El Capitain: I Need Help

Kinja'd!!! "Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo" (rustyvandura)
09/24/2020 at 18:41 • Filed to: None

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I have a MacBook Pro circa 2012 that can only run El Cap. I cannot, for love nor money, get El Cap to install on this laptop. I have tried ALL KINDS OF THINGS and picked the brains of everyone I know who might have any expertise.

For the record: I am a Windows Boi, dyed in the wool...

I want to donate this laptop to one of my students to use in Zoom school.

Is there anybody out there who would relish this challenge and consider trying to install the OS for me if I mailed you the laptop?


DISCUSSION (30)


Kinja'd!!! jminer > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
09/24/2020 at 18:55

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I’m no help , the l ast time I installed MacOS it was still called OSX and came on a DVD.


Kinja'd!!! Chariotoflove > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
09/24/2020 at 19:06

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I’d be willing to give it a try, but first, could you be more specific about what you did and what specifically happened as a result of each action?


Kinja'd!!! 4kc > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
09/24/2020 at 19:10

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Does is already have a version of OSX installed?

On my 2011 (with a new blank hard drive) I had to install Snow Leopard via disc, install an old version of Firefox to access the internet because Safari thought 2019 couldn’t exist yet; then download the .dmg for El Capitan from the Apple website.

A first-gen air I had wouldn’t do flash drive installs but would install from USB with a Super drive for some reason

If you are installing from a flash drive is it formatted as Mac OS Extended or as Fat32?


Kinja'd!!! Exage03040 @ opposite-lock.com > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
09/24/2020 at 19:17

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Why cant it run  a newer OS? Should be good for High Sierra, I did install via flash stick on my 2010 before it bit it.


Kinja'd!!! Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > Chariotoflove
09/24/2020 at 19:38

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Oh, gosh. I’ve tried booting to an external drive in Target Mode, I’ve dried creating install media, I’ve tried installing different hard drives, I even tried using the install media that my brother created years ago. I’ve tried a couple of different weird key commands from the Dark Arts that reset the EPROM (or something). I am completely at a loss. But the result, in every case, is the same install failure message, which I cannot currently remember, but I could try to generate it again. It was running fine until I went to reinstall the OS as a wipe, and that was the end of that.


Kinja'd!!! Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > 4kc
09/24/2020 at 19:40

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Yeah. Probably needs to do something like this. This is outside my wheelhouse.


Kinja'd!!! JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
09/24/2020 at 19:50

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Tried this guy’s patcher/installers yet?

http://dosdude1.com/software.html

You should be able to get newer than el cap with his stuff. Also, have you verified that the hardware is good? Can you boot a live linux distro from USB (or CD, thay thing still has an optical drive doesn't it?) and run some ram/video/cpu/storage tests... 


Kinja'd!!! 4kc > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
09/24/2020 at 19:59

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I’ve revived a dozen or so Macbooks over the years, usually the issue is the drive formatting.

Do you have a funtional Mac to use? It’s a pain to do without another.

Both the flash drive and hard drive need to be formatted to Mac OS Extended first, using Disc Utility on a Mac. 90% of the time that works just fine.

The convoluted process for my 2011 was because I didn't have a Mac to format with first.


Kinja'd!!! facw > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
09/24/2020 at 20:02

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I don’t have any help for you, but I will recommend against running El Capitan. It is unwise to run an OS that doesn’t get security patches. If I were trying to prep this machine for someone to use, I would be looking at installing Linux (or Windows) instead, though that is not always super easy either.


Kinja'd!!! RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
09/24/2020 at 20:58

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What does it do when you try and install El Cap? As dumb as it sounds, try this - I can’t recall the commands to do it, but look up how to access the Terminal from the Recovery Menu where you install the OS from...also look up how to change the date...I seem to think you need to set the date to one from like 2016, then try installing it again and see if you get the same message.

Ridiculous sounding, I know, but I seem to think I looked it up due to a similar problem once and that was the solution...


Kinja'd!!! Chariotoflove > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
09/24/2020 at 21:26

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The first thing I’ll try is to boot it up on my bootable USB stick and zero the hard drive using Disk Utility . Then I’ll do a clean install.  If that doesn’t work, I’ll look to see if the drive itself is damaged.


Kinja'd!!! Chariotoflove > 4kc
09/24/2020 at 21:28

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usually the issue is the drive formatting

Agree.


Kinja'd!!! Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > Chariotoflove
09/24/2020 at 21:54

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I’ve tried a couple of different known good drives. And I am pretty certain that their formatted to the extended journaled format. I actually do know a little bit about Max, enough to install the operating system and do a few other little things when they behave... But this one I just want to make a gift of to a student and I'm exhausted fooling with it.


Kinja'd!!! Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t
09/24/2020 at 21:55

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Way over my pay grade. I’m looking for a knight in shining armor to rescue me from my Macintosh travails.


Kinja'd!!! Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > facw
09/24/2020 at 21:56

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  I believe there is some kind of processor architecture issue which limits what OS you can run.


Kinja'd!!! Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars
09/24/2020 at 21:56

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I think that actually sounds quite plausible. Even reasonable...


Kinja'd!!! RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
09/24/2020 at 22:03

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Let me know if it helps!


Kinja'd!!! facw > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
09/24/2020 at 22:04

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Apple somewhat artificially limits what versions of m acOS you can run based on hardware (this makes development, testing, and support easier). In theory a modern Linux should just work (in practice, Apple’s somewhat non-standard hardware configurations can make things tricky) , and Apple offers support for installing Windows via Boot Camp (though you might need a working macOS install to get Boot Camp configured).


Kinja'd!!! Chariotoflove > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
09/24/2020 at 22:22

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I understand.


Kinja'd!!! DipodomysDeserti > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
09/24/2020 at 22:48

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I think I dealt with this same issue a few months ago. I believe Apple let the security certs expire. You have to open up a file on the installer and change a   date in a specific file. This should help:

https://www.ifixit.com/Answers/View/280708/Can’t+install+OSX+el+capitan,+stuck+on+installation+screen

Once you get El Cap on there you can install a newer OS.


Kinja'd!!! E39, K5. Whatever it takes. > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
09/24/2020 at 23:00

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Online Recovery

I have used this method on many Macs (just did it on an older MacPro). It will at least get you to a semi-recent version of OS X, then you can use Apple App Store to punch it up to its max supported version. I suggest using an ethernet cable plugged in over using WiFi to speed the initial process.

Specifically, I mean the Internet Recovery option. Which can be summed up as:

The first approach is to use a feature called Internet Recovery. Newer Macs are able to boot directly from an internet connection, even with no Recovery partition available. Here is how to use MacOS Internet Recovery:

Shut down your Mac.

Hold down Command-Option/Alt-R and press the Power button. (On some Mac keyboards the Option key will be named Alt).

Hold down those keys until you a spinning globe and the message “Starting Internet Recovery. This may take a while”.

The message will be replaced with a progress bar. Wait for it to fill. Expect it to take a while...

Wait for the MacOS Utilities screen to appear.

Click Reinstall macOS and follow the installation process.


Kinja'd!!! Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > DipodomysDeserti
09/24/2020 at 23:35

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That seems like it's worth a try. How will I get to where I can change the system date? In Windows, you could go into the BIOS CMOS settings and set it there.


Kinja'd!!! Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > E39, K5. Whatever it takes.
09/24/2020 at 23:47

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  Doesn't it need to have an OS installed before this will work?  And wouldn't a 2012 version MacBook be kind of old?


Kinja'd!!! Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars
09/25/2020 at 09:08

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 How would I set the system date if there is not already an operating system installed? On a Windows computer, you can just jump into the BIOS setup at the beginning and set it there. I have no idea how you would go about doing such a thing with a Mac, particularly if there's not already an OS installed.


Kinja'd!!! RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
09/25/2020 at 12:40

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When you boot up to the install media, there is a way to open the command prompt there and set the date with a command line command, then you run the install....let me look it up:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LRPiynS15_U

Try this...? I know it says Sierra, but it’s ignore that - it’s supposed to show you how to set the date via the Terminal in that vid somewhere.

Try setting it to like Jan. 1st, 2016 and see if that helps the installer actually go through. :)


Kinja'd!!! Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars
09/25/2020 at 17:10

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I Will give that a try. Thank you for looking that up for me. this definitely sounds like it could be the problem. It's mysterious enough and it makes the install sort of croak at the end. it seems to go through all of its paces and then you get this message.


Kinja'd!!! RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
09/25/2020 at 17:25

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What message?


Kinja'd!!! Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars
09/25/2020 at 22:18

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I didn't include one. My message was unclear. I'm pretty sure I emailed my brother about it a few months back. I'll check the old emails and see if I can find them actual message. If something about operating system can't be installed on this computer.


Kinja'd!!! RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
09/25/2020 at 22:28

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Gotcha! Did you try the date trick? Any luck?


Kinja'd!!! Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars
09/25/2020 at 23:34

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 You shall be the first to know the results. My brother is mailing me the installation media that he created back in the day. Once it arrives, I'll watch the YouTube video and give it a try.