Resolved "Do not pass" logo imac sierra

[ramses2005]

Hello, last night I updated my iMac and today I found out that it had a "do not pass" logo (Circle with line across). I have read multiple threads about what it means, and I know what to do..

The question is that when reinstalling mac os x from recovery mode, I have a greyed out Macintosh HD and it states that filevault is converting files but it doesnt show how much time is left or a % of the process.

HOw much time should I wait before taking it to the apple store? I have aproximately 500gb of storage in a 1Tb drive. I hope im not lossing any of my files.

 

[DeltaMac]

(The icon you see is known as a "Prohibited" symbol --- but that's just a detail at this point)
Hmm... I don't think the system can complete a Filevault conversion if you can't boot to the system.
So, first question:
Do you have a full backup of your drive? (That could include a Time Machine backup, or some other form of a full backup of your pre-update drive)
This may turn out to be one of those times that you will be glad that you have a current backup.

 

[ramses2005]

(The icon you see is known as a "Prohibited" symbol --- but that's just a detail at this point)
Hmm... I don't think the system can complete a Filevault conversion if you can't boot to the system.
So, first question:
Do you have a full backup of your drive? (That could include a Time Machine backup, or some other form of a full backup of your pre-update drive)

I do NOT have a full backup of my drive.
[doublepost=1540497975][/doublepost]this a current picture of the system.

 

[DeltaMac]

Your "Recovery" system is another partition on the same hard drive where you have the system installed.
Best way to try a reinstall is from a separate drive, such as a USB flash drive, with a bootable Sierra installer. If you don't have that already, you can make one. You would need to make that on another Mac. If you don't know how to do that, search for "create a bootable USB Sierra installer". A google search will find several different sources for that information.

You COULD try booting normally (even if you see the prohibited symbol), and leave it alone for an hour or two - hoping that the Filevault will then complete. I am doubtful about that happening, but you could try just booting, and waiting.
That will be unlikely to fix, and maybe is just a waste of time. Give it a couple of hours, then try rebooting. Maybe there will be a change after that reboot.

However, the prohibited symbol means that there IS a bootable system, but there's something wrong. That could be a corrupted system file, or something that remains from the previous system and is blocking the boot, or is simply not compatible with the new system. That will need to cleaned out, but hard to do THAT when it won't boot.

 

[ramses2005]

Do you know if my all my files are getting deleted if I re install mac os x from a bootable USB drive or will it work the same as installing mac os x with the recovery app itself?

 

[DeltaMac]

In a normal reinstall (boot to the bootable installer, and simply choose to reinstall), nothing should be affected on the drive. There's nothing erased or changed, outside of the system and the default macOS apps. Your files and apps should not be disturbed, unless you choose to open the Disk Utility and erase the drive first. The reinstall simply reinstalls the system. If there is now a problem because of an incomplete install, or something corrupted in the installed files, the reinstall should fix that.

The reinstall from your Recovery system may be more affected by changes that are disturbed on the boot drive (because you are booted to another partition on that same boot drive), and the reinstall from a separate drive (an external USB or flash drive) might not encounter problems with reinstalling, even with the incomplete Filevault conversion --- But I DON'T KNOW if this will have any effect --- however, I think it's worth a try.

 

[ramses2005]

well at least you gave me hope and a plan B!!! Ill let you know how it goes. Im trying to find a Os X sierra installer version because my MBP has mojave and it doesnt let me download sierra from the app store

 

[DeltaMac]

Yes, you can download Sierra.
Try this link
That should take you to the Sierra download page at the App Store (I just tried it from Mojave, so it should work for you, too!) It WILL warn you that you are trying to download a system that is older than the system that you are now booted from, but you should be able to download Sierra to any Mac that is compatible with Sierra. Just let it download. It will automatically launch. And, quit the install at that time. You will find the installer in your Applications folder. I would suggest that you copy that to a different drive where you can store it, so you then don't need to download it again.
Then, delete that first copy from your Applications folder (it takes up a lot of space!) Use your copy to make the USB installer....

 

[ramses2005]

I dont know why it isnt working for me.... It says that the selected update is not available... also using mojave...

just found a link to download it directly... I hope it works

 

[DeltaMac]

Which MBPro do you have?
If it is new (2018 model), then you won't get a normal download of Sierra from the App Store (because your 2018 is too new, and needs High Sierra as a minimum.) The App Store won't let you download a system installer if that Mac can't support it.

 

[ramses2005]

Yes, it is! I'll let you know when I finish downloading the torrent I currently found.

And THANK YOU for all your help

 

[ramses2005]

Already tried installing Mac OS X with USB and it didnt work at all.... Starts up great, I select the USB drive and then after a while of loading again the prohibition sign appear or when trying to install Sierra, again the HD is greyed out by the conversion of filevault

 

[DeltaMac]

I am not sure what you mean.
Are you saying that you get the prohibited symbol even when you boot to the macOS installer?
And, that would also mean that you never see the utilities menu that would be part of the installer?

Or, do you mean that you can boot to the installer (you see the installer utilities menu), but when you try to continue with the macOS reinstall, the prohibited symbol appears after the reinstall begins to load files?

Or, do you get to try to start the macOS reinstall, but you can't choose the destination (because it is greyed out)

I never asked: Which iMac do you have?

 

[ramses2005]

imac 21" 2011 running Mac OS X Sierra

I plug in my USB, start up the system and I get the utilities menu. Then --> Install MAC OS X (From my USB) and again it shows that my HD is converting files from filevault, so I cannot choose the destination, as you say. It is apparently stuck right in that process.

 

[DeltaMac]

Just my guess:
Somehow the filevault process has stalled.
I don't know if there is any way to recover from that - but... maybe you can try a couple of things - and this is assuming that you need to try to recover the files on the hard drive.
If the drive is really stuck, partly encrypted with FileVault -
Remove the hard drive from the iMac, and install in an external USB enclosure.
Connect to your MBPro (you will need the right adapters to do that)
Try to mount the drive in Disk Utility.
Try to repair the drive (First Aid in Disk Utility)
Try some other utility, such as Disk Warrior or Stellar Data Recovery, maybe Disk Drill or Tech Tool Pro.
You MIGHT need to simply continue on with an attempt to recover the data from the drive.

 

[ramses2005]

Finally I had to recover data from my disk, take it to the applestore and got it wiped out completely.