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User profile for user: latape
latape Author
User level: Level 1
8 points

Reinstall macOS to Mac without existing macOS, admin account & startup disk

Hi,


I'm trying to reinstall macOS to a seriously messed up MacBook Pro 13" 2018 model. Apparently, problems with the computer started initially when update from Catalina to Big Sur failed. After the update the computer would not start and recovery attempts failed. The computer's disk has since been erased and all user accounts have been lost. The computer shows question mark folder when it's started.


Here's what I've tried so far:


  • Started Mac to startup manager (press ⌥ in startup). No disks are showing, only option is internet recovery, which fails.
  • Started Mac in recovery mode and ran First Aid on the disk, which says that the volume appears to be OK. In addition to internal Apple SSD, there is a macOS Base System Disk Image.
  • In recovery mode terminal, I've ran following commands
$ bless --info
$ bless --getBoot

which both return

Can't access "efi-boot-device" NVRAM variable.
  • Reset NVRAM and SMC, which had no effect.
  • Tried to install macOS from bootable USB memory (created following these instructions https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201372), which fails because external boot is disallowed in Startup Security Utility. I cannot change the setting because the computer has no administrator account.
  • Tried to start into single user mode (⌘-S), to delete /var/db/.AppleSetupDone file in order to run Mac setup again and get new admin account. However, logging into single user mode fails, apparently because there is no startup disk (based on this: https://discussions.apple.com/thread/8448671). It just shows question mark folder even if I press the ⌘-S key combination in startup.
  • Tried to set startup volume in recovery mode terminal by running command
$ bless -mount /Volumes/Macintosh\ HD/ -setBoot

which returns the following:

Can't load /Volumes/Machintosh HD/usr/standalone/i386/apfs.efi
Could not load apfs.efi data from /Volumes/Machintosh HD/usr/standalone/i386/apfs.efi


Any ideas what I should do? I'm starting to be out of ideas. I'm guessing that the first thing I need is to get startup disk working and create an administrator account. However, that seems to be easier said than done

MacBook Pro with Touch Bar

Posted on Jan 14, 2021 11:51 PM

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User profile for user: steve626
steve626
User level: Level 6
9,989 points

Posted on Jan 15, 2021 1:45 PM

Unless someone here has a good idea, you may need to call Apple Support or go to an authorized Apple service provider that is open -- some of the third party ones are in fact open for business. Your Mac is fairly new and should be recoverable.

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User profile for user: steve626
steve626
User level: Level 6
9,989 points

Jan 15, 2021 2:00 PM in response to PRP_53

P. Phillips wrote:

If going that route - be sure the Third Party Repair outfit is Apple Authorized Repair Shop. There are those who claim they fix Apple Products but. . . arrive at own conclusions. Have read many people on these forums who cut corners and ended up basically loosing the machine and having to buy a new one in the bargain.

Yes, and you can find the Apple Authorized Shops listed on Apple's own web site, in fact. In some cases you can make a reservation/appointment through the official Apple web site. In some ways, going through one of these authorized repair centers can be preferable to an Apple Store because you can often speak in person (social distanced of course!) with the technician actually doing the work. I've had good experience with both the authorized shops and Apple Stores for service, but in the Apple Store you need to interact through another person. Sometimes the actual technicians offer insights or options that are useful to know about.

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User profile for user: latape
latape Author
User level: Level 1
8 points

Feb 8, 2021 11:07 PM in response to steve626

After pretty much every imaginable solution failed, I took it to authorized Apple repair. The ran diagnostics on the computer and apparently the memory modules had failed. They had to replace the motherboard to fix it. Luckily the laptop was less than 2 years old so the costs were charged from the retailer.

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Reinstall macOS to Mac without existing macOS, admin account & startup disk

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