jaredonair

Q: Unable to Reinstall OSX Yosemite via USB Stick on Macbook Pro Mid 2015

I work on a help desk and I have access to various Macbook Pro's at my disposal. When we need to reinstall OSX we just use a USB Thumb Drive that I have created with the Yosemite Installer with this command in terminal:

 

sudo /Applications/Install\ OS\ X\ Yosemite.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia --volume /Volumes/Untitled --applicationpath /Applications/Install\ OS\ X\ Yosemite.app

 

We just got a new batch of the Retina 15 inch Mid 2015 models and the installer will not boot. I have confirmed this issue with 5 of our new Mid 2015 models. The stick still will run on our older MBPs (Mid 2014).

 

When booting the machine while holding option, the USB drive is there but when I select it, I get a black screen with a circle with a line going through it. I initially thought maybe there is some driver change or something that may not be on my USB installer so I went back and re-downloaded Yosemite only to run into the same error.

 

I'm open to any other suggestions anyone may have.

 

Thank you

MacBook Pro with Retina display, OS X Yosemite (10.10.3), null

Posted on Jun 16, 2015 1:16 PM

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Q: Unable to Reinstall OSX Yosemite via USB Stick on Macbook Pro Mid 2015

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  • by jaredonair,

    jaredonair jaredonair Jun 16, 2015 1:39 PM in response to jaredonair
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jun 16, 2015 1:39 PM in response to jaredonair

    I have also tried resetting the PRAM and SMC. Forgot to mention that above.

  • by Ho Lee MACkeral,

    Ho Lee MACkeral Ho Lee MACkeral Jun 16, 2015 1:42 PM in response to jaredonair
    Level 4 (2,311 points)
    Jun 16, 2015 1:42 PM in response to jaredonair

    Newer HW have a special build of the current OS. Why do you need to install the OS on a new Mac?

  • by OGELTHORPE,

    OGELTHORPE OGELTHORPE Jun 16, 2015 1:47 PM in response to jaredonair
    Level 9 (52,108 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jun 16, 2015 1:47 PM in response to jaredonair

    What version of Yosemite is installed on the USB.  It may be older than the version intended for the new MBPs.

     

    https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201686

     

    Contact Apple telephone support for clarification.

     

    Ciao.

  • by jaredonair,

    jaredonair jaredonair Jun 16, 2015 1:52 PM in response to Ho Lee MACkeral
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jun 16, 2015 1:52 PM in response to Ho Lee MACkeral

    Ho Lee: I need to reinstall it because of company policy. Someone was logged into it and we need to wipe it before we redeploy.

     

    Ogelthorpe: I'm trying to figure out the version on the stick. I don't see an easy way to tell on the installer. I was thinking that the issue could be possibly a driver issue with new hardware. I re-downloaded yosemite from the apple app store today and created a new stick with that file. However I don't know the specific version or where to find it.

     

    Thank you both for responding

  • by OGELTHORPE,Solvedanswer

    OGELTHORPE OGELTHORPE Jun 16, 2015 3:16 PM in response to jaredonair
    Level 9 (52,108 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jun 16, 2015 3:16 PM in response to jaredonair

    An option that you might use is to boot the MBP with the OPTION + COMMAND + R keys.

     

    The result should be a display with a revolving globe.

     

    Follow the directions and you will be connected to the Apple servers.

     

    You will have a 4 option menu from which you can select Disk Utility.  Erase the SSD and format the SDD to Mac OS Extended (Journaled).

     

    Then select from the 4 option menu, to install the OSX.  It will be the one that the MBP came with.

     

    Ciao.

     

    A solid Internet connection will be required.

  • by jaredonair,

    jaredonair jaredonair Jun 16, 2015 3:17 PM in response to OGELTHORPE
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jun 16, 2015 3:17 PM in response to OGELTHORPE

    Thank you this solution worked

  • by bb@45LCA,

    bb@45LCA bb@45LCA Oct 29, 2015 4:20 AM in response to OGELTHORPE
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 29, 2015 4:20 AM in response to OGELTHORPE

    Hi Ogelthorpe

     

    I have a similar but different scenario with my brand new mid 2015 top of range MacBook Pro (just arrived today) and hoping you or someone else, with more knowledge than I, may have some advice.

     

    FYI, it has been delivered with El Capitan installed, but my primary software (ArchiCAD) has issues with this OS and is currently only compatible with Yosemite.

     

    I also have the late 2013 version of the same MacBook Pro, where I am actually still running Mavericks, but have a copy of the Yosemite installer downloaded, from back in December 2014.

     

    I have made a USB installer which the late 2013 model recognises, but not my new mid 2015 model (same response as described by Jaredonair).

     

    The trouble is I will not be able to use your solution because my mid 2015 MB Pro was delivered with El Capitan, so I will not get an option to install Yosemite if try to use the recovery solution  .......... any suggestions?

     

    Presumably I need a later installer for Yosemite (say 10.10.5) but there appears to be no easy way of acquiring that online? I would prefer to solve this problem without going to the Apple Shop, however this may not be possible?

     

    Any help will be much appreciated.

  • by OGELTHORPE,

    OGELTHORPE OGELTHORPE Oct 29, 2015 3:11 PM in response to bb@45LCA
    Level 9 (52,108 points)
    Mac OS X
    Oct 29, 2015 3:11 PM in response to bb@45LCA

    The general rule is that a MBP cannot run an OSX than that which it is delivered with.  If your application demands an OSX earlier than El Capitan, you will have to use your older MBP, not the 2015 model.

     

    If you have installed Yosemite in your older MBP, the Yosemite application should be available in your App store account.  (You may have to look in hidden purchases to find it.)  If your USB installer is older than 10.10,.5, install it on a HDD, and then run software update.  That should upgrade it yo 10.10.5.  I think if you download the Yosemite application, it also will be 10.10.5, but I am not 100% certain.

     

    Ciao.