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After erased partition, unable to get into recovery mode

It's a Macbook Air early 2014 11" Big Sur latest version. Use FileVault encrypted. Been running fine, no problem at all. But i suspect malwares (asking me to if i want to log out all applications, though i never click log out button).


Anyway, so i downloaded latest version Big Sur to reinstall MacOs to get rid of the malwares. Store it in my external hard drive with Exfat 32 format.

And i went to disk utility, erased partially the highest part (Apple SSD) but not the base system.

Then i start over and hold down Option, and turned out i can't install the pre-downloaded Big Sur from the external drive. Maybe it is because the external drive is supposed to be in MacOs Extended format. Ok. My bad.

Then i try to get into recovery mode by command R, or shift option command R, leads to spinning globe. I connect my wifi fine but i cannot get the administrator password. I entered the password i use to enter Mac whenever i open my Mac and i got rejected. I thought administrator password was log in password, same as privacy setting password. And i tried Apple iD. Both got rejected. Then i try use my previous log in password, it does not reject it but does not take me to the recovery mode either. It keeps spinning as if it is processing the access until my battery runs out.


I watched many videos on YouTube tried everything (SMC, Safe mode, etc) but nothing works. No similar case like i'm having now. I cannot get to Recovery mode. I cannot get Apple logo with processing bar like in the safe mode. All i get is the spinning globe only without ever getting into the recovery mode.

Help.

MacBook Air 11″, macOS 11.7

Posted on Dec 17, 2024 7:01 AM

Reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Dec 17, 2024 7:20 AM

First, you can't just copy the macOS installer to an external drive and have it work. You would have had to build a bootable installer:


Create a bootable installer for macOS - Apple Support


As to the issue with Recovery, perhaps something here will help:


If you can't start up from macOS Recovery - Apple Support


If not, you will probably need to find someone - a friend, a service center, etc. - with a Mac capable of running Big Sur and build a bootable installer and try that.


Regards.



4 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Dec 17, 2024 7:20 AM in response to LXcheng

First, you can't just copy the macOS installer to an external drive and have it work. You would have had to build a bootable installer:


Create a bootable installer for macOS - Apple Support


As to the issue with Recovery, perhaps something here will help:


If you can't start up from macOS Recovery - Apple Support


If not, you will probably need to find someone - a friend, a service center, etc. - with a Mac capable of running Big Sur and build a bootable installer and try that.


Regards.



After erased partition, unable to get into recovery mode

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