Internet Recovery loop from hell.

[dandeco]

Maybe I'll take one of these problematic Airs and use it on my secure home Internet, and see if that works. Then once it's reset and ready, I can bring it back into work to be logged and ready for resell. I've done it before.

I tried. So far, I've only had luck with getting one all wiped, re-installed and ready for resell, since I have to use Internet Recovery to install the MacOS on a T2 chip-equipped Mac to check if it's still managed, change the security settings to enable booting from an external drive, then wipe the drive and re-install the MacOS (i.e. the highest version it'll support). The other three I've been working on, I've had no luck with getting Internet Recovery to load onto them, Wi-Fi or Ethernet. I wonder if it has something to do with the drive not being initialized, and/or the battery apparently being dead (the one that worked still has a good battery).

I was able to get another to load the Internet Recovery Mode and start installing the MacOS. Since this one has a 512 GB SSD, I may consider using this one as a work computer, for running the latest version of Apple Configurator 2 and any future reviving and restoring of Macs with T2 chips, now that my 2015 Retina 15" MacBook Pro can't run the latest Apple Configurator and doesn't have Thunderbolt 3. (For now I have to bring my M1 MacBook Air into work for this.) But the first attempt at this, it hung at "Less than a minute remaining..." while the status bar was nearly halfway through. This second attempt after resetting the NVRAM and SMC and rebooting the Air, I started the second part of the install a little over and hour from posting this, and the bar went all the way to the end, but it's still seeming to hang there. I'm gonna let it sit this way through most of my shift to see what happens next. If it's not done anything before I punch out, I will reset the NVRAM and SMC, and reboot the Air again and see if that does anything overnight.

 

[shmergy]

I will give that a shot, the local repair shop seems pretty well versed, they are technically an apple authorized service center. They are right next to a fairly large college campus (at least for around here), I am guessing they see lots of macs. I talked with a tech and he said they will diagnose for free, then give me a flat fee price for repair, but he is convinced that as long as the hard drive isn't fried, he can get the OS on it, that would be $109. I am still going to do a couple things before I bring it in, just need to get it to my office, hopefully tonight.

I bought it used, upgraded to a better version of the same thing and sold this one to my Brother so my upgrade was only about $750 minus all this BS

I’m having exact the same issue. Did you ever manage to get it working again?

 

[dandeco]

I tried. So far, I've only had luck with getting one all wiped, re-installed and ready for resell, since I have to use Internet Recovery to install the MacOS on a T2 chip-equipped Mac to check if it's still managed, change the security settings to enable booting from an external drive, then wipe the drive and re-install the MacOS (i.e. the highest version it'll support). The other three I've been working on, I've had no luck with getting Internet Recovery to load onto them, Wi-Fi or Ethernet. I wonder if it has something to do with the drive not being initialized, and/or the battery apparently being dead (the one that worked still has a good battery).

I was able to get another to load the Internet Recovery Mode and start installing the MacOS. Since this one has a 512 GB SSD, I may consider using this one as a work computer, for running the latest version of Apple Configurator 2 and any future reviving and restoring of Macs with T2 chips, now that my 2015 Retina 15" MacBook Pro can't run the latest Apple Configurator and doesn't have Thunderbolt 3. (For now I have to bring my M1 MacBook Air into work for this.) But the first attempt at this, it hung at "Less than a minute remaining..." while the status bar was nearly halfway through. This second attempt after resetting the NVRAM and SMC and rebooting the Air, I started the second part of the install a little over and hour from posting this, and the bar went all the way to the end, but it's still seeming to hang there. I'm gonna let it sit this way through most of my shift to see what happens next. If it's not done anything before I punch out, I will reset the NVRAM and SMC, and reboot the Air again and see if that does anything overnight.

Well, it turns out this particular MacBook Air had a bad battery! I took it home and swapped the battery, and that brought its' performance and speed back to normal, and now I use it as a work computer!

 

[PaulD-UK]

It might be that ‘The battery has to be charged to at least 50% before the OS can be installed’ - like iOS devices…..

 

[Nguyen Duc Hieu]

I got similar issue on my iMac 2009 with Firepro M6100 installed.
It has a working High Sierra internal disk.
The iMac boot directly to High Sierra and refuse to response to all kind of key press.
In the end, I had to took out the internal drive (it was easy with my iMac 2009) and wipe it clean on another machine, then reflash the FireProM6100m to get a boot screen and did a clean install of Mac OS Monterey.

 

[Nguyen Duc Hieu]

I will give that a shot, the local repair shop seems pretty well versed, they are technically an apple authorized service center. They are right next to a fairly large college campus (at least for around here), I am guessing they see lots of macs. I talked with a tech and he said they will diagnose for free, then give me a flat fee price for repair, but he is convinced that as long as the hard drive isn't fried, he can get the OS on it, that would be $109. I am still going to do a couple things before I bring it in, just need to get it to my office, hopefully tonight.

I bought it used, upgraded to a better version of the same thing and sold this one to my Brother so my upgrade was only about $750 minus all this BS

My question is pure curiosity.
All key combinations were disregarded by the iMac so it booted directly to the recovery volume of the internal disk.
But at the screen of selecting network, both your mouse and keyboard are still working, ist that correct?

Now, all of the error codes in your description points into 1 type: Internet Connection errors.
2003f, 2002f, 2100f and 1008f

It would be amusing to hear the result as:

The repairman said that the Internet Recovery ran smoothly at his shop, no problem detected and you got newly installed Mac OS on your iMac.

But anyway, your problem would be solve, with minimal cost, and your iMac works again.

Good luck and cheers.

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]

The higher the number, the more obscure the problem.

 

[Nasreddine_boumahdi]

Cliff's Notes edit for people that don't like words:

iMac Pro 2017 27" (I know that is redundant) was running Monterey OS fully updated.

Stuck in Internet Recovery mode, PERIOD, nothing else, I get white apple on black screen, then spinning globe.

Tried all keyboard commands on MULTIPLE keyboards WIRED and WIRELESS

Tried Wifi keep getting error 2100F

Tried ETHERNET direct keep getting error 2003F

Used SECOND GOOD iMac with apple configurator 2 application, doesn't register first iMac properly and WON'T let me do a remote restore.

I created a Monterey USB bootable install drive, but I CAN'T get the iMac to give me an option, I get nothing but the internet recovery just like the title says.


Original words:

I have an iMac Pro, I was getting ready to sell it, read about best way to wipe SSD before doing a clean installation of Monterey, I turned on file vault, then changed password to a long random mess. I then erased the drive and started to use recovery for the clean install. At this point it went to internet recovery, I tried wireless, had error 2100F after 25 minutes or so. When I restarted the computer, it went directly into internet recovery mode. I tried restarting and using command R with no luck on the Bluetooth keyboard, I then plugged the cable in directly, command R did nothing. It would always boot directly into internet recovery mode, I tried another keyboard, nothing, I held the power button, nothing changes, it boots back to the same place. I unplugged it, no change, I ran an Ethernet cable, then got error 2003F. I then tried another iMac using Apple Configurator 2, it shows something, but won’t allow me to restore. I can’t even get the option to boot from an external drive. Just internet recovery mode. Any suggestions?



Below is the only screen that will "boot" after a restart, I can only force restart with power button or unplugging.
View attachment 2164659


Below you see that the iMac still responds, I can type in a password for Wifi or manually enter the network.
View attachment 2164666

Below you can see that is is trying to do something.
View attachment 2164658


Below is the error message I get after 20 minutes or so using WiFi.
View attachment 2164660


Below is the error message I get after using ETHERNET CABLE.
View attachment 2164663


Using a SECOND good iMac running Monterey, this is what apple configurator 2 decides it sees when hooked up with an apple USB C charging/Data cable
View attachment 2164661


Below is one of several screen that all essentially say the same thing about the "bad" iMac.
View attachment 2164664


Below shows the choices I have and every one of them does nothing.
View attachment 2164662


Below is the error message I get when I try and revive. restore, reboot, or erase the "bad" iMac.
View attachment 2164665

Hello
It's my first time owning an apple product so I don't know much about my PC.
Have you found any solution for this problem? I'm facing the same problem with my MacBook air 2020 i3, I tried every possible way to boot into deferent mode, but none of them worked, and the laptop wouldn't shutdown it just keeps restarting after holding the power button, unless I hold the shift key while holding the power button to shut it down.
Any info will help a lot.

 

[Significant1]

Sorry in advance, that I haven’t read the whole thread.

It is not DFU mode on your Apple configurater pictures. To enter DFU mode: Turn off the imac power at the wall, hold the power switch down on the iMac while you turn on power at the wall. Wait around 30 seconds till it shows up on the connected computer and you can let go of the iMac power button.

 

[ocvr]

I wiped my drive on my 2018 12" Macbook following this tutorial and now Im facing the same internet recovery loop from hell. I get this error: An error occurred while preparing the installation. Try running this application again.

But the only choice I have is going through internet recovery and receiving this error again and again after the installation fails. It already sucked around 6 hours of my life. I can't believe it is so easy to get into this horrendous hell situation with a relative new mac. I just wanted to downgrade from Ventura to Mojave since my mac is constantly overheating on it, it won't go to deep sleep and the fans turn on all the time. I feel this could be a synthetic slow down from Apple to force you to upgrade your Intel Mac. I just want to keep my 12" Macbook, since I still think it is the most beautiful portable laptop that Apple sadly refuses to update.

 

[Fishrrman]

ocvr --

Can you boot to INTERNET recovery?
This isn't the same as "the recovery partition".

Power down, all the way off.
Press and KEEP HOLDING DOWN
command+OPTION+R
... as you touch the power-on button.

KEEP HOLDING THOSE KEYS DOWN, until
- you're requested to enter your wifi password (enter it)
or
- you see the "spinning globe" (internet utilities loading)

The utilities take a while to load up, be patient.

If you can get that far, the next steps are
DON'T open the OS installer yet.
Open disk utility
IMPORTANT -- go to the "view" menu and choose "show all devices".

Look at the list on the left.
The topmost item should be the internal SSD.
Click on it and then click "erase".
Erase to APFS, GUID partition format.

When done, quit disk utility and open the OS installer.
Start clicking through. The Mac will reboot several times, and the screen will also go dark for a minute or more with no other indication of activity. Just be patient.

When done, you should see the initial setup screen (choose your language).
At this point either "set up fresh", or connect your backup and use setup assistant to restore.

Good luck.

 

[ThunderSkunk]

I have an answer for you, but based on your hostility and rudeness toward people willing to spend their time talking with you, theres no way I'm going to bother writing it all out for you. It is worth my time to let you know this, though.

 

[bkrnetic]

I had pretty much the same issue getting all these errors 2003f, 2005f, 1008f, etc. At the start, my Mac was just restarting constantly and getting into Internet recovery right after the Apple logo appears during the startup. Steps that worked out for me:

1. From the steps here, I went to Restore option. Then I finally got to the screen with folder with question mark as shown here. That was a progress since I haven't seen anything else than internet recovery before that.

2. Then I did these steps here. I chose Shift-Option-Command-R option. My mac was restarting itself as soon as I did forced shut down. After the shut down I would keep these buttons pressed until turning globe didn't show. I connected to my Wi-Fi and internet recovery started. It didn't work every time. Basically if it would show that it will take more than 5 sec (my internet speed is ~80Mbit/sec) I would again shut it down and repeat the process, otherwise it always ended up in the same errors. The full loading of internet recovery loading bar took max 10 minutes in my case.

3. Finally, when it worked, I would get to the screen from here. First go to Disk Utility and check that you have volumes under your SSD or HDD. If you have them, please read this article to see the right option. You might not want to erase SSD and recreate volumes as I did. However I had no volumes under my SSD, so I right clicked on the SSD and clicked Erase. That took me to the screen where I entered name of my new Volume and format. If your Mac is 10.13 version or newer, make sure to choose APFS for the format. Otherwise, you should choose Mac OS Extended (Journaled) as I've read here and here. Map should always be GUID Partition Table.

4. Close the Disk Utility on X button and you will be back to screen where you initially selected Disk Utility. Now click on Reinstall MacOS and follow the steps.

NOTE: Skipping step 3 and having no volumes will not block you from step 4 but when it comes to selecting drive to install your Mac OS, nothing will be shown and you will probably have to restart and go through all the struggle again.

I've tried my iPhone hotspot and it didn't help, so it obviously wasn't an issue with my router or internet. Just be persistent and keep your fingers crossed with these steps until Internet recovery eventually passes. This took me a whole day of struggle, hope it will help somebody.