Help!! Error Message When Trying to Reinstall Mac OS

HWTech wrote:

Unfortunately the only reliable way to create a bootable macOS USB installer is by using another compatible Mac from 2007 to mid-2018 using the instructions in this Apple article:

Create a bootable installer for macOS - Apple Support

Unless you created a Time Machine backup prior to erasing it, this will be the only practicable way to get any macOS version installed on that Mac.

Apparently, Apple shut down their Recovery server options for certain older macOS versions last May. Changing dates won't help. It's gone.

What version of macOS were you installing the first time?

Was macOS 10.13 ever installed on this laptop?

I'm actually surprised you were able to get as far as you did when reinstalling macOS the first time since there have been a lot of reports over the past few months where people were reporting that the online macOS installers for older versions of macOS were no longer available. Do you recall the error you received at the end of the first installation attempt?

What macOS installer boots when you try using Command + R again like the first time?

Theoretically if the older online OS installer is still available, then changing the system date to some time in 2017 would get past the Lion error since the certificate for the older installers are expired and sometimes gave that misleading error message. Launch the Terminal app from the Utilities menu on the menu bar and use the following command to set the date & time to Jan. 2, 2017 @ 11:33am:

date  -u  0102113317

However, I highly recommend first trying to access Recovery Mode using Command + R again to get the later installer since you had some success with it before changing the date & time.

Do you have access to another Mac from 2007 to mid-2018?

Have you tried changing the date to 2015? Or maybe even an earlier year?

Unfortunately the only reliable way to create a bootable macOS USB installer is by using another compatible Mac from 2007 to mid-2018 using the instructions in this Apple article:

Create a bootable installer for macOS - Apple Support

I know of at least one recent case in which the OP had an Apple Store install High Sierra. You can ask; perhaps they may be willing to do that for you on a slow day... but there are few if any slow days at an Apple Store.

Otherwise, you will need to at least borrow someone else's old Mac long enough to download the High Sierra installer app from the App Store and use it to create a "USB installer". I have done that recently and can confirm that method still works.

This sad situation has inspired more than one enterprising individual to create and sell such "USB installers" but beware doing so would be a clear violation of Apple's licensing terms.