After erasing HD El Capitan restarts in OSX Utilities mode

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Level 1

7 points

After erasing HD El Capitan restarts in OSX Utilities mode

I followed the instructions to erase the HD and reinstall El Capitan on my iMac 20-inch, Early 2009. Everything works until it tries to restart, then it switches back to Utilities (Recovery) mode (video in link).

I tried to shut down and then start up but it still restarts in the Utilites mode.

PS There seems to be a lot of posts about this. Maybe it's a known problem Apple won't support. I did not find a solution among them.

Thanks for your help

Earlier Mac models

Posted on Apr 27, 2023 03:16 PM

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Answer 1

BDAqua

Level 10

250,001 points

Apr 27, 2023 03:19 PM in response to BrockSF

If you erase the drive that is what happens‽

Start up from macOS Recovery

To start up from macOS Recovery, turn on your Mac and immediately press and hold one of the following combinations on your keyboard. Command-R is generally recommended, especially if you never installed macOS Sierra 10.12.4 or later… How to reinstall macOS - Apple Support

Command (⌘)-R

Install the latest macOS that was installed on your Mac.

Option-⌘-R

Upgrade to the latest macOS compatible with your Mac.

Shift-Option-⌘-R

Install the macOS that came with your Mac, or the closest version still available.

2. Decide whether to erase (format) your disk

If you need to erase your disk before installing macOS, select Disk Utility from the Utilities window, then click Continue. You probably don't need to erase, unless you're selling or giving away your Mac or have an issue that requires you to erase. Learn more about when and how to erase.

3. Install macOS

After starting up from macOS Recovery, follow these steps to install macOS:

Choose Reinstall macOS (or Reinstall OS X) from the Utilities window.
Click Continue, then follow the onscreen instructions to choose your disk and begin installation.
If the installer asks to unlock your disk, enter the password you use to log in to your Mac. If it doesn't see your disk, or it says that it can't install on your computer or volume, you might need to erase your disk.

Please allow installation to complete without putting your Mac to sleep or closing its lid. During installation, your Mac might restart and show a progress bar several times, and the screen might be empty for minutes at a time.

If your Mac restarts to a setup assistant, but you're selling or giving it away, press Command-Q to quit the assistant without completing setup. Then click Shut Down. When the new owner starts up the Mac, they can use their own information to complete setup.

If you never installed macOS Sierra 10.12.4

If macOS Sierra 10.12.4 or later was never installed on your Mac, macOS Recovery works differently:

Command-R is still the recommended way to start up from macOS Recovery. This combination makes sure that the installation isn't associated with your Apple ID, which is important if you're selling or giving away your Mac.
Option-Command-R installs the macOS that came with your Mac, or the closest version still available.
Shift-Option-Command-R isn't available.

How to reinstall macOS - Apple Support

Of course you may need to make a USB installer...

Create a bootable installer for macOS - Apple Support...

Create a bootable installer for macOS - Apple Support

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Answer 2

BDAqua

Level 10

250,001 points

Apr 27, 2023 05:04 PM in response to BrockSF

Start up from macOS Recovery

Option-⌘-R

Upgrade to the latest macOS compatible with your Mac.

APFS won't work for Sierra, Sierra & earlier needs MacOS Extended Journaled.

What has often worked for others is to use this Restore Method instead of CMD+r keys...

Option-⌘-R

Upgrade to the latest macOS compatible with your Mac.

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/254793247?answerId=258936149022#258936149022

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Answer 3

BrockSF Author

Level 1

7 points

Apr 28, 2023 01:57 PM in response to BDAqua

Yep tried that. I've tried starting with several of the alternate startup options. Believe me, I've tried everything I could find. And it still goes back to the OS X Utilities screen.

When I go into Disk Utility, it shows the OS X Base System is installed.

Side note: I also tried making a bootable flash drive, but the .pkg file wouldn't install the Install OS X El Capitan.app file. It said it couldn't install that version on my HD as if it thought I was trying to install the actual OS on my Mac Studio. Thanks

Now I'm trying to install OS X El Capitan onto the flashdrive from within the Install OS X app from the OS X Utilities Screen. It will take a few hours, apparently, so I'll let you know if I'm able use that as the startup disk.

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Answer 4

BrockSF Author

Level 1

7 points

Apr 27, 2023 03:26 PM in response to BDAqua

I used Command-R to start up in Recovery mode and used Disk Utility, per the basic instructions.

I erased the HD from within the Disk Utility

Then I chose Reinstall OS X within Disk Utility, per the instructions

I went through all the prompts to install El Capitan, and it seemed to be successful. But instead of restarting in standard mode, it returned to the OS X Utilities menu.

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Answer 5

BDAqua

Level 10

250,001 points

Apr 28, 2023 01:59 PM in response to BrockSF

When I go into Disk Utility, it shows the OS X Base System is installed.

Nope, OS X Base System is what allows you to run Restore Mode at all.

Pics are too small, where are you pointing the Install to?

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Answer 6

BrockSF Author

Level 1

7 points

Apr 28, 2023 02:34 PM in response to BDAqua

Oh, sorry I thought you could expand them like I could on my end. I can send larger.

I’m pointing the install to the flash drive, hoping I will then be able to boot from there since I can’t boot from the hard disk

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Answer 7

BrockSF Author

Level 1

7 points

Apr 28, 2023 04:24 PM in response to BDAqua

Yes, that is what I’ve been trying to do all along. But it either doesn’t install or won’t restart from there. Now I’m trying to install it on the flash drive to see if I can get the Mac to start up off of that

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