I’m getting error during Reinstall OS X Installation on MacBook Air 2010

Download macOS 10.13 High Sierra, and use that.

Use Option-Command-R to boot Recovery:

Use macOS Recovery on an Intel-based Mac - Apple Support

PS: HTTP 403 is a blockage on the Apple server, meaning the requested file is blocked by server policy. I would not expect the choice of Wi-Fi or Ethernet to make a difference there as both will access the Internet from the same router and same IP address, and as MacBook Air lacks Ethernet connection, which makes that path more involved as it needs a dongle. Again, HTTP 403 is a server blockage, not a local issue.

Got around the issue- seems to be a problem connecting to Apple's servers. The date and time provided by the server is not the same as the client computer

Solution:

restart iMac in recovery command+R

Open terminal

Set date with the command:

date {month}{day}{hour}{minute}{year}

where each of the brackets is a number

E.g. November 8th 2023 14:29 would become the following command:

date 110814292023

Should be able to reinstall OSX as normal after that. No need to create a bootable installer.

oldmacuser1234d6 wrote:

I'm actually having the exact same issue - even when I use Option-Command-R and Shift-Option-Command-R Yosemite 10.10 is the only option that comes up. Then when I try to log in with my apple creds I get the 403 error. I'm just trying to wipe it so I can sell it. Help!

Old Macs are a pain, here. For most Macs, this was fixed somewhere ‘round 10.12, IIRC.

You’ll need a different Mac (and one able to run macOS 10.13) to build a bootable installer, then.

Create a bootable installer for macOS - Apple Support

Or a discussion with Apple Support about the 403 error, and see if they can get that cleared.

I was able to bypass it by creating a bootable usb drive containing the OSX I needed. I followed the steps listed here:

Create a bootable installer - Apple Support (CA)

unfortunately you’ll probably need another Mac but if you follow the steps closely, you may be able to get it to work as well.

thethreadshed wrote:

After I type in the date like that do I hit enter and close out terminal? I tried it that way but I still get the 403 error code and when I reopen terminal the date is no longer there.

That is the entire command followed by a return, yes.

Commands aren’t saved in this environment.

If the current date and time is already correct, resetting it (to {month}{day}{hour}{min}{year}) won’t help.

403 usually is an error at Apple; the file is protected against access. Not something that can be “fixed” locally.

Booting the latest macOS supported by the Mac is somewhat more likely to work, based on past discussions.

If the rest of this fails (as can happen), create a bootable installer on another Mac.

Kris1776 wrote:

The date doesn’t work. And my desktop has the correct date. How do I get around this 403 error without that intel regarding changing the date?

If requesting the most recent version of macOS supported for the particular Mac does not work via Recovery (⌥⌘R at power-up), then download and build a bootable installer on another Mac that can also run whatever older macOS version you're looking for, and boot and use that bootable installer to boot this old Mac.

It's been linked up-thread, but here it is again: Create a bootable installer - Apple Support

Recovery on older Macs was not good at that ⌥⌘R chord, and would get the oldest supported version for the Mac—they'd switch ⌥⌘R to ⌘R, or the user would enter ⌘R. If it's that oldest macOS version that is is getting the 403 error here, then you'll need to request a different macOS version for recovery with ⌥⌘R (where that works) or by using a different Mac and a bootable installer.

In order to wipe a MacBook air that is that old, you need to install the original OS X. In my case it was Mavericks. So you will need to:

1. Turn off your MacBook
2. Press the power button to start the computer, once its starting up press [command+option+R]
3. Computer will boot up - release the command+option+R - it will take approx 4 min to boot
4. Go through and Agree to licenses
5. This time you will see the option to install the OS (the original OS for that laptop) in my case it was Mavericks
6. Install will take ~45 min or so
7. It will not ask you for an Apple username and password
8. After the original OS is installed, it is now wiped with the original OS, and now you can upgrade OS to the latest version that will be supported on that Mac.

Boot Recovery with Option-Command-R, and try installing the newest supported for the Mac involved. Not the oldest. Don’t try for the oldest when starting out.See if that newest-supported version is accessible and works.

If that does not work, find another Mac that can download the older version directly, build a bootable installer there, and boot that. Or, well, try.

Versions of macOS older than OS X 10.11 can be used to create bootable installers, but those older versions don’t have the Apple-provided installer creation tool. Web search for details on creating those.

Older versions are usually an ongoing hassle. Including when trying to connect to newer websites and services that are increasingly requiring modern network security.

If it’ll boot—thes eold versions are limited—then try loading the newest version of macOS when booting Recovery, with Option-Command-R.

If that fails (Macs that never got as far as macOS 10.12 or so are tougher to boot), create a bootable installer on another Mac, and use that.

• Create a bootable installer for macOS - Apple Support
• What to do before you sell, give away, trade in, or recycle your Mac - Apple Support

amberly262 wrote:

i’m using an ethernet and mines still not working

Boot Recovery with Option-Command-R, and try installing the newest version supported for whichever Mac is involved. Not the oldest version. Don’t try for the oldest when starting out. See if that newest-supported version is accessible and works.

If that does not work, find another Mac that can download the older version directly, build a bootable installer there, and boot that. Or, well, try.

Versions of macOS older than OS X 10.11 can be used to create bootable installers, but those older versions don’t have the Apple-provided installer creation tool. Web search for details on creating those.

Older versions are usually an ongoing hassle. Including when trying to connect to newer websites and services that are increasingly requiring modern network security.

The problem is that an older date has to be entered (via Terminal; e.g. 0101010115; see respective instructions) upon booting from the bootable USB stick while the internet connection is trimmed and remains to be trimmed until installation is completed.

plangmead wrote:

This doesn't work, just gives exactly the same error

I’d suggest creating a bootable installer on another Mac.

As for errors invoking date, see if invoking it as /bin/date works; if PATH is not set as expected.

/bin/date 110814292023

Equal05 Said:

"I am getting an error during the Reinstall OS X Installation on my MacBook Air 2010. 'An unexpected error occurred while signing in. The server gave an error during download: 403 Forbidden.'[...]"

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Thank you or the screenshot.

Use Ethernet:

"403" Indicates that there is an error connecting the a server (Apple's Update Server). So, try using Ethernet.

After a nummerous tries, i found the solution via a Question on 'Stack Exchange'. I do love that forum so much.

There is more to it then just one hint . . . . .

There are multiple problems to overcome, read this whole threath.

Source of the problem

Apple does not approve the El Capitan certificate anymore.

Solution

I have found multiple methodes for USB creations and downloads for the El Capitan installation via a browser somewhere ( sorry i forgot where). The only USB download one which worked for me is the 'El Capitan.img'. Dubble click on the image and continue in the terminal from there.

The Apple instructions to make a bootable usb stick also did not work for me. For the usb creation method that worked for me read here: https://www.lewan.com/blog/2012/02/10/making-a-bootable-usb-stick-on-an-apple-mac-os-x-from-an-iso.

The second problem to solve is to put the date of the Mac back to somewhere in 2017. Before the El Capitan installation starts, choose terminal and set the date back to 2017, command example: date 0115124517. Close the terminal and do not forget to disable Wifi.

Then install the OS, the install will now succeed (if there is no other hardware problem).

It is in Apple interest to post comprehensive and clearer instructions. I could not find those at the Apple forums quick enough.

Good luck everyone!

Lee Kabilyo if yours is a 2010 model year MacBook Air (the subject of this Discussion) the only practicable solution is described in Skrat44's post above: make an appointment with an Apple Store convenient to you and bring it to them.

Official Apple Support