HELP! HD locked on reinstall!

[jeezus2424]

Do you have access to another Mac where you could make a USB key OS installer?

I do not physically but I know someone with a Mac, what would they need to do?

 

[Weaselboy]

https://itunes.apple.com/app/os-x-el-capitan/id1147835434?ls=1&mt=12

Download El Capitan from this link.

https://www.macworld.com/article/29...le-os-x-10-11-el-capitan-installer-drive.html

Then follow this to make the USB installer. Then you can option key boot to the installer and erase your drive and install.

Another option would be you can buy the Lion DVD from Apple last I checked and you could install from that to get it running again. Then update from Lion to whatever you want.

 

[jeezus2424]

https://itunes.apple.com/app/os-x-el-capitan/id1147835434?ls=1&mt=12

Download El Capitan from this link.

https://www.macworld.com/article/29...le-os-x-10-11-el-capitan-installer-drive.html

Then follow this to make the USB installer. Then you can option key boot to the installer and erase your drive and install.

Another option would be you can buy the Lion DVD from Apple last I checked and you could install from that to get it running again. Then update from Lion to whatever you want.

Just to make sure, it’s the lion disk I need from Apple right?

 

[Weaselboy]

Just to make sure, it’s the lion disk I need from Apple right?

Yes... exactly.

 

[Britneekellogg]

I didn’t read through every answer, but I’m hoping Weasleboy can help ?? computer wont turn on, I’ve tried running first aid, I’ve tried reinstalling the operating system (my HD is now locked) and I tried his terminal tricks to enter the code and that is giving me an error as well. Help!!!
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Yes... exactly.

Can you help me with a similar issue? I’ve gone through your reply’s to others with no luck ;(

 

[Weaselboy]

I didn’t read through every answer, but I’m hoping Weasleboy can help ?? computer wont turn on, I’ve tried running first aid, I’ve tried reinstalling the operating system (my HD is now locked) and I tried his terminal tricks to enter the code and that is giving me an error as well. Help!!!
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Can you help me with a similar issue? I’ve gone through your reply’s to others with no luck ;(

Can you tell us a little more. What model and year Mac do you have and can you decribe exactly what lead up to this. What happens when you turn it on?

 

[Britneekellogg]

Can you tell us a little more. What model and year Mac do you have and can you decribe exactly what lead up to this. What happens when you turn it on?

It was working a bit slowly in the days leading up to this. It would spin the rainbow ball for a while when using it. Needed updated but hadn’t gotten around to it, so I’m hopeful that’s the issue. It’s a model A-1418 and was purchased in 2012/13

 

[Weaselboy]

It was working a bit slowly in the days leading up to this. It would spin the rainbow ball for a while when using it. Needed updated but hadn’t gotten around to it, so I’m hopeful that’s the issue. It’s a model A-1418 and was purchased in 2012/13

That really sounds like a drive failure.

 

[Britneekellogg]

That really sounds like a drive failure.

Is that fixable? Or does it need to be taken to apple.

 

[Weaselboy]

Is that fixable? Or does it need to be taken to apple.

It can be replaced, but unless you know what you are doing, you can break things inside an iMac like that. I would take to Apple if you can.

 

[Oldboyperi7]

Please help. I tried to make clean install El Capitan on iMac 2008 24’ with a usb bootable drive. I have a Bluetooth Logitech keyboard and mouse. Now after many hours I have lock the hdd drive.
1. I believe that iMac 2008 can’t boot from usb???
2. Option +R , Option + Command + R and all this do nothing.
I’m stuck!!!
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[Fuub]

Hi Weaselboy, I hope you can help me... I have a Macbook Air 2017. I updated to Catalina a couple days ago. I didn't do it on purpose-thought it's a little update in Mojave ??‍♀️ so no backup..I didn't have enough space on my disk but it updated anyway and now when I try to boot it shuts down. Unfortunaly I have Filevault but it says my password is wrong and I don't remeber activating it. Anything I can do to get the data back before reinstalling? Thank you so much!

 

[Weaselboy]

Please help. I tried to make clean install El Capitan on iMac 2008 24’ with a usb bootable drive. I have a Bluetooth Logitech keyboard and mouse. Now after many hours I have lock the hdd drive.
1. I believe that iMac 2008 can’t boot from usb???
2. Option +R , Option + Command + R and all this do nothing.
I’m stuck!!!
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Your iMac is too old for command-option-r Internet recovery, but an option key boot to a USB key installer should work. Can you tell me exactly what you have done so far?

 

[Weaselboy]

Hi Weaselboy, I hope you can help me... I have a Macbook Air 2017. I updated to Catalina a couple days ago. I didn't do it on purpose-thought it's a little update in Mojave ??‍♀️ so no backup..I didn't have enough space on my disk but it updated anyway and now when I try to boot it shuts down. Unfortunaly I have Filevault but it says my password is wrong and I don't remeber activating it. Anything I can do to get the data back before reinstalling? Thank you so much!

If you really have FileVault on and cannot recall the password, you are in bad shape.

When you turned in FileVault did you by any chance print out a recovery code, or use the iCloud recovery code method?

Protect data on your Mac with FileVault

Turn on FileVault to add an extra layer of security to the encrypted data on your Mac.

support.apple.com

This support doc shows an image that may help you remember.

 

[Oldboyperi7]

Your iMac is too old for command-option-r Internet recovery, but an option key boot to a USB key installer should work. Can you tell me exactly what you have done so far?

Should I use another keyboard connect via usb and not Bluetooth you think ?

 

[Weaselboy]

Should I use another keyboard connect via usb and not Bluetooth you think ?

If you have a USB KB, yes that would be more reliable.

 

[Fuub]

If you really have FileVault on and cannot recall the password, you are in bad shape.

When you turned in FileVault did you by any chance print out a recovery code, or use the iCloud recovery code method?

Protect data on your Mac with FileVault

Turn on FileVault to add an extra layer of security to the encrypted data on your Mac.

support.apple.com

This support doc shows an image that may help you remember.

No, unfortunately I do not recall activating it and getting a code. It doesn't ask for iCloud recovery either...I guess there is nothing I can do

 

[Weaselboy]

No, unfortunately I do not recall activating it and getting a code. It doesn't ask for iCloud recovery either...I guess there is nothing I can do

Yep.. if FV is on and your don't have the password, you are pretty much sunk.

 

[Fuub]

Yep.. if FV is on and your don't have the password, you are pretty much sunk.

Ok thank you so much!! You are doing a great job

 

[Oldboyperi7]

If you have a USB KB, yes that would be more reliable.

Nope, no KB via usb.I can get into startup disk but i can't see another disk or usb (bootable) or external dvd. I see only MacOs X Base System Mac OS X 10.7.2. So, why i need the usb KB when i can get into the startup disk and iMac is too old for command-option-r Internet recovery?

 

[Weaselboy]

Nope, no KB via usb.I can get into startup disk but i can't see another disk or usb (bootable) or external dvd. I see only MacOs X Base System Mac OS X 10.7.2. So, why i need the usb KB when i can get into the startup disk and iMac is too old for command-option-r Internet recovery?

What happens if you select that 10.7.2 option and restart?

 

[Oldboyperi7]

What happens if you select that 10.7.2 option and restart?

Opens in Mac OS X Utilities
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I have ready bootable El Capitan usb (as the newer OSX ) and bootable usb mountain lion. Disk startup cannot see them . In disk utilities I see them but I cannot do anything

 

[Weaselboy]

It looks like you may have a recovery partition on the internal drive. Can you command-r boot to that?

 

[Oldboyperi7]

It looks like you may have a recovery partition on the internal drive. Can you command-r boot to that?

No

 

[Weaselboy]

No

That screenshot you showed of Disk Utility.... what are you booted to when you took that?