How to get an OS on an old MacBook Air

bageljoeybageljoey
Posted:
in Genius Bar
I got a mid 2012 Air from my brother.  I thought it would be a good beater for my son.  My brother wiped the HD before giving it to me.  Now I can't get an OS on the thing!
Internet restore sets up fine and says it will load Lion onto it, but then it says "Can't download additional files necessary..." and craps out.

Im sure there is a simple answer, but I don't know it..  
any help?

Comments

  • Reply 1 of 8
    jdb8167jdb8167 Posts: 627member
    You might try taking it to an Apple Store. What you did should have worked. I wonder if Lion is no longer available. Make an appointment at an Apple Store and see if they can help.
  • Reply 2 of 8
    mtlion2020mtlion2020 Posts: 70member
    Loin osx is pre-2012 try Mountain Loin or El Captain through internet recovery.
    buy keep trying somehow the reinstall will work!
  • Reply 3 of 8
    Msd3kMsd3k Posts: 4unconfirmed, member
    Try installing a later OS via the methods described here:

    https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204904

    mtlion2020
  • Reply 4 of 8
    bageljoeybageljoey Posts: 2,008member
    Msd3k said:
    Try installing a later OS via the methods described here:

    https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204904

    This is exactly what I have been doing!  Internet Recovery comes up fine and the choice to reinstall the OS selects fine. Then it stops and says some files cannot be downloaded and I got nothing...
  • Reply 5 of 8
    bageljoeybageljoey Posts: 2,008member

    mtlion2020 said:
    Loin osx is pre-2012 try Mountain Loin or El Captain through internet recovery.
    buy keep trying somehow the reinstall will work!
    It seems to default to Lion through Internet Recovery. I don’t see anywhere to chose a different version of the OS...
  • Reply 6 of 8
    mtlion2020mtlion2020 Posts: 70member
    bageljoey said:
    Msd3k said:
    Try installing a later OS via the methods described here:

    https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204904

    This is exactly what I have been doing!  Internet Recovery comes up fine and the choice to reinstall the OS selects fine. Then it stops and says some files cannot be downloaded and I got nothing...
    how far do you get? did you enter the region? did the OSX download and start to install with the time remaining  indicator?
    apple did apple things to these older macbooks and re0installs in october think we will buy new laptops.
    i
  • Reply 7 of 8
    bageljoeybageljoey Posts: 2,008member
    mtlion2020 said:
    bageljoey said:
    Msd3k said:
    Try installing a later OS via the methods described here:

    https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204904

    This is exactly what I have been doing!  Internet Recovery comes up fine and the choice to reinstall the OS selects fine. Then it stops and says some files cannot be downloaded and I got nothing...
    how far do you get? did you enter the region? did the OSX download and start to install with the time remaining  indicator?
    apple did apple things to these older macbooks and re0installs in october think we will buy new laptops.
    i
    The os downloads and begins to install. Everything seems to be on track. The time remaining indicator fluctuates between 0 and a few thousand hours and then it says it can’t download some extra files and stops. 
  • Reply 8 of 8
    mtlion2020mtlion2020 Posts: 70member
    try installing el captain  on usb: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT206886
    then
    https://www.macworld.com/article/2986158/how-to-install-os-x-el-capitan.html
    or
    http://osxdaily.com/2015/09/30/create-os-x-el-capitan-boot-install-drive/

    keep us posted
    DancingMonkeys
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