Installed new hard drive but cannot install macos

[trentklein]

My 2011 iMac's hard drive recently failed(I believe) so I just installed a new hard drive. My problem now is, the iMacs did not com with an os disc I believe. I tried using one from my old macbook from 2009, but that said it wasnt compatible. Is there a way to download it and put it on a usb boot drive? 

[xAcid9]

6 minutes ago, trentklein said:

My 2011 iMac's hard drive recently failed(I believe) so I just installed a new hard drive. My problem now is, the iMacs did not com with an os disc I believe. I tried using one from my old macbook from 2009, but that said it wasnt compatible. Is there a way to download it and put it on a usb boot drive? 

Not possible to do internet recovery? 

Quote

To enter this mode at any time, do the following:

1) In the Apple menu, choose Restart or power on your Mac.

2) As the computer restarts, hold down the Command (⌘) – Option (⌥) – R combination immediately upon hearing the startup chime.

 

[SupaKomputa]

i don't think  you can install older mac version for newer hardware, since the hardware is not listed in the installer library.

You should download the most recent mac supported for your imac.

And then you must burn it in another mac to a dvd or flash drive.
Or find a preburned dvd on ebay.

[trentklein]

Just now, xAcid9 said:

Not possible to do internet recovery for you? 

 

I tried but it just sits at 24 hours remaining. Looking further I guess only 2012 mac's and up can do that?

[trentklein]

1 minute ago, SupaKomputa said:

i don't think  you can install older mac version for newer hardware, since the hardware is not listed in the installer library.

You should download the most recent mac supported for your imac.

And then you must burn it in another mac to a dvd or flash drive.
Or find a preburned dvd on ebay.

If that's the case I'm sol Haha

 

[xAcid9]

1 minute ago, trentklein said:

I tried but it just sits at 24 hours remaining. Looking further I guess only 2012 mac's and up can do that?

Quote

 

If your Mac is one of the models listed below, or older, you may upgrade it to use macOS Internet Recovery by downloading and installing an updated EFI Firmware ROM https://support.apple.com/HT201518 :

MacBook Pro (13-inch, Early 2011)
MacBook Pro (15-inch, Early 2011)
MacBook Pro (17-inch, Early 2011)
iMac (21.5-inch, Mid 2011)
iMac (27-inch, Mid 2011)
MacBook (13-inch, Mid 2010)
MacBook Pro (13-inch, Mid 2010)
Mac mini (Mid 2010)
MacBook Pro (15-inch and 17-inch, Mid 2010)
iMac (21.5-inch and 27-inch, Mid 2010)
MacBook Air (11-inch and 13-inch, Late 2010)
Newer machines running at least OS X Lion support Internet Recovery out of the box.

 

https://www.idownloadblog.com/2016/02/25/how-to-start-up-your-mac-in-internet-recovery-mode/

[SupaKomputa]

2 minutes ago, trentklein said:

If that's the case I'm sol Haha

 

I think you can find a "vanilla" Mac OS 10.13.xx (high sierra) straight from app store in another mac and then burn it.

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201372

[trentklein]

2 minutes ago, SupaKomputa said:

I think you can find a "vanilla" Mac OS 10.13.xx (high sierra) straight from app store in another mac and then burn it.

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201372

Dont I need another mac to do so?

[SupaKomputa]

1 minute ago, trentklein said:

Dont I need another mac to do so?

I think so, you can burn mac installers in windows using Transmac.

[trentklein]

Just now, SupaKomputa said:

I think so, you can burn mac installers in windows using Transmac.

I'll try that!