Computer help

[mx_599]

I suppose you do not have a time machine backup.
You could try recovery mode BUT I am not 100% sure of data recovery.
It should keep your files if you do not erase or format your drive.

Might be your only option.

gosh, I thought this wouldn’t be hard? should I take it to a professional so I don’t mess it up?

[mx_599]

I never really did anything. Its not as simple as getting to bios and stop the cycle of it trying to update itself?

[PeterOz]

thought this wouldn’t be hard? should I take it to a professional so I don’t mess it up?

You should be able to do it.

ts not as simple as getting to bios and stop the cycle of it trying to update itself?

Macs do not have a bios

[mx_599]

You should be able to do it.

Macs do not have a bios

How about the bootable ubuntu thing?

[PeterOz]

maybe Transmac will work
Do you have access to windows
Recovery should work but if you want to be sure
Let me look at Transmac ang I will test

[PeterOz]

I have another idea, and I have found some instructions.
You install High Sierra on an external drive and boot from that.
Read this.

https://support.apple.com/en-au/111336

Any doubts ask first.

[mx_599]

maybe Transmac will work
Do you have access to windows
Recovery should work but if you want to be sure
Let me look at Transmac ang I will test

I really appreciate any help you can give. Not in any major hurry so whenever you have time to hold my hand through this process
I have a windows laptop and my current desktop that is new that I converted from windows to Ubuntu

[mx_599]

I have another idea, and I have found some instructions.
You install High Sierra on an external drive and boot from that.
Read this.

https://support.apple.com/en-au/111336

Any doubts ask first.

Okay, I can investigate this first. Would this be similar to how I had to make an Ubuntu thumb drive to put this Ubuntu on my new computer?

So can I use a USB thumb drive to do this and any idea how large the drive needs to be? Or maybe that’s all in the link you gave me.

Anyway, please don’t abandon this thread. I will look into this in the next days
thanks very much for your time!

[PeterOz]

Did you click on my link in post # 21

[PeterOz]

So can I use a USB thumb drive to do this and any idea how large the drive needs to be

Let me check.
The last time I used this method I used an external drive.

[PeterOz]

I think you need a usb stick of 128gb
Do you have any external drives?
You can get hold of a USB flash stick pretty cheaply, such as this San Disk USB Type-C drive with 128GB

What size thumb drive do you have?
I have found another article that says 15gb.
I need to test.
I will come back.

Anyway, please don’t abandon this thread

That won’t happen

[mx_599]

I think you need a usb stick of 128gb
Do you have any external drives?

What size thumb drive do you have?
I have found another article that says 15gb.
I need to test.
I will come back.

That won’t happen

Oh gosh, that’s okay. Let me try to stumble through that link you sent. I think I have usb drives that size or I will order a new one. Give me a few days to try this stuff

When this is all said and done, can I convert the Mac to Ubuntu? I still really like the computer you are helping me with. I basically just use the internet so that is probably why old computer was still good enough.
Or do some people just leave the thumb drive in and always boot from that?

[PeterOz]

I will order a new one

If you can afford it you would be better off with an external drive.
You can then use it for time machine after we get you up and going.

can I convert the Mac to Ubuntu

Yes
But we need to get your files first.

Or do some people just leave the thumb drive in and always boot from that?

Yes but it runs better from drive.
Are you getting emails that tell you we have posted a reply?

[PeterOz]

Don’t buy anything yet.
Let me test first.

[mx_599]

Don’t buy anything yet.
Let me test first.

Okay, thanks PeterOz
No rush, let me know when you have a chance
Yes, hopefully after we are successful with this you guys can tell me what regimen/external drive I should have so this won’t be an issue again

Yes, I think I am getting the email notification now for the threads