Can’t reinstall macOS and can’t erase Macintosh HD

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Can’t reinstall macOS and can’t erase Macintosh HD

Hi everyone,

We’re trying to get my wife’s old computer ready to sell to a third party. It’s a 2017 iMac.

We are trying to reinstall High Sierra, but when promoted to select a drive, they are both locked. Looking online, the wisdom is to erase Macintosh HD. That’s what we’re doing.

However, it’s been several attempts to do so, and now several hours into our latest attempt and it just stays there “Erasing ‘Macintosh HD’ and creating ‘Macintosh HD’”.

The only thing we haven’t tried is using a thumb drive, but we don’t have one, and our current computers don’t even have USB-A anymore.

Anyone have some possible hidden solutions?

thank you

Posted on Apr 10, 2023 6:27 PM

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Answer 1

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den.thed

Level 10

83,068 points

Apr 10, 2023 7:38 PM in response to dannycmaia

For reference, see > What to do before you sell, give away, or trade in your Mac - Apple Support

links to the erase and install directions are down in step 8

Use Disk Utility to erase an Intel-based Mac - Apple Support

How to reinstall macOS - Apple Support

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Answer 2

den.thed

Level 10

83,068 points

Apr 11, 2023 7:27 AM in response to dannycmaia

It should only take a few minutes at most, to erase the Macintosh HD and format it APFS.

See if you can quit Disk Utility and get back to the Recovery option panel.

If you can, then go to Disk Utility and try again.

If not, power down, restart in Recovery Mode, go to Disk Utility and try again.

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Answer 3

dannycmaia Author

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Apr 11, 2023 10:23 AM in response to den.thed

Hmmm... We've already been restarting it and trying it again, but will do.

If we run into the same issue, is there something else we can try besides attempting to erase it again?

EDIT: when you say Recovery option panel, is that the same thing as 'macOS Utilities'?

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Answer 4

den.thed

Level 10

83,068 points

Apr 11, 2023 12:26 PM in response to dannycmaia

dannycmaia wrote:

Hmmm... We've already been restarting it and trying it again, but will do.

If we run into the same issue, is there something else we can try besides attempting to erase it again?

What happens when you try and install macOS?

EDIT: when you say Recovery option panel, is that the same thing as 'macOS Utilities'?

Yes that is correct, the macOS Utilities in Recovery Mode.

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Answer 5

dannycmaia Author

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14 points

Apr 10, 2023 9:06 PM in response to den.thed

Thank you but we already have these links open. We’re at the ‘erase Macintosh HD’ stage and… it’s been erasing it for about 8 hours now. Should we keep waiting or is there something else to try?

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Answer 6

BDAqua

Level 10

245,567 points

Apr 11, 2023 10:49 AM in response to dannycmaia

You could get an external drive to install to.

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Can’t reinstall macOS and can’t erase Macintosh HD

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