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Erased partitions on my 2011 MacBook Air and can't reinstall OS X.. Help!

berynsw

berynsw

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Jan 10, 2021
7
1
A couple years ago I added a dual boot Ubuntu partition to my macbook. Recently I wanted to delete the Ubuntu partiton to make more room for OS X. In the process of trying to remove the partition I had several issues and ended up removed all of the partitions on the SSD using disk utility in internet recovery. I've tried to reinstall OS X both using internet recovery and it comes up with the error "can't download the additional components needed to install mac os x". I've also tried putting an OS X install image on my flashdrive using TransMac (the macbook air is my only apple computer) and the macbook does not recognize it at all. Been searching all over for the problem and a solution. Any help to get an OS back on my macbook would be much appreciated!
 
Fishrrman

Fishrrman

macrumors Penryn
Feb 20, 2009
29,279
13,377
You really need another Mac to create a bootable flashdrive installer.
From what I've read, transmac has "issues"...

Do you have access to another Mac?
 
satcomer

satcomer

Suspended
Feb 19, 2008
9,115
1,977
The Finger Lakes Region
Fishrrman said:
You really need another Mac to create a bootable flashdrive installer.
From what I've read, transmac has "issues"...

Do you have access to another Mac?
Click to expand...

Only if you are using a M1 chip in it you want to reconfigure! Apple even has a Support Document speaking about it called If you get a personalization error when reinstalling MacOS with M1 chip! Should pay attention to MacRumors news stories Apple Provides Instructions to Fix MacOS reinstallation Errors on M1 Mac!
 
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berynsw

berynsw

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Jan 10, 2021
7
1
Fishrrman said:
You really need another Mac to create a bootable flashdrive installer.
From what I've read, transmac has "issues"...

Do you have access to another Mac?
Click to expand...
I see. I don't have access to another mac which is why I tried the TransMac route via Windows. Not sure if this helps but it is a 2011 Air with an intel core i5.
 
brianmowrey

brianmowrey

macrumors 6502
Oct 5, 2020
419
133
It's plausible that your partition-erase prelude has nothing to do with your Internet Recovery fail. But there's a lot that you haven't specified yet. 1: What do you see in Recovery Mode Apps > Disk Utility? Is your physical drive formatted (Mac OS Journaled) and mounted? 2: What happens if you try restoring to the oldest OS available for your MBA with Shift+⌘+R during startup?
 
berynsw

berynsw

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Jan 10, 2021
7
1
brianmowrey said:
It's plausible that your partition-erase prelude has nothing to do with your Internet Recovery fail. But there's a lot that you haven't specified yet. 1: What do you see in Recovery Mode Apps > Disk Utility? Is your physical drive formatted (Mac OS Journaled) and mounted? 2: What happens if you try restoring to the oldest OS available for your MBA with Shift+⌘+R during startup?
Click to expand...
1. I'll attach some pictures of what I've got in Disk Utility. I'm not sure if the physical drive is formatted and mounted. I think the "New OS X Partition" that I created is formatted and mounted.
2. If I hold SHIFT+CMD+R it just shows a grey icon of a folder with a question mark on it. This happens with everything I've tried besides holding CMD+R at which point it goes into internet recovery.

Sorry that the quality of the pictures is terrible hopefully the necessary info is legible.
 

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brianmowrey

brianmowrey

macrumors 6502
Oct 5, 2020
419
133
berynsw said:
1. I'll attach some pictures of what I've got in Disk Utility. I'm not sure if the physical drive is formatted and mounted. I think the "New OS X Partition" that I created is formatted and mounted.
2. If I hold SHIFT+CMD+R it just shows a grey icon of a folder with a question mark on it. This happens with everything I've tried besides holding CMD+R at which point it goes into internet recovery.

Sorry that the quality of the pictures is terrible hopefully the necessary info is legible.
Click to expand...
K, that looks like a pretty healthy drive. And since the error message in your OP references not being able to "download additional components," it seems like some network or regional server cache issue is messing with Internet Recovery. The best tests from this stage would be either taking the MBA to a different network, or using a different Mac to create a bootable installer.
 
berynsw

berynsw

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Jan 10, 2021
7
1
brianmowrey said:
K, that looks like a pretty healthy drive. And since the error message in your OP references not being able to "download additional components," it seems like some network or regional server cache issue is messing with Internet Recovery. The best tests from this stage would be either taking the MBA to a different network, or using a different Mac to create a bootable installer.
Click to expand...
Ok. Putting El Capitan on the thumb drive should work fine right? Thanks for all your help so far.
 
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