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wiping my Macbook pro

Why does the certificate that came with my 2017 MacBook Pro Mojave expire in a mere 5 years, and why can't I reinstall the original mac OS if the certificate is expired? How do I reinstall the original OS that came with the computer? Shift-option Command R upon startup did not offer me this. Command R on startup won't let me install because my certificate is expired.


Posted on Nov 20, 2022 9:40 PM

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Posted on Nov 21, 2022 9:27 AM

wilburhogan wrote:

...but do I depress option command R during the long internet recovery part (with the spinning globe) or later when the apple logo shows up?

You would press this key combination, immediately after applying power to your Mac. You would hold these keys down until you see the "spinning globe," and then, release them so your Mac will go into Internet Recovery Mode.


What I really want to do is just wipe all personal content from the computer but leave the operating system on it so that it will start up for the family member I am giving this computer to. Is it true that there is no way to do this except to wipe and reinstall the OS?

It would be similar to preparing your Mac to be sold or given away. The following Apple Support article would provide you the step-by-step instructions.


However, you could have had another option. However, it would have required that your Mac is currently running macOS Monterey (or newer) and has a T2 security chip ... which, unfortunately your 2017 laptop does not.


... so to be sure you completely remove your "presence" from this laptop, you will need to completely erase it, and then, reinstall macOS.



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3 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Nov 21, 2022 9:27 AM in response to wilburhogan

wilburhogan wrote:

...but do I depress option command R during the long internet recovery part (with the spinning globe) or later when the apple logo shows up?

You would press this key combination, immediately after applying power to your Mac. You would hold these keys down until you see the "spinning globe," and then, release them so your Mac will go into Internet Recovery Mode.


What I really want to do is just wipe all personal content from the computer but leave the operating system on it so that it will start up for the family member I am giving this computer to. Is it true that there is no way to do this except to wipe and reinstall the OS?

It would be similar to preparing your Mac to be sold or given away. The following Apple Support article would provide you the step-by-step instructions.


However, you could have had another option. However, it would have required that your Mac is currently running macOS Monterey (or newer) and has a T2 security chip ... which, unfortunately your 2017 laptop does not.


... so to be sure you completely remove your "presence" from this laptop, you will need to completely erase it, and then, reinstall macOS.



Nov 20, 2022 9:50 PM in response to wilburhogan

Sorry, but what "certificate" are you referring to? A 2017 MacBook Pro would have come with macOS Sierra (10.12.5).


As far as the Recovery Mode key combinations:

  • <option><command><R>: Upgrade to the latest macOS that is compatible with your Mac.
    • If you haven't updated to macOS 10.12.4+, this command will install the macOS that came with your Mac, or the version closest to it that is still available.
  • <shift><option><command><R>: macOS 10.12.4+ only. Installs the macOS that came with your Mac, or the version closest to it that is still available.

Nov 20, 2022 10:10 PM in response to Tesserax

Thank you so much for your advice. I apologize that I need such detailed literal instructions, but do I depress option command R during the long internet recovery part (with the spinning globe) or later when the apple logo shows up? I did option command R during the apple logo part and the Recovery mode is offering only macOS Ventura, which I think is too new for this computer. What I really want to do is just wipe all personal content from the computer but leave the operating system on it so that it will start up for the family member I am giving this computer to. Is it true that there is no way to do this except to wipe and reinstall the OS? What am I doing wrong?


wiping my Macbook pro

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