How to reformat factory-default High Sierra Mac?

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How to reformat factory-default High Sierra Mac?

I have a used MacBook that has been reset to factory-default High Sierra. I want to reformat it to Sierra because I use Final Cut Pro 7. I have Sierra on a USB stick and the process works fine (boot to the USB) until I get to Disk Utility and need to select a hard drive to erase and format. I don't know which drive to select and haven't been able to find any information about reformatting a High Sierra Mac that hasn't been previously set up.

There are two main internal drives listed, AppleAPFSMedia and Crucial_(long drive name), which is the type of hard drive installed. There are also a few drives indented under AppleAPFSMedia, including one called Macintosh-HD. Here is a photo of one of the panes:

I have no idea what the disk images are.

Which icon/name should I select to reformat this Mac to Sierra? I can post photos of the Macintosh-HD pane and Crucial pane too if that would be helpful.

Thank you so much.

Jen

Posted on Aug 8, 2018 8:35 AM

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Answer 1

Moxie Cat Author

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Aug 9, 2018 7:15 AM in response to JimMain

It still has an internal DVD drive. The only hard drive is a 525Gb Crucial MX300 Solid State Hd.

I am posting photos of the Macintosh-HD pane and the Crucial pane - maybe that will clear some of this up? The data given for the Crucial does match the Macintosh-HD data.

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Answer 2

Aug 9, 2018 12:13 PM in response to Moxie Cat

I don't know how else to say it. Ease everything—

Erase this:

You are not going screw anything up. You want to start with a fresh as new factory drive before you run the installer.

You can unplug all peripherals, eject all the other drives except for your installer USB and you will have the basics of what you are trying to do to the internal SSD.

In the end, after formatting , installing you are going to end up with something like this:

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Answer 3

Aug 8, 2018 10:48 AM in response to Moxie Cat

From Recovery you can reinstall your MacOS onto your Macintosh HD— if it is formatted.

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

Do you have Sierra bootable installer?

Do you have a Time Machine back to restore back to Sierra?

Internet Recovery you can use DiskUtility to erase/partition/Format your drive if necceassary (wiping all data)

From this same internet Recovery you can reinstall the macOS that shipped with the Mac new.

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Answer 4

Moxie Cat Author

Level 1

5 points

Aug 8, 2018 11:03 AM in response to leroydouglas

Thank you for your reply, but I'm not sure you addressed my situation or answered my question in regards to the disk utility panel and what drive to select.

To answer your questions:

- Yes, I am trying to install Sierra from a bootable Flash drive.

- Time Machine does not apply. The computer has not been set up yet, and there is no user data on it.

This is a computer that I purchased used. It came with High Sierra installed but not setup - i.e., when you turn it on, it goes to the setup/pick language screen. I am simply trying to reformat the hard drive to Sierra BEFORE I set up a user account. I just need to know what icon/name I should select in the Disk Utility panel, based on the photo I posted. Apologies if any of this was unclear.

I don't know what OS this Mac shipped with, but it is a 2012 machine so something earlier than Sierra or High Sierra. And if I'd use Recovery to set up the original OS, I'd still just be at the same point I am now, with a computer that is factory-reset with no user data. What is the advantage to doing that?

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Answer 5

Moxie Cat Author

Level 1

5 points

Aug 8, 2018 11:06 AM in response to Kurt Lang

Hi Kurt - sorry, didn't see your reply before I posted. It is a 2012 MBP. I don't know what OS that was - maybe Mountain Lion?

Also, per the original owner, the Crucial hard drive is new - it was not part of the original Mac. He installed High Sierra on it before selling it to me. I did not have the opportunity to give other directions, which is why I'm in the pickle I'm in.

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Answer 6

Aug 8, 2018 11:40 AM in response to Moxie Cat

- Yes, I am trying to install Sierra from a bootable Flash drive.

I am simply trying to reformat the hard drive to Sierra

I just need to know what icon/name I should select in the Disk Utility panel, based on the photo I posted

Thanks for the clarification —

As stated above if the Drive is formatted you reinstall your MacOS onto your Macintosh HD.

If it will not allow you to install or reinstall onto your Macintosh HD (currently High Sierra,) Then from that same USB installer use the Disk Utility to erase /partition / format (GUID extended journaled) the top drive and then run the Sierra installer.

The top most is the internal drive ( named AppleAPFSMedia)

Macintosh HD is the volume in question.

More than likely you will have to format the drive to get rid of High Sierra before you run the install.

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Answer 7

Moxie Cat Author

Level 1

5 points

Aug 8, 2018 1:20 PM in response to leroydouglas

OK, thank you. So I should select the Macintosh-HD icon/name and proceed with the erase/format directions that I have. (if that is not correct, please let me know!)

One question then: why are there two internal drives? Why does "Crucial" show up as a separate internal drive from "AppleAPFSMedia"?

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Answer 8

Aug 8, 2018 1:45 PM in response to Moxie Cat

I have a used MacBook

You give no information about your Mac, so I have no idea—I can speculate either you have a secondary drive or it has been partitioned.

Use your Disk Utility to open a take a look at what is going on. Reformatting you can choose 1 partition, erase the whole shooting match to get back to terra firma.

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Answer 9

JimMain

Level 1

15 points

Aug 8, 2018 3:24 PM in response to Moxie Cat

I'm guessing it had an internal DVD drive that they swapped with a Crucial brand Solid State Drive, hence you're seeing two internal SSDs.

I'd try erasing from the AppleAPFSMedia first (if it lets you), failing that selecting the Macintosh-HD and erasing from it. Then install to the Macintosh-HD. I'd go back after into Disk Utility and erase the Crucial SSD too.

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Answer 10

Aug 9, 2018 9:07 AM in response to Moxie Cat

Moxie Cat wrote:

The only hard drive is a 525Gb Crucial MX300 Solid State Hd.

No idea what was done prior to your purchase to get to your DiskUtility screenshot. Makes no difference.

I do see it was formatted as case sensitive —unless this is your preferences and part of your work flow , I would not recommend case sensitive.

Erase / partition / format the 525Gb Crucial MX300.

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Answer 11

Moxie Cat Author

Level 1

5 points

Aug 9, 2018 10:43 AM in response to leroydouglas

OK, so now I'm totally confused - you first told me to select and format the item called Macintosh-HD. Now you tell me to select and format the Crucial icon.

JimMain tells me to select the AppleAPFSMedia icon, and if that isn't allowed, to use the Macintosh-HD icon.

Would this be easier if I set up the computer with the installed High Sierra and THEN tried to reformat the HD to Sierra? I haven't seen the point in doing that but maybe it would simplify things at this step?

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Answer 12

Aug 9, 2018 11:45 AM in response to Moxie Cat

leroydouglas note:

No idea what was done prior to your purchase to get to your DiskUtility screenshot. Makes no difference.

I do see it was formatted as case sensitive —unless this is your preferences and part of your work flow , I would not recommend case sensitive.

Erase / partition / format the 525Gb Crucial MX300.

Moxie Cat wrote:

Now you tell me to select and format the Crucial icon.

It is a bit of an unusual situation, the way it is presented and the details keep rolling in.

From your installer use DiskUtility to nuke anything and everything to get back to zero, nada, nothing on the drive. Format the drive, install your Sierra. Not a big deal.

I would have already tried each and every way to make some head way. What are you waiting for. Do something. Witness the results. Don't like it, Try something else.

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Answer 13

Moxie Cat Author

Level 1

5 points

Aug 9, 2018 11:55 AM in response to leroydouglas

Sorry - I am pretty unfamiliar with doing this and I do not want to screw anything up. I was not responsible for the "unusual situation" - I bought the computer that way, I did not set it up like this. I don't know if it was setup for High Sierra in an unusual way.

The instructions that I have for installing Sierra from the bootable USB drive just says "Select your hard drive in the Sidebar on the left then click Erase." But which hard drive? The Apple or the Crucial? Or one of the indented ones? That was my question. When I posted here, I didn't think this would be a difficult thing for someone with expertise in reformatting hard drives or rolling back OS versions to tell me. I didn't realize my screen shots would look that unusual.

Anyway, thanks for your help - I do appreciate it, and I apologize for my lack of knowledge.

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Answer 14

Kurt Lang

Level 9

68,472 points

Aug 8, 2018 11:01 AM in response to Moxie Cat

How old is this used MacBook? If it shipped with High Sierra, you cannot install Sierra, or any other older OS on it.

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How to reformat factory-default High Sierra Mac?

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