Oct 21, 2019 This installer fails because it won’t overwrite a newer OS. I’m running patched Catalina on a 2010 Mac Pro. I tried installing the Mojave recovery partition using this script after the Catalina version gave me the circle-slash upon recovery startup (OS too new for this computer, circle-slash and shutdown). Here’s the output from the script. 1:First install vmware fusion on a working mac or on a mac you want to install a new version (High sierra or mojava) 2:Download the (high sierra or mojave app from mac app store don't open the app. 3:Create a new vmware machine using the (high sierra or mojave app) (select installation file) wait for it to fully install.
Summary
Whenever there is a new macOS available, the need to reinstall macOS will surge. When you update or reinstall the macOS, the last thing you want is probably losing data on your computer. To reinstall macOS, including the latest Catalina, Mojave, without losing data, you can follow the professional guide to update the OS, which will not cause data loss in most of the case. If you still have worries, back up your Mac in advance or recover the lost files with EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard.
This page covers the full process of how to update and install the latest macOS Catalina, Mojave, etc. on Mac without losing any data. If you need a detailed guide, follow through this page to get the desired macOS installed on your computer now:
Workable Solutions | Step-by-step Troubleshooting |
---|---|
Phrase 1. Preparations | 2GB+ memory and 9GB+ storage space left on Mac > 45% + battery > Connect to internet..Full steps |
Phrase 2. Change a USB port | Start Mac from macOS Recovery > Select 'Reinstall macOS' > 'Continue'..Full steps |
Phrase 3. Recover Lost Data | After macOS installation, run EaseUS Mac data recovery software > Scan and recover lost data..Full steps |
Applies To: macOS Catalina, macOS Mojave, macOS High Sierra, macOS Sierra, or earlier Mac operating systems
The need to update or reinstall your macOS always follow the release of a new operating system, the slow performance of your Mac, or a system crash. When it comes to reinstalling macOS, users biggest concern is losing data on their computer.
The good news is that, if you follow the instructions strictly to update your Mac Operating System, the chance to lose data on your Mac is quite slim, since a reinstallation just needs to create a new copy of the OS, your existing files stored on your Mac won't be lost. Thus, as long as you don't choose to erase your startup disk during the reinstallation, you won't lose files. However, you know what 'Slim' means - it's not 100% safe and is still at the risk of losing some data.
Then how to reinstall macOS without any data loss? To provide a double guarantee to the precious data on your Mac, you can make a copy of the files on your Mac before you perform the reinstallation, or equip your Mac with a data recovery tool that can rescue your data after the reinstallation.
Preparations you Need to Make Before You Reinstall macOS
To reinstall macOS on your computer smoothly. Follow the tips below to prepare your Mac ready for the new macOS update now:
- Leave at least 2GB memory and 8.8 GB storage space on your Mac
- Leave at least 45% battery on your Mac
- Connect Mac to the internet or WiFi
- Update your Mac Apps to the latest versions
- Backup all your personal data and even create backups for your present Mac data through Time Machine
Remember to back up your Mac to an external hard drive for preventing system update failure or unexpected troubles from happening. Then follow the detailed guide below to reinstall Mac OS via macOS Recovery mode, which enables you to reinstall macOS, restore your files from Time Machine, repair or erase a disk, and more.
How to Update & Reinstall macOS Without Losing Data
*Print this page or open this page on another device so you can refer to it later.
Step 1. Start up your Mac from macOS Recovery
- Turn on your Mac and immediately press and hold 'Command + R', 'Option + Command + R', or 'Shift + Option + Command + R'.
- Release the keys when the Apple logo, a spinning globe, or a pop-up for a firmware password appears.
Step 2. Select 'Reinstall macOS' from the Utilities Window and click 'Continue'.
Step 3. Follow the onscreen instructions to select the hard drive you want to install the OS on and start the installation.
Step 4. Don't put your Mac to sleep mode or close its lid during the installation. It's normal to see your Mac restart several times or the screen is white while you reinstall the Mac OS. Just wait patiently for the process to finish.
If data loss occurred after you reinstalled macOS, you can follow the next part to recover your missing files.
Recover Lost Data After macOS Reinstallation
If you have backed up your Mac before the reinstallation, you can retrieve your data from Time Machine, an external hard drive, or somewhere else, depending on the way you used to make the backup. If you haven't created any backups for your Mac, then you'll need the professional Mac data recovery software tool - EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard, to perform data recovery. With the help of this tool, you can easily recover the data lost due to macOS reinstallation:
Step 1. Select the disk location (it can be an internal HDD/SSD or a removable storage device) where you lost data and files. Click the Scan button.
Step 2. EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard for Mac will immediately scan your selected disk volume and display the scanning results on the left pane.
Step 3. In the scan results, select the file(s) and click Recover Now button to have them back.
There are lots of data recovery tools available. But EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard, one of the best Mac data recovery tools, is our pick. It fully supports all macOS systems including the newest Catalina, Mojave, High Sierra, Sierra, EI Capitan, Yosemite etc. It allows you to restore all lost data with simple clicks. Office files, music, videos, emails or other archives can all be restored on your own.
Mac users who seek to upgrade to High Sierra or Mojave from previous versions of Mac OS sometimes encounter the following error: “Computer is missing a firmware partition”. This error, if anything, indicates that the upgrade cannot be effected because of some internal problem with your Mac, and in this article, we offer workable solutions on how to go about solving it.
What is the cause of the “Computer missing a firmware partition” error?
Just like many PC problems, this particular error could result from any number of things. Your computer could be low on storage space, for instance, or a malware infection might have interfered with system settings, or perhaps a piece of the Mac’s hardware is damaged or not properly configured. To troubleshoot as many problems as possible, it is recommended to first try a Mac repair tool such as before pursuing any other solution. Outbyte MacRepair will scan your entire system to find and fix any performance-limiting issues that may exist. If the “Computer is missing a firmware partition” error persists even after cleaning your computer with a Mac repair tool, the following other solutions will be of great help to you on the matter.
Check Compatibility
To upgrade to Mac OS High Sierra or to Mojave from previous versions of OS, such as OS X Mountain Lion, your PC must meet several minimum requirements. Apple, for instance, recommends at least 2GB of memory and 14.3 GB of available storage space. However, to be on the safe side, make sure that your computer exceeds these minimum requirements by at least 20%. The following is a list of devices that are compatible with Mac OS High Sierra and Mojave:
- MacBook released 2009 or later.
- MacBook Air released late 2010 or later.
- MacBook Pro released mid-2010 or later.
- Mac mini released mid-2010 or later.
- IMac released late 2009 or later.
- Mac Pro released mid-2010 or later.
If your device is not on the list above, then trying to install the latest versions of iOS on your device will result in failure no matter what you do. You can check whether your device meets these minimum requirements by choosing About this Mac from the Apple Menu.
Update Your Drivers
Drivers are what allows hardware devices to communicate with the operating system. When drivers are out of date or misconfigured, they can cause all sorts of problems on a computer. To make sure drivers are not responsible for the “Computer is missing a firmware partition” error, you will have to update them. To update drivers on the Mac, take the following steps:
- Click on the Apple icon and select App Store.
- Click UPDATE for the specific update that you want or choose UPDATE ALL to make all updates at the same time.
NB: It is important that you always keep your system up to date for security and performance reasons.
Disk Partition For Mac
Bypass Method
The following technique that involves using the Carbon Copy Cloner and VMware Fusion software seems to work in eliminating the error under discussion. Carbon Copy Cloner is a special kind of backup app that can copy the entire operating system and files onto a bootable device, while VMware Fusion is a software hypervisor that allows Intel-based Macs to run other operating systems like Windows and Linux virtually. These software tools can be combined to overcome the “Computer is missing a firmware partition” error. The following is how it is done:
- Install VMware Fusion on your Mac.
- Download Mojave or High Sierra from App Store. Don’t open the app, close it.
- Create a new VMware machine using the OS you have just downloaded.
- Select the installation file and wait for it to be fully installed on your virtual machine.
- Download a copy of Carbon Copy Cloner on the virtual machine.
- Select to copy your virtual machine to a USB drive or an external SSD.
- After it’s done cloning, you will be prompted to create a recovery partition on the USB; accept and wait for it to finish.
- After it’s done, shut down the virtual machine and boot from your USB or external SSD.
- To now install on your internal drive, open Carbon Copy Cloner and select USB as the source and your device as the destination.
- You will be prompted to create a recovery partition; accept and close.
This process will install Mojave or High Sierra OS on your device and bypass the errors that you are experiencing.
Check Your Disks for Damage
It could be that you are experiencing the “Computer is missing a firmware partition” error because of a hardware problem. And if this is the case, you can always troubleshoot hardware issues with the help of Apple Diagnostics.
How to Conduct Apple Hardware Test
- Disconnect all external devices except the mouse, keyboard, and Ethernet connection- where applicable- and power connection.
- Put your Mac on a hard, flat, stable and well-ventilated work surface.
- Shut the Mac down.
- Turn your Mac on and immediately press and hold the D key on the keyboard. Keep holding the D key until the Apple Hardware Test icon appears.
- Select your language preference and then click the right arrow. If you are only using a keyboard, you can use the up and down keys to select the language.
- To begin the test, click the Test button, T on the keyboard or the Return key. If you want to perform a more thorough test, select “Perform extended testing” from the list of options. This will, however, take more time to complete.
- After the test is complete, review the test results that will appear in the lower-right section of the window.
- To quit the Apple Hardware Test, restart your computer or shut it down.
If the results of the test indicate that something is wrong with your hardware, you can choose to replace it, and this will probably do away with the errors that you might be experiencing. If the “Computer is missing a firmware partition” error persists even after all these solutions, you should probably visit a Mac clinic.
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