DFU restore on M1 MBA using 2012 rMBP host (no USB-C port)

[Quackers]

All the guides I've seen regarding DFU restore state that a supported USB-C to USB-C cable must be used.
As my only other Mac is a mid 2012 rMBP running Catalina I figured I wouldn't be able to do it, as it doesn't have a USB-C port.

Tonight I tried it anyway with a braided USB-A to USB-C cable I bought from Curry's that cost £12-99.
The cable was advertised as being able to carry both power and data but it didn't actually say that it could do both at the same time.

First thing was to test whether the M1 would be recognised in DFU mode by the rMBP using the cable.
It was.

I then went through the restore process as per the guides and the whole process took about 50 minutes, including the 30 minutes it took to download macOS's IPSW file.

At the end it gave an error - "the MacBook Air did not boot" and the Air showed the Recovery Assistant together with the "Activate Mac" window.
Oops, I forgot to sign out of Apple ID before I did it!

Once activated, by signing in to my Apple ID, the Air rebooted and it arrived at the "setup assistant"
Everything else went normally and I migrated stuff from my TM backup which also ran fine.

The system is up and running with no apparent defects or missing items/settings.

 

[Mac... nificent]

Tonight I tried it anyway with a braided USB-A to USB-C cable I bought from Curry's that cost £12-99.
The cable was advertised as being able to carry both power and data but it didn't actually say that it could do both at the same time.

Yes, as long as it's a USB-C charge cable you should be good to go ?

Regular USB-C cables are not supported. Sadly neither is Thunderbolt 3.

Configurator 2 is a life safer. I love this app.

 

[Apple_Robert]

If you want to get the full installers for Apple devices right away, instead of waiting on them to eventually show in the App Store, use the following site which gets the files directly from mesu-apple. Configurator 2 uses iPSW install files.

Choose a Mac / IPSW Downloads

Download current and previous versions of Apple's iOS, iPadOS, watchOS, tvOS, audioOS and macOS firmware and receive notifications when new firmwares are released.

ipsw.me

Will you be using the Configurator method moving forward? I think it is so much better than the usual method.

 

[Quackers]

Yes, as long as it's a USB-C charge cable you should be good to go ?

Regular USB-C cables are not supported. Sadly neither is Thunderbolt 3.

Configurator 2 is a life safer. I love this app.

Just for information mrmacintosh claims the following
"Apple notes that a Thunderbolt 3 to Thunderbolt 3 cable is not supported but I’ve tested it and it works fine."
https://mrmacintosh.com/restore-macos-firmware-on-an-apple-silicon-mac-boot-to-dfu-mode/

 

[Quackers]

If you want to get the full installers for Apple devices right away, instead of waiting on them to eventually showing in the App Store, use the following site which gets the files directly from mesu-apple. Configurator 2 uses iPSW install files.

Choose a Mac / IPSW Downloads

Download current and previous versions of Apple's iOS, iPadOS, watchOS, tvOS, audioOS and macOS firmware and receive notifications when new firmwares are released.

ipsw.me

Will you be using the Configurator method moving forward? I think it is so much better than the usual method.

Excellent site
Yes, I'll use DFU mode again.