Can’t install OS in my MacBook after erasing and trying a reset

I was trying to do a factory reset in my daughter’s Mac book pro (early 2015). I was able to follow these steps:

  1. 1. Restart and Enter Recovery Mode: 
    • Restart your Mac. 
    • Immediately press and hold the Command (⌘) and R keys until the Apple logo appears. 
  1. 2. Erase the Startup Disk: 
    • In the macOS Utilities window, select Disk Utility. 
    • In Disk Utility, select the startup disk (usually named Macintosh HD). 
    • Click the "Erase" button. 
    • Choose a format (Mac OS Extended (Journaled) or APFS) and click "Erase" again. 
  1. 3. Reinstall macOS:
    • Close Disk Utility. 
    • Select "Reinstall macOS" from the macOS Utilities window. 

Then…. It won’t let me select a disk to install the OS. Below are the screens I see….


Before the reset:


[Edited by Moderator]

Earlier displays & monitors

Posted on Jun 26, 2025 08:00 PM

Reply
7 replies

Jun 26, 2025 11:37 PM in response to Macmama1234

hmm somehow Command-R Recovery mode goes to Yosemite install while you already seem to have High Sierra installed.


Try this:


Backup, if there is any important info on the Mac.


Reset PRAM (just in case): Shutdown, power ON, and start pressing Option-Command-P-R when the Mac chimes and keep pressing them until it has chimed four times, then let go and let it finish booting.


Then Shutdown and disconnect Ethernet cable and reboot the Wi-Fi router which should be nearby the Mac (just in case -- my Mac does not connect via Ethernet to Internet Recovery).


Then power ON, and start pressing Option-Command-R to go to Internet Recovery Mode, until you see a spinning globe and connect to Wi-Fi.


The go to Disk Utility > View > Show All Devices, and erase the topmost device (not volumes under it) as MacOS Extended (GUID) case insensitive if it a HDD or APFS if it is a SSD.


Switch to macOS install, select the freshly formatted disk and install. This might take 60 minutes or so depending on the Wi-Fi download speed.


Notice that Mojave and later need APFS which is very slow on a spinning old HDD. If that is the case, you might want to replace the HDD with a SSD drive.

Jun 27, 2025 11:04 AM in response to Macmama1234

Macmama1234 wrote:

This is what I see now

Use the Fix #3 below "Change the NVRAM Software Update URL".


https://mrmacintosh.com/how-to-fix-the-recovery-server-could-not-be-contacted-error-high-sierra-recovery-is-still-online-but-broken/


So: search and copy and edit from the "Installer Log" the text and edit it as below to the Terminal when you are in Internet Recovery mode. After that the High Sierra installer should work (just tested it a few days ago). After installing you might want to reset PRAM back to its to its default (it might be a good idea to reset PRAM also before trying that workaround).


nvram IASUCatalogURL="http://swscan.apple.com/content/catalogs/others/index-10.13-10.12-10.11-10.10-10.9-mountainlion-lion-snowleopard-leopard.merged-1.sucatalog"

Jun 27, 2025 10:13 PM in response to Macmama1234

It seems you again in Yosemite Recovery install via Command-R, NOT in High Sierra Internet Recovery mode via Option-Command-R as you should (again reset PRAM if needed).


It should work if you follow those instructions to the letter and in order. Like this:


Open Install macOS High Sierra > Window > Installer Log


Click macOS High Sierra > [right arrow] Continue [so you see "The recovery server could not be contacted." error]


The should be lots of text in the Installer Log window so if you can't readily find the needed text, do a search for some phrase like "swscan.apple.com" via the search Filter.


From the Installer Log copy text:


https://swscan.apple.com/content/catalogs/others/index-10.13-10.12-10.11-10.10-10.9-mountainlion-lion-snowleopard-leopard.merged-1.sucatalog


Edit that to (add "nvram IASUCatalogURL=" to the beginning and remove s from https and put quotes to the beginning and end of the URL):


nvram IASUCatalogURL="http://swscan.apple.com/content/catalogs/others/index-10.13-10.12-10.11-10.10-10.9-mountainlion-lion-snowleopard-leopard.merged-1.sucatalog"


Then press "Return" and "exit" to end the Terminal session.


Then again click macOS High Sierra > [right arrow] Continue: Now it should work as expected.


...this error has soon been going on for three years and is a FAQ here. I hope Apple would finally fix this so these clumsy instructions were not needed anymore...

This thread has been closed by the system or the community team. You may vote for any posts you find helpful, or search the Community for additional answers.

Can’t install OS in my MacBook after erasing and trying a reset

Welcome to Apple Support Community
A forum where Apple customers help each other with their products. Get started with your Apple Account.