right?

Big Sur Internet Recovery is unsuccessful, I see a globe with an alert symbol

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