Cannot download preboot volume for APFS install (Macbook Pro model A1502 high sierra)

check the DNS number provided by your Router and make sure they are the one provided by your ISP, or a public DNS like google DNS or Open DNS.

Boot from an alternate source of software such as a bootable USB-stck Installer.

Install on an external drive.

Try booting directly from the Recovery HD on your Time machine backup.

If no joy, buy an Ethernet adapter.

You need to select Device-View inside Disk Utility instead of the completely-useless Volume-View.

Then select the drive by Hardware-name and ERASE it, choosing the default GUID partition Map and HFS+ Extended (journaled) Volume.

If you are running From Internet Recovery, it create a dozen or so RAM disks for temporary files. The drive will be free to be erased.

If you are trying to use Recovery HD, the software is loaded from one of the partitions you need to erase, so it will fail.

In Internet Recovery, these low negative thousands error messages indicate that your provided Wi-Fi Network is inadequate in some fashion, and cannot be used (for this purpose) in its current state.

Common problems include:

Hidden Network-name

required use of a proxy server to get Internet access

required use of a login page to get Internet access

Use of a login server or certificate to get Internet access

Use of PPPoE in the Mac to get Internet access (typically only applies to DSL)

Use of Fixed IP address rather than good old DHCP

Variance of the time by more than five minutes

Failure of Router to provide workable DNS server addresses, or providing 0.0.0.0 [may produce -2002f]

If you have an Ethernet port, you may in some cases be able to move your Mac close to the Router and connect to the Router using Ethernet.

The higher the number, the more obscure the problem.

Also, make certain the Date&Time and Time Zone are correct within 5 minutes.