Did Apple block HS installation for 2018 MBP ?

[bo-waleed]

By a security update or something ?

Each time I try to boot from my HS bootable USB I got a black screen and a circle with a line through it.

Like this:

If your Mac starts up to a circle with a line through it - Apple Support

A circle with a line through it means that your startup disk contains a Mac operating system, but it's not a macOS that your Mac can use.

support.apple.com

According to Apple: It's a macOS that my Mac can't use it.




And oh yeah, I finally got my hand on HS and this happens now, lol. (look at my other thread)
I got it from my older Mac at App Store and then made it a bootable drive.

 

[Snørrbjørg]

You cant install older macOS than what you had installed on your MBP when delivered. Always been like that.

 

[bo-waleed]

You cant install older macOS than what you had installed on your MBP when delivered. Always been like that.

It was delivered with HS 10.3.6

I remember exactly the first time I opened my Mac and it was on Aug 31, Mojava wasn't released at that time.

 

[ssmed]

The specifications for both the 13 and 15" 2018 MBP state they came with Mojave!

MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2018, Four Thunderbolt 3 ports) - Technical Specifications – Apple Support (UK)

support.apple.com

MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2018) - Technical Specifications – Apple Support (UK)

support.apple.com

What is installed if you do an internet rescue install?

 

[bo-waleed]

The specifications for both the 13 and 15" 2018 MBP state they came with Mojave!

MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2018, Four Thunderbolt 3 ports) - Technical Specifications – Apple Support (UK)

support.apple.com

MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2018) - Technical Specifications – Apple Support (UK)

support.apple.com

What is installed if you do an internet rescue install?

If I do Option+Cmd+R Catalina appears.

But when I do Shift+Option+Cmd+R it always end up with -1008f error.

I tried the solution found here and no luck:

If your Mac starts up to error -1008F - Apple Support (KW)

Your Mac tried unsuccessfully to start up from macOS Recovery over the internet.

support.apple.com

 

[ssmed]

I think apple are having problems with their authentication servers from other posts on here. I would just hang on 24 hours before doing anything desparate.

 

[bo-waleed]

I think apple are having problems with their authentication servers from other posts on here. I would just hang on 24 hours before doing anything desparate.

Well, I did get desperate myself, lol.

But I am already over it and I am happy to stay on Mojave now.

And the issue lasted too many days, maybe a week ago.

 

[CoastalOR]

By a security update or something ?

Each time I try to boot from my HS bootable USB I got a black screen and a circle with a line through it.

Like this:

If your Mac starts up to a circle with a line through it - Apple Support

A circle with a line through it means that your startup disk contains a Mac operating system, but it's not a macOS that your Mac can use.

support.apple.com

According to Apple: It's a macOS that my Mac can't use it.




And oh yeah, I finally got my hand on HS and this happens now, lol. (look at my other thread)
I got it from my older Mac at App Store and then made it a bootable drive.

I think your problem with High Sierra is an unfortunate timing issue.
Mactracker app shows that the 2018 MBP was released with 10.13.6 Build 17G2112 on July 12, 2018. I believe this is a special version with drivers to support the new 2018 MBP hardware.
The original release of 10.13.6 was July 9, 2018 Build 17G65.
Note the release dates and Build numbers.

I don't have an answer on how you would get the special build of High Sierra to support you MBP, so it is good you are now happy to stay with Mojave.

 

[chrfr]

Well, I did get desperate myself, lol.

But I am already over it and I am happy to stay on Mojave now.

And the issue lasted too many days, maybe a week ago.

You can reinstall High Sierra by starting into internet recovery using the key commands command-option-shift-r. This will get you the special version that the 2018 MBP requires. The -1008F error is related to not being able to connect to the internet.

 

[chrfr]

The specifications for both the 13 and 15" 2018 MBP state they came with Mojave!

The 2018 MBPs were released several months before Mojave was released.

 

[bo-waleed]

The -1008F error is related to not being able to connect to the internet.

I tried using my routers 2 wifi spots, I mean the 2.4ghz and 5ghz.
Even wired connection using USBC to USB to Ethernet.

And it didn't work.

It's weird because the commands 'command-option-r' does work but with the shift it doesn't.

 

[chrfr]

I tried using my routers 2 wifi spots, I mean the 2.4ghz and 5ghz.
Even wired connection using USBC to USB to Ethernet.

And it didn't work.

It's weird because the commands 'command-option-r' does work but with the shift it doesn't.

I just tested this with my 2018 13” and had the same -1008F error.
If you do want to get the 10.13.6 installer for the 2018 MBP you can use the script here and run it with the command

installinstallmacos.py --catalogurl https://swscan.apple.com/content/catalogs/others/index-10.13-10.12-10.11-10.10-10.9-mountainlion-lion-snowleopard-leopard.merged-1.sucatalog

Then, select the 17G2208 build of High Sierra. The catch is that you must run the script on a 2018 MBP or it will fail to download this particular build. This special build doesn't show in the default catalog anymore which is why it's failing to download from recovery.

 

[bo-waleed]

I just tested this with my 2018 13” and had the same -1008F error.
If you do want to get the 10.13.6 installer for the 2018 MBP you can use the script here and run it with the command

installinstallmacos.py --catalogurl https://swscan.apple.com/content/catalogs/others/index-10.13-10.12-10.11-10.10-10.9-mountainlion-lion-snowleopard-leopard.merged-1.sucatalog

Then, select the 17G2208 build of High Sierra. The catch is that you must run the script on a 2018 MBP or it will fail to download this particular build. This special build doesn't show in the default catalog anymore which is why it's failing to download from recovery.

I would appreciate if you explain the steps for doing this, I am no expert about these stuff.

I should download the script first then enter that code you mentioned in terminal ? Or where ?

And should I have a bootable USB connecting when doing that ?

 

[chrfr]

I would appreciate if you explain the steps for doing this, I am no expert about these stuff.

I should download the script first then enter that code you mentioned in terminal ? Or where ?

And should I have a bootable USB connecting when doing that ?

Yes, you’d download that script and enter that command in terminal from the directory where the script is located. This will make a disk image with the installer on it. You can then use that installer to make a USB drive.

 

[bo-waleed]

I

 

[bo-waleed]

Yes, you’d download that script and enter that command in terminal from the directory where the script is located. This will make a disk image with the installer on it. You can then use that installer to make a USB drive.

I didn't understand that.

I opened the directory 'macadmin-scripts-main', and then lunched Terminal from the application folder then entered that command, But it says: -Bash installinstallmacos.py command not found.

 

[chrfr]

I didn't understand that.

I opened the directory 'macadmin-scripts-main', and then lunched Terminal from the application folder then entered that command, But it says: -Bash installinstallmacos.py command not found.

Move the script itself, not the entire macadamin-scripts folder to /Users/Shared and then run the following:

sudo /Users/Shared/installinstallmacos.py --catalogurl https://swscan.apple.com/content/catalogs/others/index-10.13-10.12-10.11-10.10-10.9-mountainlion-lion-snowleopard-leopard.merged-1.sucatalog

Putting the script in /Users/Shared will work around Apple's restrictions on apps writing to the Downloads folder and other protected directories.

 

[bo-waleed]

Move the script itself, not the entire macadamin-scripts folder to /Users/Shared and then run the following:

sudo /Users/Shared/installinstallmacos.py --catalogurl https://swscan.apple.com/content/catalogs/others/index-10.13-10.12-10.11-10.10-10.9-mountainlion-lion-snowleopard-leopard.merged-1.sucatalog

Putting the script in /Users/Shared will work around Apple's restrictions on apps writing to the Downloads folder and other protected directories.

Finally did it and made it bootable, I will stop for now and install it tomorrow.

That was a useful tool, Will it work for any Mac ? Even the Silicon ones ?


BTW, Did you try Command+r that boots to recovery mode ?
I am saying this because when I do that command it boots to internet recovery and not the internal one, And it's always ends up with the -1008f error.

 

[chrfr]

That was a useful tool, Will it work for any Mac ? Even the Silicon ones ?

That script just downloads installers. At this point, the M1 Macs use the same Big Sur installers as Intel Macs, so this would work on the M1 Mac too.