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iris-ivys Author

Level 1

4 points

Prohibitory Symbol after turning off Mac due to 'could not create a preboot volume for APFS install' error upon reinstall.

Trying to give away/landfill my 21.5 inch, late 2009 IMac, previously installed with high sierra, 10.13.6.

I attempted to reset it by going into disk utilities and erasing the disk, then reinstalling high sierra, but I was met with a 'could not create a preboot volume for APFS install' error. So, as per this Reddit post (https://www.reddit.com/r/MacOS/comments/9hal15/could_not_create_a_preboot_volume_for_apfs_install/) I restarted the mac from recovery mode and tried to boot it into internet recovery mode. Either it doesn't exist for macs this old or I'm pressing the wrong keys but it will simply just boot, no loading screens into the Prohibitory Symbol. I tried to boot it into normal recovery mode but it just ends up on the Prohibitory Symbol no matter what I do.

It will probably end up in landfill, but I'd like to atleast try to give it a second life..

Thanks!

Earlier Mac models

Posted on Apr 25, 2023 12:50 AM

Top-ranking reply

BDAqua

Level 10

245,477 points

Posted on Apr 25, 2023 1:28 AM

Try the bolded method yet?

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.

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Prohibitory Symbol after turning off Mac due to 'could not create a preboot volume for APFS install' error upon reinstall.

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