I am considering an Imac 2017 a1419 that has been wiped clean. I was trying to install OS Sonoma, but with 10 minutes in the installation process it crashes. I tried over and over, but nothing works. How do I revert back to v10.13: High Sierra, the last version this model apparently accepts?
[Re-Titled by Moderator]
iMac (2017 – 2020)
I just noticed something in your Screenshot.
It is saying that it wants to Reinstall macOS 14 Sonoma, problem is that a 2017 iMac can only run up to macOS 13 Ventura.
So what I'm thinking is, that you need to use Option-Command-R or Shift-Option-Command-R to enter Recovery Mode and see if that gives you macOS Ventura or an older macOS version to install.
I just noticed something in your Screenshot.
It is saying that it wants to Reinstall macOS 14 Sonoma, problem is that a 2017 iMac can only run up to macOS 13 Ventura.
So what I'm thinking is, that you need to use Option-Command-R or Shift-Option-Command-R to enter Recovery Mode and see if that gives you macOS Ventura or an older macOS version to install.
In Recovery Mode, open Disk Utility and run First Aid on the main drive and then on the indented volumes.
see > Repair a storage device in Disk Utility on Mac - Apple Support
It also might help us spot something, if you post screenshots of the Disk Utility windows along the way.
FYI - the 2017 iMac can run up to the latest version of macOS 13 Ventura, not 10.13 High Sierra.
The guidance posted above by den.thed is still accurate and appropriate.
The following Mac computers are supported by macOS Ventura:
MacBook (2017 and newer)
MacBook Air (2018 and newer)
MacBook Pro (2017 and newer)
Mac mini (2018 and newer)
Mac Studio (2022)
iMac (2017 and newer)
iMac Pro (2017)
Mac Pro (2019 and newer)
macOS Ventura system requirements: Can your Mac run macOS 13? (idownloadblog.com)
Visit the App Store & put this in the search bar…
macos ventura
MacTracker shows that Apple used the model ID "A1419" for six models of iMacs, ranging from Late 2012 to 2017. All were 27" models. That makes your 2017 iMac a 27" Retina 5K model.
Ventura is the end of the line for all of the iMacs released in 2017 – except the iMac Pro. It can run Sonoma. The App Store hides old versions of macOS, but you can download the Ventura installer using:
How to download and install macOS - Apple Support
once you have the iMac running some version of macOS that's able to access the App Store.
Follow the Erase and Reinstall instructions,
at > What to do before you sell, give away, trade in, or recycle your Mac - Apple Support
I'm guessing it was previously hacked to install Sonoma, which is not supported on that machine.
Thanks! Can you shed any light on how come the latest OS version won't install? I'm thinking a bad hard drive, but being as how it's a slightly older computer, there may be another reason. I'm pursuing this because the screen is perfect and I can get it for almost nothing. It may be worth putting the effort in fixing the install problem.
Yeah, I did all this. I got the screen w/ the four choices and went from there, but it always crashes at the exact same point, with 10 minutes left in the install process. I also did the disk utility repair process; no change. I spent six hours one night trying to get this OS to install and nothing worked. It has to be a bad disk. I'm an experienced Apple user, but this would be my first iMac.
Unable to install Sonoma on 2017 iMac
