recovery server could not be contacted

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recovery server could not be contacted

Hi there, desperate for some help here please folks. I have erased the HD of my 2018 MacBook Pro which was running Catalina. Went to reinstall the OS but have this message "Recovery server could not be contacted".

My internet connection is fine, I have tried three different wifi's and they all take me through the initial internet recovery page fine. Once it reboots and the macOS Utilities page comes up I get the "Recovery server could not be contacted" when it tries to install High Sierra. I have tried changing the date and time using terminal going back to an old date and and using the correct date and time, neither work.

Unfortunately what I didn't realise is that the security option to block booting from external USB's was enabled so I can't use a bootable drive. I know the old admin password but when I try to enable booting from external USB it says "No administrator was found" as I have erased the HD. I have seen some threads about adding an admin at this point but I have been unable to get any of them to work. Is there any easy way to do this?

When I go on the error log for the OS Installer it says "Target is not convertible to APFS, was called on a APFS disk: This volume is not formatted as Mac OS Extended (Journaled)"

But my HD defo has File System Mac OS Extended (Journaled). So should I retry erasing my HD again? Would it make any difference if I added a partition when erasing the HD?

Any help would be massively appreciated, thanks in advance!

MacBook Pro (2017 – 2020)

Posted on May 31, 2023 11:16 AM

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Answer 1

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a brody

Level 10

84,141 points

May 31, 2023 3:12 PM in response to Pretty Boy

Are you using Target Disk Mode?

if you are, (the T key at startup), that makes your hard drive an external hard drive with only the knowledge of the connected computer as to what to install software from. The installer will sensitive to the host's CPU, not the target's CPU. An error of the target could happen in the fashion you describe.

A 2020 MacBook Pro as a host will never allow High Sierra to be installed because the operating system is too old for it.

A 2017 MacBook Pro might allow High Sierra to be installed on a 2009 MacBook Pro set to target, but once booted the 2009 MacBook Pro won't understand what High Sierra is as it is too new for the 2009 MacBook Pro.

Target disk mode may allow High Sierra to be installed on a 2009 MacBook Pro, and boot a 2017 MacBook Pro, but the 2009 MacBook Pro on its own will never support High Sierra.

Any machine with the T key booted is essentially a glorified external hard drive until it tries to boot on its own. Then its CPU will just which OS it is compatible with.

Host machine is the machine linked to the computer that booted with the 'T' key.

Target machine is the machine that booted with the 'T' key.

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Answer 2

Jun 26, 2023 11:53 AM in response to Pretty Boy

Hi! I Musa from Tanzania, I got problem with my MacBook pro model A1990 when I recovery via internet then it bring high Sierra which is not compatible with my Macbook and so give me error *The recovery server could not be contacted* I tried to back date of MacBook but unfortunately still bring that error message

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Answer 3

Pretty Boy Author

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11 points

May 31, 2023 1:23 PM in response to a brody

Hi there, many thanks for your reply, much appreciated. I'm not in a position to get one of those USB hubs. I tried the command-option-shift-R and i got taken to the flashing folder with question mark.

Also why am I getting the "Target is not convertible to APFS, was called on a APFS disk: This volume is not formatted as Mac OS Extended (Journaled)" message on the error logs when I try to install the OS?

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Answer 4

a brody

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84,141 points

Jun 26, 2023 4:07 PM in response to Musajr2020

That generally is due to some issue with your internet access. Musajr2020, if you can't help the original poster of this thread, please start your new thread by selecting Ask the Community above.

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Answer 5

a brody

Level 10

84,141 points

May 31, 2023 12:29 PM in response to Pretty Boy

There is no reason to do the flash drive method.

What you need is a good powered USB-ethernet hub such as:

https://www.smklink.com/products/usb-c-multi-port-hub

https://www.siig.com/search/JU-DK0F11-S1

and to plug the power of the laptop directly into the hub and an ethernet cable between the hub and the modem.

That will give you the internet connection necessary to proceed. Chances are it is not conveying the WiFi connection properly to the recovery server. command-option-shift-R at startup loads recovery, and allows you to restore the operating system from Apple directly.

If you have any data on your computer you need to recover, and you can't boot the system with the Option key, take a place that recovers data from Macs. http://www.apple.com/buy should help.

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Answer 6

Pretty Boy Author

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May 31, 2023 1:52 PM in response to BDAqua

Disk utility says HD has File System Mac OS Extended (Journaled). But then get "Target is not convertible to APFS, was called on a APFS disk: This volume is not formatted as Mac OS Extended (Journaled)" message on the OS Install error logs.

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Answer 7

a brody

Level 10

84,141 points

May 31, 2023 1:57 PM in response to Pretty Boy

First format Mac OS Extended Journalled if you have no data to perserve. Once formatted Mac OS X Extended Journalled, it can be formatted APFS if the installer is for HIgh Sierra or newer. If it is for Sierra or older, you'll need to upgrade to High Sierra first.

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Answer 8

a brody

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84,141 points

May 31, 2023 2:11 PM in response to Pretty Boy

If that's happening, it sounds like your built-in storage is damaged.

I would bring it into a service center to determine the health of the drive, and see if they can help you upgrade.

Generally the flashing question market disk indicates there is no workable system available. If it is appearing in internet recovery mode, and you are certain the internet is there, it has no place to download the recovery partition to that it can write to, which indicates a problem with the storage device.

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Answer 9

Pretty Boy Author

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11 points

May 31, 2023 2:12 PM in response to a brody

Ok thanks, will redo as Mac OS Extended Journalled and try that then redo as APFS if its till not working.

On Disk Utility should I erase the Macintosh HD Volume or the Apple SSD Media or both?

Thanks for your help on this

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Answer 10

Pretty Boy Author

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11 points

May 31, 2023 2:28 PM in response to a brody

OK I've erased it twice now. First time as Mac OS Extended (Journaled) and was still getting the error message about it being "Target is not convertible to APFS, was called on a APFS disk: This volume is not formatted as Mac OS Extended (Journaled)"

Then erased it again as APFs and got the same message

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Answer 11

Pretty Boy Author

Level 1

11 points

May 31, 2023 3:21 PM in response to a brody

Hi Brody, I haven't been using Target Disk mode. The macbook pro I am having the issues with is a 2018. When I am in work tomorrow I have an old macbook air I can connect and try to use Target mode. Just need to dig out a USB lead that will connect both of them. Will let you know how I get on. Thanks so much for all this info and help.

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Answer 12

Pretty Boy Author

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11 points

May 31, 2023 11:27 AM in response to Pretty Boy

I have also tried copying the image from a bootable USB in Disk Utility to the HD but get the message "The bless tool was unable to set the current boot disk".

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Answer 13

BDAqua

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May 31, 2023 1:38 PM in response to Pretty Boy

What Format does Disk Utility say it is?

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Answer 14

a brody

Level 10

84,141 points

May 31, 2023 2:14 PM in response to Pretty Boy

You select the top most volume belonging the the volume you want to erase using View menu - > Show all devices. Note, this action is not reversible.

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recovery server could not be contacted

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