Recovery server could not be contacted

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codyk23 Author

Level 1

8 points

Recovery server could not be contacted

Trying to reinstall macOS High Sierra for old iMac to resell.

First erased data, but can’t reinstall macOS now.

Posted on Nov 6, 2023 8:26 PM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

BDAqua

Level 10

250,259 points

Nov 7, 2023 9:39 AM in response to codyk23

Start up from macOS Recovery

Option-⌘-R

Upgrade to the latest macOS compatible with your Mac.

In Disk Utility>View, select Show all Devices, highlight the top left entry.

APFS won't work for Sierra or earlier, Sierra or earlier needs MacOS Extended Journaled. High Sierra won't work for APFS on earlier Macs.

What has often worked for others is to use this Restore Method instead of CMD+r keys...

Option-⌘-R

Upgrade to the latest macOS compatible with your Mac.

Messed up Factory Reset on MacBook Pro Mi… - Apple Community

2017 iMac failing to install Sierra in re… - Apple Community

Clean Install of High Sierra: Multiple Fa… - Apple Community

An Error Occurred While Preparing The Ins… - Apple Community

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Answer 2

codyk23 Author

Level 1

8 points

Nov 7, 2023 2:59 PM in response to codyk23

What you said is correct. But I was already doing all that and still getting that message.

I fixed my problem by making a bootable installer of High Sierra on a USB stick. I downloaded macOS High Sierra from the App Store onto my newer Mac.

Erased and formatted a USB stick with about 15 GB space using Disk Utility. File system should be extended journaled.

Then using Terminal, ran this script:

sudo /Applications/Install\ macOS\ High\ Sierra.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia --volume /Volumes/PINKY --applicationpath /Applications/Install\ macOS\ High\ Sierra.app

My USB stick was named ‘PINKY’, so you should replace it with the label of your USB drive. (Case sensitive)

Plugged the USB stick into my old iMac and rebooted it by pressing the Option key until the Apple logo appeared.

Set the wifi network by clicking on the gray wifi icon on the very top right of the screen. It’s barely visible. (This resets every time on reboot)

Selected Reinstall MacOS and now it goes through without the error message.

I was able to complete the whole install process finally!!!

After reinstalling completed, I got the screen to select the language, so I turned it off by pressing the power button and my iMac was ready to be sold to a new owner.

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