Install OS X plist parsing error

"Install OS X plist parsing error: I tried to factory reset my old MacBook pro 2011, when I tried to login using apple ID it show error 'plist parsing error' The step I took is: 1. Go to recovery mode 2. Go to disk utility and then erase the drive 3. Go to reinstall OS and when I tried to sign in with my apple ID there is error Is there a way to fix this issue?"

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Thank you for the screenshot.

There is an issue with the bash coding of the drive. So, try formatting this, once more.

Another reason can be a server error, but the App Store is up at the moment: Apple - Support - System Status

Boot Recovery with Option-Command-R, reinstall the latest supported for that Mac, and see if that works better.

PS: I too do not know what “bash coding” is in this context.

"PS: I too do not know what “bash coding” is in this context."

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Edit: "bad coding" in the format.

“Sorry, do you mean by erasing the drive again?”

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Yes, so that all the sectors on the hard drive are together as they should be.

I had the same issue today. The App Store of OS X 10.10 is not supported as per 2025. However, I managed to install Catalina on my late 2013 iMac once I went into recovery mode.

1. Shut down your mac.
2. restart and hold command and r pressed -> until you have entered recovery mode

Now you should be able to install the latest MacOS version.

Hi! I followed your steps.

Tried 2x but when I'm on screen to reinstall OS. I'm only getting Yosimite. BTW i'm using macbook pro 2015.

Any help on this?

I'm on Yosimite OS now. How can I go back to High Sierra? How to do bootable USB with yosemite?

I'm trying any other version higher than yosimite by airdropping the actual OS found on this page but still same error.

I will try the USB Bootable. Thank you!

"plist parsing error" probably means "property list parsing error". I believe that macOS uses structured ".plist" (property list) files to store a lot of preference settings. I would not be surprised to find that the communication between the App Store application (on your Mac), and Apple's servers, makes use of similar structured data.

That suggests we might be looking at an issue where the version of Mac OS X or Recovery mode that you are now running was not able to make heads or tails out of some piece of data it received from the App Store. Maybe because that 2011 MacBook Pro is so old that the App Store might have changed in some fashion that makes it incompatible with the recovery mode you are in now?

If you had a working version of Mac OS X, you could try using a modern Mac or PC to download the .DMG with the Sierra installer, so you could transfer that .DMG to the old Mac and run the installer inside. Once you were running Sierra, you could try using the old Mac itself to access the High Sierra App Store link.

How to download and install macOS - Apple Support

Unfortunately, if you have nothing to boot from (erased the internal drive and have no bootable backups), you may be up the creek without a paddle …

I have the same issue. Please let me know when you find out.

fafi123 wrote:

I have the same issue. Please let me know when you find out.

Have you installed the most recent macOS version supported by whichever Mac is involved here?

If the Mac has never run an updated macOS 10.12 or later, getting the most current macOS is a larger project.

If the Mac has previously run an updated macOS 10.12, or has run macOS 10.13 or later, then booting with Command-Option-R should get the latest version of Recovery;