2013 MacBook Air blocked

Question

tibi1l Author

Level 1

4 points

2013 MacBook Air blocked

Hello,

I have a 2013 Mac Air with Catalina 15.

I cannot factory reset it, the CMD touches CMD+R are not working.

I installed a tool to resize the partition in order to free up the space (it was my last solution).

Unfortunately I touched the main and unique disk.

Now when I restant the Mac there is a black screen with a file icon and an interrogation point appeering and dissapearring.

I repeat, no combination of touches is working.

I have no data to save, everything is on an external drive.

I don't have the possibility to bring it in an Apple Center as I am abroad actually, in Africa.

Any suggestion to solve my issue are welcome!

You are my last Hope, I rely on you!

Thank you for your assistance

[Re-Titled by Moderator]

MacBook Air 13″, macOS 10.15

Posted on May 27, 2023 6:30 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

den.thed

Level 10

96,832 points

May 27, 2023 6:48 AM in response to tibi1l

Review the the following macOS Recovery instructions to see if anything there helps.

see > If you can't start up from macOS Recovery - Apple Support

If not, then you will need to create a bootable installer on a flash drive.

see > Create a bootable installer for macOS - Apple Support

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Answer 2

ku4hx

Level 7

23,842 points

May 27, 2023 11:07 AM in response to tibi1l

"to create a bootable USB: I have no other computer to do it"

Locate a fellow Mac user and ask for their help in doing this. If you damaged your OS severely enough to get the question mark screen, you going to need to reinstall the OS. And this is how you do it based on your comments.

If "I have no data to save, everything is on an external drive." is true, you can maybe use that data on some friendly soul's Mac.

Just so you have the correct information, Catalina is version 10, not 15.

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Answer 3

tibi1l Author

Level 1

4 points

May 27, 2023 10:19 AM in response to den.thed

Dear den.thed

Thanks you very much for your reply. I highly apreciate it.

I went through both links and their related links and followed every manipulation several times.

- for the 1st link: I confirm that no touche is working (I had a Mac Pro that was stole, it recovery mode was operationnel via CMD+R), but on this MacAir (the only computer I have still), the touches are not working. No way to enter intro recovery mode.

The only reaction I got each time is that folder icon with the interrogation mark.

- for the 2nd link, to create a bootable USB: I have no other computer to do it.

There is no way to enter the terminal mode neither.

I only see the interrogation mark.

I really don't know what to do.

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Answer 4

tibi1l Author

Level 1

4 points

May 27, 2023 9:03 PM in response to ku4hx

Dear ku4hx

Thank you for your kind and useful reply.

And thank you for the correcting me regarding the OS version, you are right.

Unfortunately I don't know anyone who has a MAC here. I am stuck abroad in an African country and most of the people here can not afford an Apple product.

I was thinking going to a Cybercafé in order to try to create that USB bootable device. Honestly, I am worried for the following 3 reasons:

1 - all cybers here are running on Windows OS (I am not sure if an USB created under Windows would work on my Mac)

2 - as the touches on my MAC are not working, it would be impossible to set my Mac to boot from that USB

3 - even if I succeed with steps 1 and 2, the commands to enter into terminal might not work (system expert knowledge is required, it's not my case).

Taking into consideration all above, here is the solution I found: I discussed with a technician from the Apple Center, based in the capital (1.000 km from the town where I actually am). He told me that he can create that Bootable USB, that the operation is complex and lasts 2.5 hours.

But I need to send him my MAC my mail, as I cannot travel.

I am worring about loosing it or getting it lost due to the poverty of this country.

But I think this is my last chance to get my Apple fixed.

What do you think about that?

I am wondering if someone could assist my by WhatsApp.

Thank you for your support !

I am working for an NGO and I do need my MAC running quicly.

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2013 MacBook Air blocked

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