User profile for user: CarkBodstop
CarkBodstop Author
User level: Level 1
8 points

2011 Macbook Pr hard drive erase and OS x re-install

So, i decided to erase my wife hard drive on her MBP 2011, thinking that it would help somehow, but then when i was prompted to re-install OS x from the disk utility, it didn't work correctly. It downloaded and installed, but then gave me a warning saying it didn't work. Now every time i start up it goes directly to recovery mode "disk utility" and i can't do anything.


When i re-boot in safe mode, the terminal finally says "to boot system: $ exit "

i have no idea what that means and not sure what other commands to give the system in terminal.

Posted on Jul 22, 2020 4:05 PM

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User profile for user: John Galt
John Galt
User level: Level 10
153,014 points

Posted on Jul 23, 2020 7:05 AM

If you are not successful, be sure to erase the entire device according to How to erase a disk for Mac - Apple Support.


I have tried to erase the base system hard drive ...


Don't just erase the "base system". Follow the first set of instructions; those under How to erase your disk. Follow them exactly as written, but do not choose APFS. Choose one of the Mac OS Extended (Journaled) formats. Operating systems as well as macOS Recovery versions prior to Mojave do not recognize AFPS at all.

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User profile for user: John Galt
John Galt
User level: Level 10
153,014 points

Jul 23, 2020 7:05 AM in response to CarkBodstop

If you are not successful, be sure to erase the entire device according to How to erase a disk for Mac - Apple Support.


I have tried to erase the base system hard drive ...


Don't just erase the "base system". Follow the first set of instructions; those under How to erase your disk. Follow them exactly as written, but do not choose APFS. Choose one of the Mac OS Extended (Journaled) formats. Operating systems as well as macOS Recovery versions prior to Mojave do not recognize AFPS at all.

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User profile for user: John Galt
John Galt
User level: Level 10
153,014 points

Jul 22, 2020 7:42 PM in response to CarkBodstop

Describe what happens when you use Disk Utility. Why can't you do anything.


When i re-boot in safe mode, the terminal finally says "to boot system: $ exit "


That is Single User Mode. To boot Safe Mode: Use safe mode to isolate issues with your Mac. If there is no operating system though, Safe Mode won't help.

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2011 Macbook Pr hard drive erase and OS x re-install

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