You can make a difference in the Apple Support Community!

When you sign up with your Apple Account, you can provide valuable feedback to other community members by upvoting helpful replies and User Tips.

Looks like no one’s replied in a while. To start the conversation again, simply ask a new question.

User profile for user: Rolan64
Rolan64 Author
User level: Level 1
12 points

OS X Recovery Modes Not Available, How Else May I ERASE This MBA?

Model: Macbook Air, 11-inch, Mid 2013, i5, 2gb RAM, OS X 10.8.5 (mountain lion)


When normal power on occurs, machine only boots into SAFE MODE. Not sure if this is the issue, but the 0, P, : keys do not work. From terminal: Diskutil List shows there is a recovery partition but I cannot seem to access it, and I don't know what else to do here?


I just want to ERASE THIS MAC before proper disposal!!



NOTE: i have created a bootable usb disk but can't get into recovery mode or startup disk selection so its useless right?


Here is what happens when I attempt anything:


  • pressing left side cmd+R does nothing(even when using a WIRED windows keyboard) so boots into safe mode
  • pressing right side cmd+R boots into Internet Recovery, which loads screen and then goes to screen with a circle and slash thru it
  • pressing right side alt/option key boots the MBA into normal mode directly with no startup disk select option, left side alt/option key boots into safe mode(which means does nothing)
  • pressing T does nothing, boots normal which in this case is safe mode
  • can't reset PRAM because the P key does not work, wired keyboard has zero results as well



Anyone else have any other ideas or suggestions?


Meanwhile as I was typing this, I was somehow able to update to EL Capitan now(started it aprox 60mins ago and just finished), but still unable to erase this MBA, see below:


  • Now I can get into Recovery Mode but when I go to Reinstall OS X El Capitan, it goes to a message that "a required download is missing" and only option is to hit ok.
  • Internet Recovery still goes to the circle with slash in it


I have downloaded HIGH SIERRA, should I install that next and try all over again?


Or should I just erase the disk with Disk Utility now that Recovery Mode is available with EL Capitan?


Or is there a way to do a clean install from OS X itself?


At wits end here party peoples... Let me know!!


Rolan



Posted on Mar 3, 2021 1:52 PM

Reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply
User profile for user: Rolan64
Rolan64 Author
User level: Level 1
12 points

Posted on Mar 9, 2021 12:44 PM

Issue Resolved


Resolution: I used DD in terminal to create a bootable usb stick instead of Apples method as outlined here:

  • How to create Bootable installer - link


For whatever reason this was now recognized as a valid startup disk and I was able to use alt/option on boot to select startup disk which was my usb bootable "install High Sierra" disk created with dd.


MBA now is completed erased and then has High Sierra installed on it.


CASE CLOSED


oNe

View in context

Similar questions

9 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply
User profile for user: Rolan64
Rolan64 Author
User level: Level 1
12 points

Mar 9, 2021 12:44 PM in response to Rolan64

Issue Resolved


Resolution: I used DD in terminal to create a bootable usb stick instead of Apples method as outlined here:

  • How to create Bootable installer - link


For whatever reason this was now recognized as a valid startup disk and I was able to use alt/option on boot to select startup disk which was my usb bootable "install High Sierra" disk created with dd.


MBA now is completed erased and then has High Sierra installed on it.


CASE CLOSED


oNe

Reply
User profile for user: Rolan64
Rolan64 Author
User level: Level 1
12 points

Mar 4, 2021 2:05 PM in response to sberman

sberman wrote:


Rolan64 wrote:

now at the least I can access recovery mode, and ideally Disk Utility to erase the disk
That’s all you need to do. Goal achieved.
How to erase an Intel-based Mac - Apple Support

Any subsequent person (or you after the erasing) can worry about installing a new operating system.


You are correct, goal has been achieved, ssd has been erased, which was the primary goal behind all of this.


However.. HUMOUR ME please, as its now more about learning purposes....


SSD has been erased and now there is no O/S on the MBA device, just boots to a screen with question mark inside a flashing folder.


Once again Recovery Options are not available:


  • right side, cmd+R does nothing, boots to flashing ? in folder
  • left side, cmd+R boots into Internet Recovery mode, but results in a circle with slash thru it
  • right side, alt/option key does nothing, boots to flashing ? in folder
  • left side, alt/option key does nothing, boots to flashing ? in folder


You mentioned there was ways to restore a mac even when recovery mode is NOT available, but I scoured the net and found nothing, perhaps it was my google fi not being up to par?


Mainly in the interest of learning purposes, what else can I do or how else may I get an OS X distro on this MBA without Recovery Mode being accessible?

Reply
User profile for user: Rolan64
Rolan64 Author
User level: Level 1
12 points

Mar 5, 2021 8:00 AM in response to sberman

sberman wrote:


Rolan64 wrote:


Mainly in the interest of learning purposes, what else can I do or how else may I get an OS X distro on this MBA without Recovery Mode being accessible?
You created your bootable installer. Use it as follows:
https://discussions.apple.com/content/attachment/868e57ee-44f8-443b-8b2c-fa5f55533b55

Therein lies the entire origin of this post, I cannot access Recovery Mode, Target Disk Mode or Startup Disk mode on this machine.


As outlined in my previous reply and original reply, this is what happened/(s) prior to updating to EL CAPITAN, and now once again happening after using Recovery Mode to erase the Macintosh HD as outlined here.


  • right side, cmd+R does nothing, boots to flashing ? in folder
  • left side, cmd+R boots into Internet Recovery mode, but results in a circle with slash thru it
  • right side, alt/option key does nothing, boots to flashing ? in folder
  • left side, alt/option key does nothing, boots to flashing ? in folder


**same results using a wired keyboard...


So not quite sure what else to do or try here? Any and all input/direction appreciated...



Note: I followed these step by step directions as outlined here:


Erase HD - link

Change Startup Disk - link

How to create Bootable installer - link

Reply
User profile for user: Rolan64
Rolan64 Author
User level: Level 1
12 points

Mar 3, 2021 2:44 PM in response to sberman

sberman wrote:


Rolan64 wrote:

Or should I just erase the disk with Disk Utility now that Recovery Mode is available with EL Capitan?
Why would you not do this?

Your objective is to erase the Mac. This method allows you to do exactly that.

How to erase an Intel-based Mac - Apple Support

because I am worried that if I do that, then there won't be any operating system on it period.. but its not the end of the world if thats the case I suppose.


I think I will try to update to High Sierra 1st and go from there...


So to clarify, there is no way to do a clean REINSTALL of OS X from OS X itself right?

Reply
User profile for user: sberman
sberman
User level: Level 10
268,263 points

Mar 3, 2021 2:54 PM in response to Rolan64

Rolan64 wrote:

because I am worried that if I do that, then there won't be any operating system on it period.

See item 10 in the article I linked above. That would place an operating system on the disk.


So to clarify, there is no way to do a clean REINSTALL of OS X from OS X itself right?

There certainly is a way. But your initial post had a lot of issues that apply to your particular case that I did not wade through to figure out what might apply and what might not work in your specific scenario. You mentioned an objective, and I filtered out in my mind the parts of your original question that were not relevant to achieving your objective.

Reply
User profile for user: Rolan64
Rolan64 Author
User level: Level 1
12 points

Mar 4, 2021 6:38 AM in response to sberman

sberman wrote:


Rolan64 wrote:

because I am worried that if I do that, then there won't be any operating system on it period.
See item 10 in the article I linked above. That would place an operating system on the disk.

So to clarify, there is no way to do a clean REINSTALL of OS X from OS X itself right?
There certainly is a way. But your initial post had a lot of issues that apply to your particular case that I did not wade through to figure out what might apply and what might not work in your specific scenario. You mentioned an objective, and I filtered out in my mind the parts of your original question that were not relevant to achieving your objective.

Gotcha, I see what your saying and you are correct, upon not being able to access any Recovery Mode or being able boot/image off usb my only goal was on WIPING the MBA.


However as I took my time to outline the post by the time I was ready to submit, the MBA had successfully been updated to EL CAPITAN and now at the least I can access recovery mode, and ideally Disk Utility to erase the disk since I cannot do a clean install of El Capitan....


So now what I will do is update to HIGH SIERRA, since I see no reason NOT to right?


Goal with that is the latest OS X supported on this mac and ideally get back the ability to boot into screen that allows you to select bootable installers


RIGHT?

Reply

OS X Recovery Modes Not Available, How Else May I ERASE This MBA?

Welcome to Apple Support Community
A forum where Apple customers help each other with their products. Get started with your Apple Account.
Learn more Sign up