Problem with erasing Mac/reinstall OS

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Gwen Harold Author

Level 1

22 points

Problem with erasing Mac/reinstall OS

I have a MacBook that I will be giving away.

i also have an iMac 2009 that I will be recycling.

I figured that I would erase iMac as a trial run before I do the MacBook.

If I mess up the iMac no biggie as it’s being recycled.

I followed all the steps exactly. When I arrived at the ‘Reinstall macOS’ option. This is what I see.

When I go back to Disk Utility the Erase option is still there. I have no idea what ‘Os x Base System is. It would not let me eject it.

Needless to say I am hesitant to erase MacBook to give away.

Help? I have photos/screenshots of all I did if needed.

iMac, macOS 10.13

Posted on Feb 28, 2024 10:24 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

John Galt

Level 10

159,924 points

Feb 28, 2024 1:40 PM in response to Gwen Harold

If all you want to do is recycle the Mac, then do not need to reinstall High Sierra or any other operating system for that matter.

Besides, it is no longer possible to reinstall High Sierra from Apple's Recovery servers. They silently removed it a while ago. No one knows the reason and Apple isn't talking.

Just erase the Mac. You're done.

If you are not interested in recycling it, and you want to legitimately transfer its ownership to someone else who expects to use it, then you absolutely, positively must include the two grey DVDs that came with that Mac when it was built. Those discs must accompany that Mac from cradle to grave.

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Answer 2

Tesserax

Level 10

160,750 points

Feb 28, 2024 1:54 PM in response to Gwen Harold

For most 2009, and earlier, Mac model, Apple provided a pair of "installation" DVDs (as John Galt has eluded to). That is because these older models do not have a built-in Recovery partition on their system drives. Without these DVDs, at best, you can fully erase the Mac, but not reinstall an operating system.

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Answer 3

rkaufmann87

Level 10

149,220 points

Feb 28, 2024 1:44 PM in response to Gwen Harold

Simply follow Apple's steps in What to do before you sell, give away, or trade in your Mac

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Answer 4

Gwen Harold Author

Level 1

22 points

Feb 28, 2024 1:47 PM in response to John Galt

Yes. I understand that. This was a trial run as I have a newer Macbook running a newer macOS that I plan on giving away to a family member. I don’t want the same outcome when I reset the MacBook. I may just physically clear out my stuff without returning to factory settings and tell her not to give it away to someone else if she doesn’t want it.

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Answer 5

Gwen Harold Author

Level 1

22 points

Feb 28, 2024 3:27 PM in response to Tesserax

Thank you. Then I should not have a problem restoring a macOS for a 2016/2017 12” MacBook. If I follow Apple’s instructions to reset to Factory settings? I had a funny feeling that that was the case with my older Mac. I probably destroyed the original discs that came with my iMac.

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Answer 6

Old Toad

Level 10

217,802 points

Feb 28, 2024 4:03 PM in response to Gwen Harold

Gwen Harold wrote:

Thank you. Then I should not have a problem restoring a macOS for a 2016/2017 12” MacBook. If I follow Apple’s instructions to reset to Factory settings? I had a funny feeling that that was the case with my older Mac. I probably destroyed the original discs that came with my iMac.

No, that model and year Mac will be able to follow that Apple document easily.

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