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Can’t install from USB OR Internet Recovery

I ha e a mid-2010 13” MacBook Pro that I am trying to reinstall MacOS High Sierra on.


However, I do not have a recovery partition or any access to MacOS Utilities any more. I tried Internet Recovery and it stops halfway when loading into the installer. I created a High Sierra installer on somebody else’s Mac and it gets a little further but not by much and freezes in the attached picture.


Does anyone have any suggestions, PLEASE? I am at the end of my rope and have tried everything I can to save this machine!

MacBook Pro

Posted on Jun 16, 2019 1:13 PM

Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Jun 16, 2019 1:45 PM

Your model is not able to do an Internet Recovery. You must install the original version of macOS that came on restore DVDs with the new computer. Once you install Snow Leopard you can reinstall High Sierra.


Snow Leopard Erase and Install


     If possible be sure to back up your files.


  1. Insert Snow Leopard DVD into the optical drive and restart the computer.
  2. Immediately, at or before the chime hold down the C key.
  3. Release the key when the Apple logo appears and wait for the loading to finish.
  4. After the installer loads select your language and click on the Continue button. When the menu bar appears select Disk Utility from the Utilities' menu.  After Disk Utility loads select the out-dented disk entry from the side list (mfgr.'s ID and drive size.)  Click on the Partition tab in the Disk Utility’s right window.  Set the number of partitions to one (1) from the drop down menu. Click on the Options button and select GUID, click OK button, set the format type to MacOS Extended, Journaled. Finally, click on the Apply button.
  5. After formatting has finished quit Disk Utility.  Continue with the OS X installation and follow the directions.
  6. When the installation has finished the computer will restart into the Setup Assistant. After you complete the Setup Assistant you will be running a fresh installation of Snow Leopard. Open Software Update and install the recommended updates.
  7. If you are planning to sell or give your computer away, then do the following: After you reformat your hard drive and reinstall Snow Leopard, the computer restarts to a Welcome screen. To leave the Mac in an OOTB (Out Of The Box) state, don't continue with the setup. Instead, press Command and Q keys to shut down the computer. The Setup Assistant will guide the new owner through the setup process after he/she turns on the computer.
  8. Download and install Mac OS X 10.6.8 Update Combo v1.1. if needed. It is not needed if you are selling or giving away the computer.


You should be able to now install High Sierra.

Similar questions

1 reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Jun 16, 2019 1:45 PM in response to Community User

Your model is not able to do an Internet Recovery. You must install the original version of macOS that came on restore DVDs with the new computer. Once you install Snow Leopard you can reinstall High Sierra.


Snow Leopard Erase and Install


     If possible be sure to back up your files.


  1. Insert Snow Leopard DVD into the optical drive and restart the computer.
  2. Immediately, at or before the chime hold down the C key.
  3. Release the key when the Apple logo appears and wait for the loading to finish.
  4. After the installer loads select your language and click on the Continue button. When the menu bar appears select Disk Utility from the Utilities' menu.  After Disk Utility loads select the out-dented disk entry from the side list (mfgr.'s ID and drive size.)  Click on the Partition tab in the Disk Utility’s right window.  Set the number of partitions to one (1) from the drop down menu. Click on the Options button and select GUID, click OK button, set the format type to MacOS Extended, Journaled. Finally, click on the Apply button.
  5. After formatting has finished quit Disk Utility.  Continue with the OS X installation and follow the directions.
  6. When the installation has finished the computer will restart into the Setup Assistant. After you complete the Setup Assistant you will be running a fresh installation of Snow Leopard. Open Software Update and install the recommended updates.
  7. If you are planning to sell or give your computer away, then do the following: After you reformat your hard drive and reinstall Snow Leopard, the computer restarts to a Welcome screen. To leave the Mac in an OOTB (Out Of The Box) state, don't continue with the setup. Instead, press Command and Q keys to shut down the computer. The Setup Assistant will guide the new owner through the setup process after he/she turns on the computer.
  8. Download and install Mac OS X 10.6.8 Update Combo v1.1. if needed. It is not needed if you are selling or giving away the computer.


You should be able to now install High Sierra.

Can’t install from USB OR Internet Recovery

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