Installed a new SSD on MacMini 2014. Using remote recovery to install Sierra and it fails with seconds left - Error "An Error Occured while preparing Installation. Try running the application again"
I did a Disk repair and no errors came up. Tried to reinstall twice more, same error.
Any suggestions?
Mac mini, macOS 12.7
What Format is the Drive? APFS or HFS+?
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
https://discussions.apple.com/thread/254793247?answerId=258936149022#258936149022
Clean Install of High Sierra: Multiple Fa… - Apple Community
An Error Occurred While Preparing The Ins… - Apple Community
What Format is the Drive? APFS or HFS+?
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
https://discussions.apple.com/thread/254793247?answerId=258936149022#258936149022
Clean Install of High Sierra: Multiple Fa… - Apple Community
An Error Occurred While Preparing The Ins… - Apple Community
What is the make & model of the new SSD? Is it a 2.5" model or a blade style?
Try booting into Internet Recovery Mode using Command + Option + R to attempt to access the online macOS 12.x Monterey installer to see if it is able to finish. Unfortunately some Macs will only boot to the online version of macOS which originally shipped with the Mac from the factory which may be too old to use depending on the type of SSD being used (plus the macOS 10.10 online installer may no longer be available).
It's MacOS Extended Journaled formatted.
I did try Option-⌘-R and it's weird. Offered to install Monteray. WIth CMD+R it offered Sierra.
Appreciate the advice Monteray installed just fine.
It's a new 2.5-inch Crucial SSD from iFixit. It is booting into Internet Recovery Mode. That is where it fails. And it's an older Mini (2014) so it's only offering Sierra at the moment.
Good to hear I guess, some firmware anomaly methinks.
Remote Recovery Fails to install Sierra - 5 seconds left
