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What is the correct way to wipe all data and reinstall Catalina.

I have an Intel 2012 Mac Pro with 12 cores, 48GB of memory, an nVidia GTX680 video card and a 512GB SSD with Catalina installed. I'm having issues with the computer and would like to wipe the hard drive completely and reinstall Catalina.


I've tried using Cmd + Option + R, but it says the files are not available for download.


I have an old USB installer stick, but I don't know if it works or not. If I use Option at boot to select this as my start disk and choose Install Mac OS Catalina I immediately get the forbidden symbol on the screen. I can't find any method to build a new install stick. Is the forbidden symbol coming up because the stick is bad, or will it not let me install Catalina on a system that already has Catalina?


What is the proper way to wipe the system and then reinstall Catalina? I do not need any of the files currently on the disk.

Mac Pro, macOS 10.15

Posted on Sep 3, 2024 3:47 PM

Reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Sep 3, 2024 8:04 PM

Actually unless you're going to hack it, macOS 10.14.6 is the Highest OS it can run if you have a Metal-capable graphics card, if not then 10.13.6 is it.


macOS High Sierra - Technical Specifications


General Requirements

  • OS X 10.8 or later
  • 2GB of memory
  • 14.3GB of available storage to perform upgrade*
  • Some features require an Apple ID; terms apply.
  • Some features require a compatible Internet service provider; fees may apply.

Mac Hardware Requirements

For details about your Mac model, click the Apple icon at the top left of your screen, choose About This Mac. These Mac models are compatible with macOS High Sierra:

  • MacBook (Late 2009 or newer)
  • MacBook Pro (Mid 2010 or newer)
  • MacBook Air (Late 2010 or newer)
  • Mac mini (Mid 2010 or newer)
  • iMac (Late 2009 or newer)
  • Mac Pro (Mid 2010 or newer)

macOS High Sierra - Technical Specifications - Apple Support

https://itunes.apple.com/app/macos-high-sierra/id1246284741?mt=12

macappstores://apps.apple.com/app/macos-high-sierra/id1246284741?mt=12


Thanks to Arty on getting full installer…

Looking for High Sierra installer - Apple Community


Terminal workaround for The Recovery Server Could Not Be Contacted Error!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ouNQS36dIBw&t=95s





macOS Mojave 10.14.6 - Technical Specifications


General Requirements

OS X 10.8 or later

2GB of memory

12.5GB of available storage (OS X El Capitan 10.11.5 or later)*

Some features require an Apple ID; terms apply.

Some features require a compatible Internet service provider; fees may apply.

Mac Hardware Requirements

For details about your Mac model, click the Apple icon at the top left of your screen and choose About This Mac. These Mac models are compatible with macOS Mojave:

MacBook (Early 2015 or newer)

MacBook Air (Mid 2012 or newer)

MacBook Pro (Mid 2012 or newer)

Mac mini (Late 2012 or newer)

iMac (Late 2012 or newer)

iMac Pro (2017)

Mac Pro (Late 2013; Mid 2010 and Mid 2012 models with recommended Metal-capable graphics cards)


https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/macos-mojave/id1398502828?mt=12


Thanks to MartinR Terminal command…

softwareupdate --fetch-full-installer --full-installer-version 10.14.6


It will place a copy of the installer in your Applications folder and you can use that to create a bootable installer.


MacOS Catalina 10.15.7 - Technical Specifications


General Requirements

OS X 10.9 or later

4GB of memory

12.5GB of available storage (OS X El Capitan 10.11.5 or later)*

Some features require an Apple ID; terms apply.

Some features require a compatible internet service provider; fees may apply.

Mac Hardware Requirements

For details about your Mac model, click the Apple icon at the top left of your screen and choose About This Mac. These Mac models are compatible with macOS Catalina:

MacBook (Early 2015 or newer)

MacBook Air (Mid 2012 or newer)

MacBook Pro (Mid 2012 or newer)

Mac mini (Late 2012 or newer)

iMac (Late 2012 or newer)

iMac Pro (2017)

Mac Pro (Late 2013 or newer)

How to download and install macOS - Apple Support


https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/macos-catalina/id1466841314?ls=1&mt=12


macappstores://apps.apple.com/app/macos-catalina/id1466841314?ls=1&mt=12


How to upgrade to macOS Catalina – Apple Support


And caution on 10.15 or higher, to see which Apps will no longer work in 10.15 get Go64...


https://www.stclairsoft.com/Go64/


Similar questions

4 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Sep 3, 2024 8:04 PM in response to Cal_ab

Actually unless you're going to hack it, macOS 10.14.6 is the Highest OS it can run if you have a Metal-capable graphics card, if not then 10.13.6 is it.


macOS High Sierra - Technical Specifications


General Requirements

  • OS X 10.8 or later
  • 2GB of memory
  • 14.3GB of available storage to perform upgrade*
  • Some features require an Apple ID; terms apply.
  • Some features require a compatible Internet service provider; fees may apply.

Mac Hardware Requirements

For details about your Mac model, click the Apple icon at the top left of your screen, choose About This Mac. These Mac models are compatible with macOS High Sierra:

  • MacBook (Late 2009 or newer)
  • MacBook Pro (Mid 2010 or newer)
  • MacBook Air (Late 2010 or newer)
  • Mac mini (Mid 2010 or newer)
  • iMac (Late 2009 or newer)
  • Mac Pro (Mid 2010 or newer)

macOS High Sierra - Technical Specifications - Apple Support

https://itunes.apple.com/app/macos-high-sierra/id1246284741?mt=12

macappstores://apps.apple.com/app/macos-high-sierra/id1246284741?mt=12


Thanks to Arty on getting full installer…

Looking for High Sierra installer - Apple Community


Terminal workaround for The Recovery Server Could Not Be Contacted Error!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ouNQS36dIBw&t=95s





macOS Mojave 10.14.6 - Technical Specifications


General Requirements

OS X 10.8 or later

2GB of memory

12.5GB of available storage (OS X El Capitan 10.11.5 or later)*

Some features require an Apple ID; terms apply.

Some features require a compatible Internet service provider; fees may apply.

Mac Hardware Requirements

For details about your Mac model, click the Apple icon at the top left of your screen and choose About This Mac. These Mac models are compatible with macOS Mojave:

MacBook (Early 2015 or newer)

MacBook Air (Mid 2012 or newer)

MacBook Pro (Mid 2012 or newer)

Mac mini (Late 2012 or newer)

iMac (Late 2012 or newer)

iMac Pro (2017)

Mac Pro (Late 2013; Mid 2010 and Mid 2012 models with recommended Metal-capable graphics cards)


https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/macos-mojave/id1398502828?mt=12


Thanks to MartinR Terminal command…

softwareupdate --fetch-full-installer --full-installer-version 10.14.6


It will place a copy of the installer in your Applications folder and you can use that to create a bootable installer.


MacOS Catalina 10.15.7 - Technical Specifications


General Requirements

OS X 10.9 or later

4GB of memory

12.5GB of available storage (OS X El Capitan 10.11.5 or later)*

Some features require an Apple ID; terms apply.

Some features require a compatible internet service provider; fees may apply.

Mac Hardware Requirements

For details about your Mac model, click the Apple icon at the top left of your screen and choose About This Mac. These Mac models are compatible with macOS Catalina:

MacBook (Early 2015 or newer)

MacBook Air (Mid 2012 or newer)

MacBook Pro (Mid 2012 or newer)

Mac mini (Late 2012 or newer)

iMac (Late 2012 or newer)

iMac Pro (2017)

Mac Pro (Late 2013 or newer)

How to download and install macOS - Apple Support


https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/macos-catalina/id1466841314?ls=1&mt=12


macappstores://apps.apple.com/app/macos-catalina/id1466841314?ls=1&mt=12


How to upgrade to macOS Catalina – Apple Support


And caution on 10.15 or higher, to see which Apps will no longer work in 10.15 get Go64...


https://www.stclairsoft.com/Go64/


Sep 3, 2024 7:11 PM in response to Cal_ab

I was able to download the Catalina installer app from Apple. I created a USB installer from the terminal and rebooted. When I select the USB as my startup disk I get the forbidden icon again. :(


If I run the install from the Finder, it gets to where I choose the disk to install to and tells me that "the version of Mac OS 10.15.7 cannot be installed on this computer".


My Mac Pro should be able to run Catalina. I don't understand why it won't work. I believe the installer is version 10.15.7. I know my Mac will run 10.15.5 because that's what is currently installed. Do I have to find another installer app for a different version of Catalina?

Sep 5, 2024 6:10 PM in response to BDAqua

BDAqua wrote:

Actually unless you're going to hack it, macOS 10.14.6 is the Highest OS it can run if you have a Metal-capable graphics card, if not then 10.13.6 is it.

Thank you for that very comprehensive reply! A number of websites report that Catalina was the highest OS, but they are obviously wrong.


It looks like the point is moot anyhow, as I have an nVidia GTX680 graphics card. I will locate a suitable AMD card and swap it out.


Thanks again!

What is the correct way to wipe all data and reinstall Catalina.

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