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User profile for user: zsvnc
zsvnc Author
User level: Level 1
11 points

Wrong Restore. Please Help (Very Urgent)

My MAC came with Catalina, when the constant BigSur update notification came, I got bored and installed BigSur. However, I was not satisfied at all. And I wanted to return to Catalina with the restore. I previously backed up with the time machine in Catalina. I booted the Mac with COMMAND + R and selected restore with time machine. When the restore finished I tried to turn on the mac but the problem started here. The apple logo appeared and the mac was closing. Then you learned that downgrading was not like that. I installed Catalina backup on BigSur. Now the mac does not open. I can only connect to COMMAND + R. I tried to restore the bigsur backup again but this time when I turn the mac back on, the automatic COMMAND + R screen pops up. Moreover, without pressing these keys. The version doesn't matter anymore. Catalina or Bigsur accepted. Just let the MAC work. All my work is left unfinished. Please help.

iMac 27″, macOS 11.2

Posted on Apr 17, 2021 10:27 AM

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User profile for user: Jack-19
Jack-19
User level: Level 8
46,020 points

Posted on Apr 17, 2021 11:51 PM

Hi zsvnc,


Let's try Internet Recovery. This will erase all data!

  1. Shut off the Mac. (if on)
  2. Connect to Ethernet, if possible.
  3. Turn on the Mac, and immediately press and hold Option + Command + R until you see a spinning globe.
  4. Once you are in macOS Recovery, verify you are connected to WiFi in the top right corner.
  5. Go to Disk Utility.
  6. Select "View" in the toolbar —> "Show All Devices".
  7. Select your main hard drive or SSD. This will either be the top, non indented hard drive. 
  8. Click Erase, and input the following exactly: (If you cannot select erase on the main hard drive, erase the "Container" or “Macintosh HD”.)
  9. Name: Macintosh HD
  10. Format: APFS
  11. Scheme: GUID Partition Map (if shown)
  12. Click "Erase". If “Erase Volume Group” is shown, use that instead. 
  13. Quit Disk Utility
  14. Go to the reinstall macOS app.
  15. Follow the prompts, and install on Macintosh HD.
  16. Let macOS install. Use Setup Assistant to restore data from your Time Machine backup.


Cheers,


Jack

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User profile for user: Jack-19
Jack-19
User level: Level 8
46,020 points

Apr 17, 2021 11:51 PM in response to zsvnc

Hi zsvnc,


Let's try Internet Recovery. This will erase all data!

  1. Shut off the Mac. (if on)
  2. Connect to Ethernet, if possible.
  3. Turn on the Mac, and immediately press and hold Option + Command + R until you see a spinning globe.
  4. Once you are in macOS Recovery, verify you are connected to WiFi in the top right corner.
  5. Go to Disk Utility.
  6. Select "View" in the toolbar —> "Show All Devices".
  7. Select your main hard drive or SSD. This will either be the top, non indented hard drive. 
  8. Click Erase, and input the following exactly: (If you cannot select erase on the main hard drive, erase the "Container" or “Macintosh HD”.)
  9. Name: Macintosh HD
  10. Format: APFS
  11. Scheme: GUID Partition Map (if shown)
  12. Click "Erase". If “Erase Volume Group” is shown, use that instead. 
  13. Quit Disk Utility
  14. Go to the reinstall macOS app.
  15. Follow the prompts, and install on Macintosh HD.
  16. Let macOS install. Use Setup Assistant to restore data from your Time Machine backup.


Cheers,


Jack

Reply
User profile for user: Jack-19
Jack-19
User level: Level 8
46,020 points

Apr 18, 2021 1:25 AM in response to zsvnc

You need to erase the whole drive. This is the top, NON indented drive (typically). It is usually either "APPLE HDD", "APPLE SSD", or "Fusion Drive". (You may need to select "View" --> "Show All Devices").


If it says "Fusion Drive", erase the "Container".


If this still doesn't help, please respond with a photo of Disk Utility.


Cheers,


Jack

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Wrong Restore. Please Help (Very Urgent)

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