After cleaning hard disk I cannot install macOS on my MacBook

Hi, my macbook pro (I think it’s from 2017) has been slow so I emptied the hard disk. As I’m trying to install Catalina again, this text shows:

What can I do?


Thank you!


[Re-Titled by Moderator]

MacBook Pro 13″, macOS 10.15

Posted on Dec 4, 2023 5:29 AM

Reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Dec 4, 2023 7:40 PM

The error messages shown are “The "Macintosh HD" disk cannot be unlocked. A problem has been detected with the disk that prevented it from unlocking.” and “To continue, unlock "Macintosh HD".


In Disk Utility, usual here to start anew would be to select Show All Devices, and to select the entire volume (usually the top of the left column within Disk Utility), and to erase and reformat the entire volume. The GUID partitioning system (GPT) is the format to select.


Related:

Erase and reinstall macOS - Apple Support (overview)

Erase and reformat a storage device in Disk Utility on Mac - Apple Support (how to erase, using Disk Utility and Show All Devices)


The 128 GB Mac models are usually storage-constrained.



3 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Dec 4, 2023 7:40 PM in response to jonna23

The error messages shown are “The "Macintosh HD" disk cannot be unlocked. A problem has been detected with the disk that prevented it from unlocking.” and “To continue, unlock "Macintosh HD".


In Disk Utility, usual here to start anew would be to select Show All Devices, and to select the entire volume (usually the top of the left column within Disk Utility), and to erase and reformat the entire volume. The GUID partitioning system (GPT) is the format to select.


Related:

Erase and reinstall macOS - Apple Support (overview)

Erase and reformat a storage device in Disk Utility on Mac - Apple Support (how to erase, using Disk Utility and Show All Devices)


The 128 GB Mac models are usually storage-constrained.



Dec 4, 2023 7:20 PM in response to jonna23

jonna23 Said:

"After cleaning hard disk I cannot install macOS on my MacBook: Hi, my macbook pro (I think it’s from 2017) has been slow so I emptied the hard disk. As I’m trying to install Catalina again, this text shows: [...]What can I do? Thank you!"

-------


Thank you or the photo.


Mount the Drive:

Boot into Recovery Mode  (Intel or Silicon). Then, using Disk Utility, see if the Hard Drive is seen. If it is, then see if you need to click the “Mount’ button for it. Try rebooting once more. If of no success, then click unmount button, and then the mount button. Try rebooting once more.

Dec 4, 2023 7:02 PM in response to jonna23

It really helps if you translate the error message into English since you are posting on the English language forum.


Please provide the exact model of the Mac. If you cannot boot normally to retrieve it, then enter the system serial number here:

Check Your Service and Support Coverage - Apple Support


Try running the Apple Diagnostics to see if any hardware issues are detected.


If you can still boot this Mac normally or into Safe Mode, then run the third party app EtreCheck and post the report here so we can examine it for clues.


If you have a later version of macOS installed, then you won't be able to install an earlier version of macOS without first erasing the whole physical SSD.


FYI, when posting pictures, please make sure they are oriented in the proper direction. You want to make it easy for contributors. I know I cannot read sideways or upside down and I will not do the work to rotate pictures since the user should be doing as much work as possible (I don't need more clutter on my devices by downloading pictures to rotate). If you are using an iPhone or iPad, then it is easy to rotate the pictures on those devices....here is a guide (I'm sure if you have an Android device, there is something similar):

https://www.idownloadblog.com/2022/07/27/how-to-rotate-multiple-images-iphone-mac/


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After cleaning hard disk I cannot install macOS on my MacBook

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