Can't boot 2012 MBA into USB recovery mode using Option key

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Can't boot 2012 MBA into USB recovery mode using Option key

Hello everyone, I recently wiped all data from my 2012 Intel MBA in attempts to give it to someone after reinstalling the Mac OS. I have created a bootable High Sierra drive (which is what it was running before reset), yet when I press the "option" key in order to reach the standard, off-line USB recovery mode, it boots into internet recovery which is no longer supported. In fact, every combination of "command option shift r" boots me into internet recovery mode. Another thing, oddly enough, while attempting to get it into USB recovery mode last night, it booted into internet recovery once again, but instead of attempting to install High Sierra through internet recovery as it previously was, it had changed to OSX Lion. The entire UI for the internet recovery screen changed, too. Any help/advice would be greatly appreciated. I'm at my wits end and convinced the only thing this laptop is good for anymore is a paperweight.

Earlier Mac models

Posted on Jan 4, 2024 6:59 PM

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Answer 1

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John Galt

Level 10

156,452 points

Jan 4, 2024 10:06 PM in response to andrewneedsmorehelp

You didn't do anything wrong. The difficulty stems from Apple's unannounced decision to terminate the ability to restore earlier macOS versions through their Recovery servers several months ago. That method is no longer an option, which leads us to installing macOS using a "bootable USB installer" such as you alluded to.

To be clear, the only way to install High Sierra is to create that "bootable USB installer" by downloading the High Sierra installer app from the App Store, and then following these instructions: Create a bootable installer - Apple Support. It's not entirely clear to me whether that's what you did by describing "a bootable High Sierra drive" because all the "bootable installer" is capable of doing is booting the Mac for the purpose of installing that version of macOS. I did that recently (a week or two ago) and confirm that method worked at that time.

Holding an Option key while you start the Mac should result in the "boot picker" screen, and I understand that's not happening. Either the "bootable USB installer" was not created properly, or it was created too long ago and its security certificate has expired, or the USB port isn't working... any number of possibilities. But it should work.

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Answer 2

Jan 5, 2024 2:53 PM in response to John Galt

Hi John! Thank you so much for your response! I'm not sure if you have much experience using the Window's application TransMac, but that is what I used to create a bootable installer. Based off of what you said, this is most likely what is giving me issues (?) Is there any way for me to follow Apple's guide for creating a bootable installer when I do not have an operational Mac device? (For context, I downloaded the *Sierra .dmg file from Apple's website, alongside Lion, and I was unable to get either to work. I understand I can access the terminal from inside the internet recovery mode, but would I be able to create a bootable installer considering the computer has no sort of software to copy over? Once again, your help is greatly appreciated. This isn't as easy as I remember it being haha

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Answer 3

John Galt

Level 10

156,452 points

Jan 5, 2024 10:51 PM in response to andrewneedsmorehelp

Is there any way for me to follow Apple's guide for creating a bootable installer when I do not have an operational Mac device?

No... to create that "bootable installer" you definitely need a Mac that can actually run that operating system. Apple's Support document is very specific about that.

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Can't boot 2012 MBA into USB recovery mode using Option key

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