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How to erase MacBook Pro- MacBook OS Base System Disk

I don't have a start up disk and I know how to wipe a computer (recovery mode...etc.) but that one volume won't erase and there is no option to erase it. (it is gray). What is MacBook Base System and why won't it erase? When I boot up I am still asked for my User Password... HELP!!

MacBook Pro

Posted on Nov 5, 2021 3:21 PM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Nov 5, 2021 5:20 PM

Quijamoon wrote:

I don't have a start up disk and I know how to wipe a computer (recovery mode...etc.) but that one volume won't erase and there is no option to erase it. (it is gray). What is MacBook Base System and why won't it erase? When I boot up I am still asked for my User Password... HELP!!


You can not erase a volume if you are booted to that volume.


From Internet Recovery Disk Utility>View>Show All Devices,

here you can erase/reformat/initilize the parent Drive.




How to erase your Intel-based Mac - https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT208496


How to reinstall macOS from macOS Recovery - https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204904

2 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Nov 5, 2021 5:20 PM in response to Quijamoon

Quijamoon wrote:

I don't have a start up disk and I know how to wipe a computer (recovery mode...etc.) but that one volume won't erase and there is no option to erase it. (it is gray). What is MacBook Base System and why won't it erase? When I boot up I am still asked for my User Password... HELP!!


You can not erase a volume if you are booted to that volume.


From Internet Recovery Disk Utility>View>Show All Devices,

here you can erase/reformat/initilize the parent Drive.




How to erase your Intel-based Mac - https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT208496


How to reinstall macOS from macOS Recovery - https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204904

Nov 6, 2021 3:10 PM in response to Quijamoon

I took your advice and what happened was that it wouldn't let me erase that drive because "it was in use"... So I kept deleting everything I could until there was no more and VOILA! Now it opens in internet recovery mode (when booted in recovery mode) and the next owner can download their desired back up system and use the computer. Thank you so much for your support. :) (PS: For anyone "else" seeing this message, once you have wiped the OS which is what I did, if you do not open in recovery mode (command R while pressing the start button) you will see a blank folder with a "?" in it. So you have to boot it up in Recovery Mode to move forward.

How to erase MacBook Pro- MacBook OS Base System Disk

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