MacBook Pro (early 2011) won't reinstall High Sierra

[walnawk]

I am selling my MacBook Pro 15" (early 2011), so I need to erase and reinstall High Sierra for the next owner. Currently it is running Catalina enabled by the "dosdude" patcher. I have made two separate High Sierra USB boot disk to reinstall, but half way through it dropped an error saying that the OS cannot be installed. I have tried Option at start up and select the boot disk; also, I have used option - command - r via internet recovery. They all led to the same error.

What is the most effective way for me to wipe my computer clean at the moment? I appreciate for all your input in advance.

 

[mdgm]

When you booted from the USB boot disk or internet recovery did you wipe the internal hard disk or SSD using Disk Utility before attempting to install Mac OS?

If you haven't, try that.

 

[Audit13]

Is the OS being installed to an SSD? Could it be a bad SATA cable? Can the MacBook install and run from the OS from an external drive?

 

[Fishrrman]

What happens if you...
a. boot to INTERNET recovery (command-option-R)
b. use disk utility to COMPLETELY ERASE the internal drive...
and then
c. install whatever OS (NOT Catalina) that internet recovery offers to you?

 

[walnawk]

When you booted from the USB boot disk or internet recovery did you wipe the internal hard disk or SSD using Disk Utility before attempting to install Mac OS?

If you haven't, try that.

Thanks. I will go to Disk Utility and select the volume to Erase. Will keep you posted.

 

[walnawk]

What happens if you...
a. boot to INTERNET recovery (command-option-R)
b. use disk utility to COMPLETELY ERASE the internal drive...
and then
c. install whatever OS (NOT Catalina) that internet recovery offers to you?

Lion was offered, it was denied. Just like the USB High Sierra bootdisks, two USB tried. Will do the erase thing next.

 

[walnawk]

Is the OS being installed to an SSD? Could it be a bad SATA cable? Can the MacBook install and run from the OS from an external drive?

Not a SSA, it is a spinning HD.

 

[Audit13]

Not a SSA, it is a spinning HD.

Could be a failing/defective SATA cable.

I suggest installing and running the OS with the internal drive inside a USB enclosure. If it works, place the drive back into the MacBook to see if it boots properly.

 

[DeltaMac]

You may get more for it, if you replace the spinning hard drive with an SSD.

However, that Early 2011, 15-inch MBPro is right in the middle of the infamous "radeongate" -- lots of problems with the Radeon graphics card, which also results in a variety of boot problems. It's very possible that you are fighting against a failing logic board (If so, the logic board will probably win )

 

[walnawk]

PROBLEM SOLVED. Thanks to this community. During the boot, we took the extra step to ERASE existing hard drive, and the installation went super smooth. High Sierra has successfully been installed, now the buyer better show up with their $160.00!!!

 

[walnawk]

When you booted from the USB boot disk or internet recovery did you wipe the internal hard disk or SSD using Disk Utility before attempting to install Mac OS?

If you haven't, try that.

Thank you MDGM!!! It is exactly what you suggested!!!

 

[walnawk]

What happens if you...
a. boot to INTERNET recovery (command-option-R)
b. use disk utility to COMPLETELY ERASE the internal drive...
and then
c. install whatever OS (NOT Catalina) that internet recovery offers to you?

Thank you Fishrrman!!! Did exactly every step you have suggested, finally worked.