When trying to reinstall Lion OS on new mid 2011 Macbook Air, error msg 'This version of Mac OS X 10.7 cannot be installed on this computer' comes up. What should I do to reinstall?

I don't think it does work with the new MBAs.

So what f*** is wrong with new MBAs ???? It is weird since it turns out that there is no way to reinstall Lion on new MBAs! Given the fact that Internal Recovery tool has failed.

IMasterus. Look one page back. I have listed the steps required. I have a couple typos, but the main steps are there. Even with no recovery partition, boot with holding down cmd-r will reload the recovery partition.

Good luck!

Your method seems to be much complicated and not sure that it works. Anyways I don't have a problem with Lion now - I just need a back up plan in case of emergency so that I can reinstall Lion without internet.

Hi IMasterus.

First, you are correct. This is very annoying that:

1. Apple choose not to include restore media with all new macs
2. That restore media that they are selling does NOT work with MBA

That being said, my process works. Once it's done, you have a USB bootable, restore media. If what you are after is something to use in an "emergancy", follow my directions.

I ensure you, it works. I have done it, and rebuilt my MBA half a dozen times already, mostly to prove "I can".

For what it's worth, these days, depending where you live, of course, you can "find" a hot spot. My complaint is, it just takes so long!

The App store distribution of the OS was just an all-around bad idea. Not shipping restore media was another bad idea. As well designed as automated recovery systems may be, there are always going to be times when you need to start from the beginning. Restore media costs close to nothing (even on a flash drive) and it's the only way to be sure you always have a recovery option. Also, as we know, restore media is specific to the machine it ships with, so including it wouldn't increase the piracy rate of Lion.

I forced the Internet Recovery last week (don't remember exactly when but that's 10.7.1 release date) and it worked just fine. My mid 2011 MBA 13" just restored in less than one hour.

I did however go through one failed attemp (forgot the error codes), wiped out the whole partition, and succeed in the second try.

Meg - no doubt, it works. You must have a huge internet pipe to download and install in less than an hour, or, are you saying the install was less than an hour, after the download, which I would completely agree with. The point of getting a bootable install USB is to avoid the re-download.

I thought I was replying to the original post 😉

Based on what I learned, the build you got from the AppStore is older than the one installed in mid 2011 Macbook Air (the original post is about). I learned it after spending a few hours to download (at home).

I didn't finish the Recovery HD option since it said about five hours to download (at work). I just went straight to Internet Recovery and yes it should include both download and installation (implicitly).

More I learned about Internet Recovery

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4718

http://www.cultofmac.com/force-lion-to-start-internet-recovery-on-your-2011-or-later-mac-os-x-tips/106669

so i guess its time to give up... i live in jeddah saudia arabia...no apple store... shoddy internet... what hope i have ?? i need a physical medium for restoring the mac os lion in case of emergency...i have a mbp 2011