To perform a clean re-install in Catalina, once in Recovery Mode, you need to delete your Data volume, that’s the one named Macintosh HD - Data, or something similar if you’re using a custom name, and to erase your System volume. Access System Preferences Startup Disk and choose your Catalina installer. Restart your Mac and hold Command-R. Connect your bootable USB. In the macOS Utilities window, click Reinstall a new copy of macOS. Click Continue and agree to the terms and conditions. Select your startup drive and click Install. Erase and reinstall macOS You can restore your Mac to factory settings by erasing your Mac, then using macOS Recovery, the built-in recovery system on your Mac, to reinstall macOS. Important: Erasing the volume removes all the information from it. Before you start, back up your essential files and information to another storage device.

I am prepping my 2015 MacBook to return for trade on new M1 Air. I have erased the drive using Disk Utility and then used the MacOS Utilities to reinstall MacOS Catalina. I have followed the support instructions precisely and run the reinstall MacOS utility twice. Each time I get the error message “Could not create a preboot volume for APFS install”.

Disk Utility shows Macintosh HD as an APFS Volume with 2 Disk Image Volumes: macOS Base System (Mac OS Extended) and InstallESD (Mac OS Extended) The Macintosh HD volume is 250.69 GB, with 15.99 GB used and 232.95 GB free. The disk image volume macOS Base System shows 2 GB total with 1.35 GB used and 658.4 MB free. The disk image volume InstallESD shows 7.89 GB total with 7.77 GB used and 120.6 MB free.

Reinstall Macos Catalina Not Working

I've already got the new MB Air and the return mailer for the trade. How do I fix this?

Reinstall Macos Catalina

MacBook

Clean Install Macos Catalina

Posted on Dec 3, 2020 6:59 AM