Month: December 2023

[FIXED] High Sierra “The Recovery Server Could Not Be Contacted” Error. High Sierra Internet Recovery is Still Online, but Broken!

Contrary to popular belief, Apple did not take down the High Sierra Internet Recovery server.

Since the beginning of 2023, macOS High Sierra Internet and local recovery broke. An investigation with OpenCore Legacy Patcher Co-Developer dhinak

Mid 2023, I started to see multiple posts about macOS 10.13 High Sierra recovery not working. We all know about the certificate expiring and date and time issues, but this issue was DIFFERENT. Near the end of 2023, I started investigating the issue. I was able to reproduce it every single time. Sure enough, Local hard drive command R and Internet Recovery are broken with the same “The Recovery Server Could Not Be Contacted” error. What does this mean and can it be fixed?

While I was able to identify the issue and reproduce it, I was not able to come up with an actual fix other than the #2 fix listed below and creating a macOS High Sierra Bootable install USB. Wonder if you only have 1 Mac and can’t create a recovery disk? You are stuck!

So I reached out to OpenCore Legacy Patcher co-author dhinakg. For those that don’t know dhinakg is an expert in all things involving Apple Software Update Server. After some time, he replied with the root issue and a perfect workaround solution! Jump to #1 for an explanation of what the problem is and # for the URL fix.

Thank You

I would like to thank dhinakg for helping me investigate this issue! You can follow him on twitter here = https://twitter.com/dhinakg

Up next? macOS Sierra Recovery install is also broken! who knows if we can also fix this issue.

My full demonstration walkthrough video on how to fix the recovery issue.

Table of contents

  1. What is the root problem?
  2. How to fix the issue?
  3. Fix #1 Boot to a newer version macOS internet Recovery!
  4. Fix #2 Create a macOS High Sierra bootable installer USB
  5. Fix #3 Change the NVRAM Software Update URL
Continue reading “[FIXED] High Sierra “The Recovery Server Could Not Be Contacted” Error. High Sierra Internet Recovery is Still Online, but Broken!”

macOS Sonoma 14.2.1 Update (23C71) What’s New?

macOS Sonoma 14.2.1 – What’s New?

macOS Sonoma 14.2.1 is now Available!

UPDATED: 12/24/23

This article will be continually updated as new information comes in.

Apple just released macOS Sonoma’s 3rd minor release update to the public! Let’s jump in and find out what’s new.

The Sonoma 14.2.1 is a security update that addresses CVE-2023-42940.

WindowServer

Available for: macOS Sonoma

Impact: A user who shares their screen may unintentionally share the incorrect content

Description: A session rendering issue was addressed with improved session tracking.

CVE-2023-42940: Craig Hockenberry

Safari 17.2.1 – Safari was updated for Sonoma, Ventura and Monterey but does NOT address any security fixes. Must be a bug fix but Apple does not list what it is.

My macOS Sonoma 14.2.1 Update Video

macOS Sonoma Patch Notes Summary

  • 1. New Features –
  • 2. New OS Enhancements –
  • 3. Security Fixes – 1
  • 4. Enterprise Changes –
  • 5. Safari Security (Webkit) –
  • 6. Full installer and M1 IPSW – 14.2.1 IPSW and full installers are now available!
  • 7. OpenCore Legacy Patcher Users – Tested good with a small 14.2 KDK download issue.
  • 8. Kernel Debug Kit – KDK for macOS 14.2 (23C64)

Full Apple Update Release list

macOS 💻 ✅

  • Sonoma – 14.2.1 (23C71)
  • Ventura – NONE – Current release = 13.6.3 (22G436)
  • Monterey -NONE – Current release = 12.7.2 (21G1974)
  • Safari – 17.2.1 is included in Sonoma and was released as a standalone update for Ventura and Monterey.
  • Xcode -None – Current release = 15.1
  • Command Line Tools for Xcode – None – Current release = 15.1

iOS📱✅

  • iOS 17.2.1 (21C62) = iPhone XS and later
  • iOS 16.7.4 (20H240) = iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, iPhone X, iPad 5th generation, iPad Pro 9.7-inch, and iPad Pro 12.9-inch 1st generation
  • iPadOS 16.7.4 (20H240)
  • iPadOS – None – Current release = 17.2 (21C62)
  • audioOS – None – Current release = 17.2 (21K365)
  • tvOS – None – Current release = 17.2 (21K365)
  • watchOS – None – Current release = 10.2 (21S364)

Apple released the following app updates

  1. Pro Video Formats 2.3
  2. iMovie 10.4
  3. Final Cut Pro 10.7

Table of Contents

  • 1. Apple macOS Sonoma Links
  • 2. Sonoma Final & Beta Release History
  • 3. macOS Sonoma Full Installer.app
  • 4. Apple Silicon M1 M2 & M3 IPSW Restore file Update
  • 5. macOS Sonoma Update sizes
  • 6. Apple Silicon System Firmware Version
  • 7. Apple Silicon OS loader Version (iBoot)
  • 8. Intel T2 BridgeOS Update
  • 9. Safari Update
  • 10. What’s new for enterprise in macOS Sonoma
  • 11. Security Content of macOS Sonoma
  • 12. macOS Sonoma Release Notes / Patch Notes / Changes

Click “Continue Reading” for the rest of the article.

Continue reading “macOS Sonoma 14.2.1 Update (23C71) What’s New?”

macOS Sonoma 14.2 Update (23C64) What’s New?

macOS Sonoma 14.2 – What’s New?

macOS Sonoma 14.2 is now Available!

UPDATED: 12/13/23

This article will be continually updated as new information comes in.

Apple just released macOS Sonoma’s 2nd major release update to the public! Let’s jump in and find out what’s new.

NOTE #1 for OCLP Unsupported Mac Users: The OCLP 1.3.0 Update is live. The update is REQUIRED before you install the Sonoma 14.2 update if your Mac has an Intel Ivy Bridge, Haswell iGPU or Nvidia Kepler dGPU!

NOTE #2 : Sonoma 14.2 and Ventura 13.6.3 updates are now a universal. That means they unify all Mac hardware models into one build, including the new M3’s. The previous 2 updates were split into two separate build versions.

macOS Sonoma Patch Notes Summary

  • 1. New Features – 4
  • 2. New OS Enhancements – 10
  • 3. Security Fixes – 19
  • 4. Enterprise Changes –
  • 5. Safari Security (Webkit) – 2
  • 6. Full installer and M1 IPSW – 14.2 IPSW and full installers are now available!
  • 7. OpenCore Legacy Patcher Users – Testing in progress
  • 8. Kernel Debug Kit – Kernel_Debug_Kit_14.2_build_23C63.dmg

Full Apple Update Release list

macOS 💻 ✅

  • Sonoma – 14.2 (23C64)
  • Ventura – 13.6.3 (22G436)
  • Monterey – 12.7.2 (21G1974)
  • Safari – 17.2
  • Xcode – 15.1
  • Command Line Tools for Xcode – 15.1

iOS📱✅

  • iOS 17.2 (21C62)
  • iOS 16.7.2 (20H232)
  • iPadOS 17.2 (21C62)
  • audioOS 17.2 (21K365)
  • tvOS 17.2 (21K365)
  • watchOS 10.2 (21S364)
my macOS Sonoma 14.2 Update Video
My OpenCore Legacy Patcher 1.3.0 Update Video

Apple released the following app updates

  1. Pro Video Formats 2.3
  2. iMovie 10.4
  3. Final Cut Pro 10.7

Table of Contents

  • 1. Apple macOS Sonoma Links
  • 2. Sonoma Final & Beta Release History
  • 3. macOS Sonoma Full Installer.app
  • 4. Apple Silicon M1 M2 & M3 IPSW Restore file Update
  • 5. macOS Sonoma Update sizes
  • 6. Apple Silicon System Firmware Version
  • 7. Apple Silicon OS loader Version (iBoot)
  • 8. Intel T2 BridgeOS Update
  • 9. Safari Update
  • 10. What’s new for enterprise in macOS Sonoma
  • 11. Security Content of macOS Sonoma
  • 12. macOS Sonoma Release Notes / Patch Notes / Changes

Click “Continue Reading” for the rest of the article.

Continue reading “macOS Sonoma 14.2 Update (23C64) What’s New?”