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darduggle Author

Level 1

8 points

Cannot erase hard drive on iMac.

I am trying to erase the hard drive and reinstall OS before selling this iMac. It appears tht thre hard drive was erased but I get an error at the end.

When I try to reinstallOS (Catalina), I get the following error message:

*Erasing “Macintosh HD” (disk2s5) and creating “Macintosh HD”

Preparing to erase APFS Volume content

Checking mount state

The volume “Macintosh HD” on disk2s5 couldn’t be unmounted because it is in use by process 662 (kextcache)

Couldn’t unmount disk. : (-69888)

Operation failed…**

Any idea on what I should do?

Thank you.

iMac Line (2012 and Later)

Posted on Aug 13, 2021 11:45 AM

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Top-ranking reply

Level 2

315 points

Posted on Aug 13, 2021 11:54 AM

What OS came with it? The only reason I ask is because if you have to, you reboot and hold down command +option +R and it will let you reinstall from Apples server’s and wipe your machine clean. But it will install the original OS that came with it.

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Top-ranking reply

Level 2

315 points

Aug 13, 2021 11:54 AM in response to darduggle

What OS came with it? The only reason I ask is because if you have to, you reboot and hold down command +option +R and it will let you reinstall from Apples server’s and wipe your machine clean. But it will install the original OS that came with it.

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Level 10

212,117 points

Aug 13, 2021 2:32 PM in response to darduggle

1 - boot into the Recovery volume (boot with the Command + R keys held down),

2 - select Disk Utility

3 - make sure the items in #2 are both mounted. The item "Toad Hall" is greyed out so must be mounted before it can be erased.

4 - select item #3 and do an erase.

5 - select #1 and do an erase.

6 - close Disk Utility

7 - select Install macOS and install the system.

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darduggle Author

Level 1

8 points

Aug 13, 2021 2:30 PM in response to toastosxDC

Thank you, Toast. I tried restarting and erasing the HD a third time in Recovery mode and it finally worked. Then it reinstalled Catalina and the world is right again. The machine is clean and ready for its next owner.

Thanks again for your input - it would have been next if I struck out again.

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Aug 13, 2021 2:34 PM in response to darduggle

Awesome buddy, glad I could help. I know it sucks when things don’t work. Have a good day.

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Cannot erase hard drive on iMac.

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