Can I re-install OS X via target disk mode without losing my data?

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Level 1

4 points

Can I re-install OS X via target disk mode without losing my data?

Somehow I managed to corrupt my drive so my only solution is to reinstall OS X via recovery mode, but unfortunately it does not let me do it since it says that "You can't upgrade this version of OS X because a newer version is installed"

The only way seem to be the following but:

If I use target disk mode in internet recovery mode with an external Mac in order to re-install OS X onto my corrupted Mac Hard Drive, will it erase any data? Or will it only install the OS X and leave my data alone?

As seen below, in the first step my hard drive from my mac (OWC Mercury Auora) looks like an internal hard drive from a mac, which it is, just connected via target disk mode in internet recovery mode!

In the next step when I chose to install the OS X my hard drive appears to be a external hard drive.

Will this process clean wipe my hard drive and install the OS X as an bootable installer?

I have tried all options available here in the community and nothing works for me that is why I am attending this approach but want to save my data..!?! Any ideas or suggestions?

MacBook Pro (Retina, 13-inch, Late 2012), OS X El Capitan (10.11.6)

Posted on Jan 15, 2018 3:23 PM

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Answer 1

CarlAVII

Community Specialist

Jan 17, 2018 5:57 PM in response to Andolini13

Hi Andolini13,

I understand that you are trying to reinstall macOS on your MacBook Pro, but you get a message that a newer version is already installed. I'm happy to provide some help for this issue.

Based on what you've described, it sounds like you may be in Internet Recovery, which installs the version of macOS that originally came with your Mac. I recommend checking out the following article and using one of the first two recovery options to reinstall the same version of macOS, or latest compatible version:

How to reinstall macOS - Apple Support

Command (⌘)-R Install the latest macOS that was installed on your Mac, without upgrading to a later version.*

Option-Command-R Upgrade to the latest macOS that is compatible with your Mac.**

Shift-Option-Command-R
Requires macOS Sierra 10.12.4 or later Install the macOS that came with your Mac, or the version closest to it that is still available.

Additionally, you may want to use Disk Utility to verify or repair your disk:

Repair a disk using Disk Utility on Mac - Apple Support

If you continue with the process you have described, you will encounter the same error since your profile says your MacBook Pro has OS X El Capitan, while you are trying to install OS X Mavericks. That being said, your data generally will not be erased unless you tell it to do so using Disk Utility.

Thanks for using the Apple Support Communities. Cheers!

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Answer 2

y_p_w

Level 6

17,690 points

Jan 17, 2018 10:24 PM in response to Andolini13

Andolini13 wrote:

I have tried all options available here in the community and nothing works for me that is why I am attending this approach but want to save my data..!?! Any ideas or suggestions?

Did you have a backup of some kind? I suspect you didn't if you're asking here, but just covering all bases. Can you see anything inside your internal SSD using Target Disk Mode? If you can, I'd suggest copying as much as you can. Maybe even clone it using Carbon Copy Cloner.

If it doesn't boot after trying to do a repair in Disk Utility, you're probably going to need to wipe it and do a clean install.

You could get a new drive, but they're pricey. Apple uses a proprietary interface, and I think only OWC and Transcend sell any aftermarket SSDs that work. Transcend sells theirs in a kit only along with an external enclosure. OWC gives the choice of with or without an enclosure.

Amazon.com: Transcend 480GB JetDrive 720 SATAIII 6Gb/s Solid State Drive Upgrade Kit for MacBook Pro 13" with Retina Dis…

OWC SSD Upgrade Kits For MacBook Pro Retina Display (2012 - 2013)

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Command (⌘)-R	Install the latest macOS that was installed on your Mac, without upgrading to a later version.*
Option-Command-R	Upgrade to the latest macOS that is compatible with your Mac.**
Shift-Option-Command-R Requires macOS Sierra 10.12.4 or later	Install the macOS that came with your Mac, or the version closest to it that is still available.