Reinstall macOS 10.15 Catalina

[TJack]

I was trying reinstalling Mac OS Catalina in Recovery Mode and I almost got done and got this error code twice:

macos catalina recovery error code the operation could not be completed (pkdownload error 8)

I was using Command-R Option

Any Help his appreciated.

 

[chscag]

I guess we first need to ask... why are you reinstalling Catalina? Is there some problem with it?

 

[TJack]

Yup I had problems with Auto Dark Mode changing and the system has become some what unstable crashed at least twice. Also I have a 2017 21.5 iMac.

 

[ferrarr]

Also, it may help to provide some info about your Mac you’re having the issue with?


Sent from my iPad using Mac-Forums

 

[chscag]

Yup I had problems with Auto Dark Mode changing and the system has become some what unstable crashed at least twice. Also I have a 2017 21.5 iMac.

The Auto Dark Mode has been reported not to work correctly with some installations, so you're not alone with that. Apple will have a fix for that probably with 10.15.1.

What do you mean by become unstable?

In any event, I'm not sure about reinstalling Catalina from Recovery (Cmd+R). As you may have found out, Catalina divides your Macintosh HD into two separate containers; one for the system which is read only, the other for data which includes your Home folder. I honestly do not know what would be involved when trying to reinstall from Recovery.

 

[TJack]

Imac 21.5 2017 Model and I do have Catalina and supplement installed.

 

[TJack]

It has crashed a couple of times not sure of the reason. I looked at the Crash Report and it l could not make any sense of it(I am an old Windows guy since Win 3.0) just changed last year. I would say it crashed to the Windows Equivalent of the Blue Screen of death or in a Black Screen in Mac. I was watching Hulu at the time in Safari when it happened this time and before when I shutting it down. If all of this helps.

 

[chscag]

It sounds like you experienced kernel panics. We would need to see the entire kernel panic log to try to determine what caused it. Copy the log to your next reply:

Kernel Panic Logs

When your Mac restarts after a kernel panic, the panic text is added to the log files that your Mac keeps.

You can use the Console app located at Applications > Utilities to view the crash logs.

Launch Console. In the Console app sidebar, select the folder named Library/Logs.

Let us know.

 

[TJack]

Hate to say it I looked in the console and I could not find a Log on Kernel Panic

 

[chscag]

Okay, if it happens again just follow the directions above to gain access to the logs. Remember, when you launch the Console app you need to look on the sidebar for "Library/Logs". When you select that, you should see the crash logs/kernel panic logs. Just highlight the log, press command c to copy. Then paste here with command v. If you know all that, disregard my instructions.