Level 1

79 points

Help, restored Macintosh HD to OS X Base System

Help! I accidentally restored Macintosh HD to OS X Base System. Didn't know that would cause issues... I can only open my laptop through the Command+R thing with macOS Installer.

I was just trying to delete everything and start my Macbook fresh. I tried to re-install OS X Sierra, and it keeps failing. When I go to disk utility under internal, there's no Macintosh HD there's only OS X Base System.

Tried to ask Apple Support for help and they first told me to try first aid and that failed.

They told me to go to a service center, but I wanted to see if there are any solutions I could try.

Thanks!

It's a 2015 Macbook Pro.

Posted on Feb 11, 2017 4:55 PM

Top-ranking reply

S.U.

Level 6

9,601 points

Posted on Feb 11, 2017 7:53 PM

The OS X Base system should be a disk image a little over 2 GB in size. Is that all you see? Maybe indented under something called "Apple disk image Media".

So do you also see a hard disk icon identified by a brand name, such as "Apple SSD"? If so, when you highlight it, what does it say in the white box underneath in terms of partition map and capacity? Is it called "disk0" at the bottom right? Does it look like it might be your real hard drive?

If so, what happens if you try to erase it? You should get a drop down that gives you a place to enter a name (Macintosh HD), a format that says "Mac OS Extended (Journaled), and a scheme called "GUID Partition Map". If this is really your hard drive, then this step should recreate your Macintosh HD volume.

If that works, you should be able to continue with the installation of macOS.

Good luck!

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42 replies

Max1453

Level 1

4 points

Apr 26, 2017 2:53 AM in response to WaffleFallafle

Thank you. This seems to be working

Max1453

Level 1

4 points

Apr 26, 2017 2:54 AM in response to WaffleFallafle

Thanks. This seems to be working

Therodot

Level 1

4 points

May 1, 2017 6:01 AM in response to WaffleFallafle

Thanks a lot!!

Jul 29, 2017 7:13 AM in response to minjun1014

I couldn't do anything but I used COMM+R to get to Disk Utility and reloaded an earlier version from Time Machine. All working fine now.

arsimsar

Level 1

4 points

Aug 3, 2017 4:19 PM in response to WaffleFallafle

Thanks buddy! :)

Ejba

Level 1

12 points

Aug 31, 2017 1:57 PM in response to WaffleFallafle

I hve same problem now my drive is lock i cannot install macos sierra

Nov 1, 2017 12:25 AM in response to S.U.

Thank you. Your solution worked perfectly. I tried other solutions but this was the fix.

dilew

Level 1

12 points

Dec 17, 2017 8:42 PM in response to S.U.

thanks! worked for me. dil

FerGlaz

Level 1

4 points

Dec 26, 2017 7:12 AM in response to WaffleFallafle

Hello, I tried errasing the "OS X base System" but where it says "errase" it won´t let me click on it.

Could it be because I have just 1.29 GB in use and those are meant to restart the Mac?

Thank you!

Syu24

Level 1

4 points

Mar 14, 2018 9:27 PM in response to minjun1014

Hello, I am experiencing the same issue you had. I was wondering how you were able to get out of the recovery mode?

ande6163

Level 1

4 points

Mar 17, 2018 8:41 AM in response to WaffleFallafle

I wish I could give you a hug right now. Thank you so much.

boroles

Level 1

4 points

Apr 6, 2018 11:15 PM in response to S.U.

thanks very much your easy guide sorted my problem out,thanks again buddy

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Help, restored Macintosh HD to OS X Base System