Urgent help needed "Installation of macOS could not continue."

[keith5]

I have an M1 Macbook Pro running the Monterey release candidate (12.0.1). I just sold it as I have a new 16" coming next week. I followed the instructions on this page to reset the Macbook and prepare it for shipping https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT212030

However, when I choose "Reinstall macOS Monterey" from the recovery menu I get the following error: "Installation of macOS could not continue. Installation requires downloading important content. That content can't be downloaded at this time. Try again later."

What the hell does that mean? I'm connected to wifi and my internet is working fine. I'm at a complete loss at what to do next. This thing is not bootable and I need to ship it tomorrow 😭

 

[Phil77354]

contact Apple support via chat on the Apple website

 

[white7561]

I think it's because the full installer for Monterey RC isn't available yet. I think it's gonna be okay if you can make a bootable Big Sur installer. Or i think use the terminal to boot up one (i think I saw that on the Apple help pages to fix the personalization error when installing)

It's better if you can make a bootable installer tho AFAIK

 

[keith5]

I think it's because the full installer for Monterey RC isn't available yet. I think it's gonna be okay if you can make a bootable Big Sur installer. Or i think use the terminal to boot up one (i think I saw that on the Apple help pages to fix the personalization error when installing)

It's better if you can make a bootable installer tho AFAIK

I'm attempting to make a Big Sur USB installer right now. I have to do it from Windows unfortunately as I don't have access to another Mac. Fingers crossed.

 

[white7561]

I'm attempting to make a Big Sur USB installer right now. I have to do it from Windows unfortunately as I don't have access to another Mac. Fingers crossed.

Yeah. This is why I always have an updated bootable MacOS installer.. prob a good idea to make em for the future eh...

 

[Mike Boreham]

Won't help you now but for others and future reference you could have used this new in Monterey method:
https://www.macrumors.com/2021/06/09/macos-monterey-erase-all-content-settings/

i don't know what has gone wrong for you but worst case you might need to use Apple Configurator 2. Not difficult but needs another Mac (Intel or silicon).
https://mrmacintosh.com/restore-macos-firmware-on-an-apple-silicon-mac-boot-to-dfu-mode/

 

[yassin1988]

good luck let us know

 

[TimManzana]

Do the M1s. Not allow you to choose the original OS to be installed through recovery? Monterrey doesn’t have a full installer out yet so I assume it would be a lot easier to just install Big Sur from recovery, is that not an option anymore?

 

[Mike Boreham]

Do the M1s. Not allow you to choose the original OS to be installed through recovery? Monterrey doesn’t have a full installer out yet so I assume it would be a lot easier to just install Big Sur from recovery, is that not an option anymore?

No if you have installed Monterey, Recovery will install Monterey. To roll back you need to use Configurator 2, or a bootable external Installer. No internet Recovery.

 

[TimManzana]

No if you have installed Monterey Recovery will install Monterey. To roll back you need to use Configurator 2, or a bootable external Installer. No internet Recovery.

Ah, gotcha

 

[Mike Boreham]

No if you have installed Monterey, Recovery will install Monterey. To roll back you need to use Configurator 2, or a bootable external Installer. No internet Recovery.

And if you roll back using a bootable big sur external installer, the Recovery and firmware will still be Monterey. But if you roll back with Configurator then you can restore big sur recovery and firmware.

 

[Fishrrman]

OP:

Be aware that Apple Configurator requires a second Mac to be usable.
Do you have a brick-n-mortar Apple Store anywhere nearby?
Might be time to make an appt. with the genius bar and have them reset it for you...

 

[keith5]

I managed to fix it. I remembered we have an ancient Macbook Air in the house (2010 core 2 duo lol) and used it to create a Big Sur installer. Thank you for all the suggestions 👍

 

[HPad]

Having this issue as well.... No mac to do this on.. Tried making a big sur usb on windows but the M1 mini has nothing to do with it wont detect it

 

[keith5]

Having this issue as well.... No mac to do this on.. Tried making a big sur usb on windows but the M1 mini has nothing to do with it wont detect it

This was my experience with Windows as well. I created the installer using TransMac and it seemed to go fine but my MBP wouldn't detect it (I could see it in disk utility but not bootable). Hope you figure it out.

 

[newbie-mate]

hello fellows, I stumbled around the same problem. I have RC A558.
Does someone know, if the internet recovery will work on Monday when the full installer is released?
unfortunately i don’t have a 2nd Mac around and no time for visiting my Apple Store before Monday.
appreciate any answers!
edit: any chances the installer will go live tomorrow?

 

[HPad]

So far nothing using transmac on PC to put big sur on flash drive mac mini only detects it in disk utility nothing else. About to just send it back to Amazon, I shouldnt have to wait until Monday to be able to use my computer..

 

[HPad]

Following this I got somewhere! Of coruse changing big sur in the commands to Monterey Just waiting

If an error occurred while updating or installing macOS - Apple Support

The message might say that an error occurred while downloading, preparing, or installing, or that the software is damaged, could not be verified, or failed to personalize. The cause of messages like these can vary, and sometimes they're only temporary.

support.apple.com

 

[newbie-mate]

Following this I got somewhere! Of coruse changing big sur in the commands to Monterey Just waiting

Following what? 😅

 

[HPad]

Following what? 😅

Opps edited the post with link sorry! lol

 

[newbie-mate]

Opps edited the post with link sorry! lol

No problem! did the same, downloading right know..will update if it works. Fingers crossed

edit1: installations works. changing the name shows name,picture and license text for Monterey but installs big sur.
edit2: it worked!

 

[MrMacintoshBlog]

I have an M1 Macbook Pro running the Monterey release candidate (12.0.1). I just sold it as I have a new 16" coming next week. I followed the instructions on this page to reset the Macbook and prepare it for shipping https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT212030

However, when I choose "Reinstall macOS Monterey" from the recovery menu I get the following error: "Installation of macOS could not continue. Installation requires downloading important content. That content can't be downloaded at this time. Try again later."

What the hell does that mean? I'm connected to wifi and my internet is working fine. I'm at a complete loss at what to do next. This thing is not bootable and I need to ship it tomorrow 😭

Quick question, how did you erase the drive before you clicked reinstall? Or did you just click reinstall and not erase the drive>

 

[HPad]

Quick question, how did you erase the drive before you clicked reinstall? Or did you just click reinstall and not erase the drive>

For me I erased the drive first which I've done previously without issue, but the 12.0.1 beta update broke that

 

[white7561]

For me I erased the drive first which I've done previously without issue, but the 12.0.1 beta update broke that

Wait broken how? The installation process because of no full installer RC available yet. Or like a bug that happens on early apple silicon era and big sur?

 

[Mike Boreham]

For me I erased the drive first which I've done previously without issue ...............

The Apple instructions (linked earlier) are clear about erasing the MacIntosh HD volume group, not the drive. On M1 Macs Recovery is on a separate partition, which might get erased if you erase at drive level. Erasing at drive level was common practice with Intel. I don't know if this the cause for you but it might be. So I would be interested to know exactly what you erased.

It would seem bad if Apple even allows the whole drive to be erased and if this then causes the need for Apple Configurator 2 to restore the Recovery partition. I would hope Apple makes it impossible or gives dire warning, in which case your problem is likely to be something else.