Can't download El Capitan for older system

Combat squirrel · 24 Dec 2016 at 10:49

As title, I am trying to download El Capitan for a 2007 imac - the mac itself won't download it - no idea why, but then its hard drive is on the verge of failing........

I am then trying to download it with my MacOS Serra macbook air - i had to hunt google to find a direct link to apple store for El Capitan :confused:

(there are not enough eye rolls in the world)

Now that won't download saying this mac is 'to new' - WHO CARES, don't apple know that sometimes people just want to download the sodding file to restore old systems?!?!

I am trying to install it on the old imac as the hard drive is being changed, MacOS Serra won't go on this system as its to old - HELP? I just want the DMG file then I can make a USB installer :mad:

Feek · 24 Dec 2016 at 13:35

I've sent you a Trust message.

Combat squirrel · 24 Dec 2016 at 13:54

Feek said:
I've sent you a Trust message.

Thanks! Legend !

Combat squirrel · 25 Dec 2016 at 21:10

Feek Kindly Sent me the install files which was great, now im having a complete nightmare and cannot get it to install ANY OS!!

I created a USB boot drive with el capitan on - all created properly using the install image - i took the old hard drive out the pc - put the new one in

Obviously its blank - but nope, wont boot with the usb drive - tried my time machine disk - it 'sees' it on boot but just sits on the apple logo for several hours, what the hell i thought it would work, why the hell doesnt the system see the USB boot drive?! UGGGH this is doing my head in, I read it would work

2007 20" imac Core 2, 4gb ram

Combat squirrel · 25 Dec 2016 at 21:16

Just plugged in the old drive via USB 2 - its apparently booting off that, at least i can see now if the system can see the darn drives

- iv had no info at all so far

Combat squirrel · 25 Dec 2016 at 21:28

hmm just boots into osx - the system IS SEEING the new internal drive, the USB drive also, i rebooted, held option - in the system i have the origional system disk on usb 1, usb 2 is the time machine back up external disk - usb 3 is keyboard and mouse and usb install drive

on holding option i get:

osx
osx recovery
time machine

Selecting either osx recovery or time machine results in the machine just sitting there on the apple logo forever

Osx boots into the old osx off the usb drive its now in - when it booted in i formatted the new internal drive as GUID etc etc osx journled etc whatever it is default while i was there.

Seems to make no difference, how the hell can i install this or restore the back up to the new internal drive! uggh

Combat squirrel · 25 Dec 2016 at 21:32

correction after running time machine for ages it just booted back into osx and seems to have done nowt

EDIT: Booted back into old osx off the external caddy its now in - in disk utility its 100% seeing ALL drives:

old osx on usb now
new internal drive
usb external drive with time machine back up on
USB thumb drive with supposed intstall files on that the system wont see if you hold option when you boot (In USB osx boot - i can see a folder called 'packages' on the drive and that is all - is that correct?

HELP - how can i get my system to install to the new internal drive and restore from time machine? Google the hell out of it - apparently it should just work from the usb or time machine drive

Combat squirrel · 26 Dec 2016 at 12:13

Feek to the rescue, got it installing now - sheesh that wasn't easy, apple really dont like you installing new hard drives ! lol

opethdisciple · 26 Dec 2016 at 13:31

Ahh the joys of Mac....

Those that say that the Mac is better than PC are usually those that never have to do any technical support on the damn thing.

Merely fashionistas.

Deleted member 138126 · 28 Dec 2016 at 14:40

To be fair to Apple, I bought a used Mac mini recently and swapped out the spinning disk for an SSD, and had none of the above troubles. You need a wired keyboard (wireless doesn't work) to hold down the option key while booting. I booted off the USB key, erased the new drive, and installed Sierra in about 30 minutes start to finish.

And it was the first time I had interacted with an Apple device at this level in more than 20 years, so I was googling everything.

Combat squirrel · 28 Dec 2016 at 23:46

rotor said:
To be fair to Apple, I bought a used Mac mini recently and swapped out the spinning disk for an SSD, and had none of the above troubles. You need a wired keyboard (wireless doesn't work) to hold down the option key while booting. I booted off the USB key, erased the new drive, and installed Sierra in about 30 minutes start to finish.

And it was the first time I had interacted with an Apple device at this level in more than 20 years, so I was googling everything.

Glad to hear yours worked as designed........ yeah obviously it was a wired keyboard - however unlike your personal experience.....it doesn't always go to plan.

Also I can't install Sierra on this imac, it's too old, anyways I got it sorted in the end....

Feek · 30 Dec 2016 at 10:32

Combat squirrel said:
Also I can't install Sierra on this imac, it's too old, anyways I got it sorted in the end....

Glad you managed it, that was hard work!

Can't download El Capitan for older system

Deleted member 138126

Deleted member 138126