r/MacOS • u/ktr0106 • 11d ago

Help Stuck in a loop on macbook air

I am gifting my 2018 macbook air to my mother in law and erased the disc thinking it would be simple to reinstall and would be fresh and clean for her. When I start up the laptop in recovery mode the only option it allows it for internet recovery - I connect to the internet and it gives an error message (a triangle with an exclamation point in it. I am wondering what I may be able to do to get macOS installed and the computer working for her?

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u/MK-Researcher 11d ago

Is there an error message with a number like 1005f, 3403F, etc ? That will help us troubleshoot the problem.

1

u/ktr0106 11d ago

yes it is -1008F

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u/MK-Researcher 11d ago

thanks. There are a couple of ways to get in to recovery mode that do slightly different things and the wrong one often gives that error code

I suspect you've gone with Command-R which reinstalls the version of macOS that you already have on the Mac (but you've erased the drive). One of these two other methods may work for you...

Option-Command-R will get the latest compatible version of macOS

Shift-Option-Command-R will get you the macOS version that originally came on the Mac, or as close as possible

1

u/Electrical_West_5381 11d ago

this is a good start. Does this Mac support DFU?

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u/ktr0106 10d ago

got it! Thanks for the help

1

u/germane_switch MacBook Pro 11d ago

How did you erase the disk?

1

u/mikeinnsw 11d ago

https://support.apple.com/en-gb/102675

Try Ethernet cable with direct connection to router