[FIXED!] Lion Recovery An error occurred while preparing the installation. Try running this application again.

Along with macOS High Sierra and Sierra 10.12, OS X Lion recovery is also broken.

As of 2024, Mac Internet Recovery versions from 10.7-10.13 are online, but BROKEN. In this article we will focus on the original Internet Recovery version, OS X 10.7 Lion!

In my current quest to fix every single macOS Recovery version from 10.7 to 10.13, the most popular version requested was actually OS X Lion!

OS X Lion was actually the very first version of Internet Recovery. So it is now the oldest version still online. The fact at Apple is still maintaining Lion’s Internet Recovery server is great, but it is now completely broken.

Keep in mind, this is NOT the Date and Time issue that most articles point to. That fix worked in the past but does not work anymore. So internal recovery (command R) and Internet Recovery are currently unable to download and install OS X Lion in its current state.

Previously I provided fixes and workarounds for macOS High Sierra and macOS Sierra Recovery issues.

High Sierra Recovery & Internet Recovery Fix

https://mrmacintosh.com/how-to-fix-the-recovery-server-could-not-be-contacted-error-high-sierra-recovery-is-still-online-but-broken

macOS Sierra Recovery & Internet Recovery Fix

https://mrmacintosh.com/fixed-an-error-occurred-while-preparing-the-installation-macos-sierra-recovery-error/

Let’s get jump in and get Lion Recovery fixed!

Table of contents

  1. What is the root problem?
  2. How to fix the issue?
  3. Fix #1 Downloading OS X Lion from Apple and creating a USB installer.
  4. Fix #2 Downloading OS X Lion from INSIDE Lion Recovery and using it to Install Lion with it!
  5. Extra Option: Creating a OS X Lion USB installer drive INSIDE OS X Lion Recovery!
Continue reading “[FIXED!] Lion Recovery An error occurred while preparing the installation. Try running this application again.”