You can definitely use an external keyboard, even in recovery mode. It sounds like you need to upgrade the OS from an older OS to at least High Sierra on an installed drive. It doesn't even need to be your drive, An external drive would also do, but the Time Machine backup contains data which cannot be restored due to an inconsistency in file structure.
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Either way, connect and external keyboard. Install at least High Sierra on that drive. I would give a [guide|66371|bootable USB installer|new_window=true] a try if you have access to another MacBook since that's more reliable in my experience than internet recovery.
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Connect an external keyboard. Install at least High Sierra on that drive. I would give a [guide|66371|bootable USB installer|new_window=true] a try if you have access to another MacBook since that's more reliable in my experience than internet recovery. and then give it another go.
You can definitely use an external keyboard, even in recovery mode. It sounds like you need to upgrade the OS from an older OS to at least High Sierra on an installed drive. It doesn't even need to be your drive, An external drive would also do, but the Time Machine backup contains data which cannot be restored due to an inconsistency in file structure.
Either way, connect and external keyboard. Install at least High Sierra on that drive. I would give a [guide|66371|bootable USB installer|new_window=true] a try if you have access to another MacBook since that's more reliable in my experience than internet recovery.