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

Restore factory settings missing hard drive

Erased Hard drive and attempted to restore Mac Operating System. Comes up with Yosemite option but does not show a disk that it can be restored to.

iMac Line (2012 and Later)

Posted on Sep 23, 2021 1:57 AM

Reply
3 replies

Sep 24, 2021 1:50 AM in response to Giantcuttlefish

How to erase an Intel-based Mac as per this Method from Apple and especially Step #5


  • How to reinstall macOS as per Apple - If the installer doesn't see your disk, or it says that it can't install on your computer or volume, you might need to erase your disk first.
  • If the installer offers you the choice between installing on Macintosh HD or Macintosh HD - Data, choose Macintosh HD.




Sep 24, 2021 6:11 AM in response to Giantcuttlefish

Which OS was your mac using before you decided to erase it.

If it was running macOS High Sierra 10.13.6 or newer the Disk may have been formatted as APFS.

Mac OS X Yosemite requires the Disk to be completely erased and reformatted Mac OS X Extended (Journaled).


When you booed to your Recovery HD and selected Disk Utility, if you had been running any of the newer OS's which run APFS

you need to click on View in the menubar ad select Show All Devices.

The left hand side of the Disk Utility panel will now show the full Volume tree of an APFS formatted Disk.


Highlight the Disk, usually called Apple SSD... or similar, then click on Erase.

Give the Disk a name.

Format: Mac OS Extended (Journaled).

Scheme: GUID Partition Map.

Click Erase.

When the erase and reformat has completed you should end up with the Disk

and one indented Volume, with the name you gave it earlier.


Quit Disk Utility.

Select Reinstall OS X, press Continue.

The installation process should start follow the prompts, do you know get the option to

choose the destination.

for the install.

Restore factory settings missing hard drive

Welcome to Apple Support Community
A forum where Apple customers help each other with their products. Get started with your Apple ID.