Error -5101F

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Level 1

5 points

Error -5101F

My MBP does not have an Ether Port, so against the advice here, I have to use an adapter instead of a “directly” connection. I’ve tried a USB to Ether adapter and I can only guess that it isn’t working because it is suggesting I hook over WiFi. I have been trying to launch Recovery over the internet and got the triangle with an !, and a -2003F and now a -5101F Alert. It just the number, not a “Error -5101F”

My next step is to buy a Thunderbolt to Gigabit Ethernet adapter.

The core of the problem is that I’m trying recover with what becomes available from Apple. In this case Maverick.

I get to where I can choose what to do but the destination disc or HD, in this case SSD doesn’t show up. The external USB drive shows up.

MacBook Pro 15″, macOS 10.13

Posted on Mar 7, 2021 2:04 PM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

Leanne_68

Community Specialist

Mar 9, 2021 2:27 PM in response to boyWonder65

Hello boyWonder65,

Thanks for posting in the Apple Support Communities forum, and sharing the screenshots above. We understand you're trying to restore the macOS, but running into errors preventing that.

There doesn't appear to be any issues on Apple's system status page, which can sometimes cause the last error you mentioned. Additionally, it can relate to a temporary issue affecting the Recovery system, and we can try a different keyboard combination to invoke the restore instead. Review the steps on How to reinstall macOS, and it goes over other key combinations to try that should warrant different results.

Command (⌘)-R

Option-Command (⌘)-R

Shift-Option-Command-R

If the issue changes gear to a different startup, learn what to do If your Mac doesn't start up all the way.

Have a nice week!

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Answer 2

boyWonder65 Author

Level 1

5 points

Mar 9, 2021 3:58 PM in response to Leanne_68

What’s on my mind?....a Bloody Mary.

So, I am so thankful that someone responded. Thank you Leanne_68! ❤️

I’’ trying to extend the life of this 2013 MBP.

First source says I need to put back a working and recognizable SSD to get a firmware update for the motherBoard so that the nvMe SSD can be detected.

Another source said I might’ve f*ed it up and suggested I bring it in and pay $300 for a drive and the OS installation. 🤮

I bought a 1TB nvMe SSD that wouls be recognized by the OS as long as the OS is Sierra or higher. Ugh ¡🤦‍♂️!

The Recovery process, Power+Alt has allowed me to install the OS on external drive. So I went ahead an installed Mavericks on a thumb drive. This drive ran out of space.

So I’ve since then tried the same on a 20GB external drive and and as of now configuring the computer.

I’m hoping that I can get this firmware, via the external OS, updated as required to detect the nvMe drive, per the first source and seller of the nvMe SSD.

Thanks Leanne_68

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Answer 3

boyWonder65 Author

Level 1

5 points

Mar 10, 2021 11:16 AM in response to cp from OH

So it appears that the Lighting to Gigabit to Ethernet works. The MBP

I found a 20 GB external drive and that took Mavericks successfully but it is full.

One World Computing has a rental plan where they rent out an original SSD from the. Time to allow, in my case, me to update the firmware and proceed to take my laptop to Its highest operational OS.

Being hopeful? Thanks everyone

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Answer 4

cp from OH

Community Specialist

Mar 10, 2021 11:07 AM in response to boyWonder65

Hey boyWonder65,

Thanks for the update. Sounds like you have a game plan!

Take care!

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Error -5101F

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