Can I install El Capitan on iMac 2020?

[Mastropiero]

Hi everyone.

Just getting to grips with my 27", got it up and running today. I was checking that everything was alright after migrating all the data and documents from the SSD I was running El Cap on my old MP 1,1 from.

Unfortunately, and due to absolutely no one's fault but mine, I forgot to check if the app is compatible with Big Sur. It turns out it isn't or, rather, the developer has stopped supporting it.

Here's the problem, I used to use that app (Ghost Sphere) to protect a few folders. Being an idiot, I forgot to unlock the files, in case this problem should arise. Unless you can suggest another solution, I thought that by installing El Cap on a different volume on my iMac would take care of the issue. The problem is that I tried doing it and got an error message telling me that El Cap cannot run on my machine.

Am I doing something wrong? If not, is there a workaround? I really, really don't want to loose those files.

Many thanks.

 

[FreakinEurekan]

You could use Parallels to run it, use the free trial from https://www.parallels.com - then delete it when you get the files opened.

 

[darngooddesign]

Catalina is the newest OS that can run on the 2020 iMacs. Does the app run on Catalina?

 

[Mastropiero]

Catalina is the newest OS that can run on the 2020 iMacs. Does the app run on Catalina?

Hmmm. Most likely it doesn't. I could check but I reckon it won't, last update is from 2012.

So, run it on a VM it is then?

 

[DaveFromCampbelltown]

It is most likely that Ghost Sphere is an 32 bit app.
Correct that. I just saw the latest update. It is almost certain that it is a 32 bit app. Won't run on Catalina or subsequent OS.

If your previous machine is still available, you will need to unlock the files on that and re-transfer.
Otherwise, as suggested above, use free versions of Parallels or VMware Fusion to install El Capitan or Mojave, unlock the files in the shared volumes and proceed from there.

 

[Mastropiero]

It is most likely that Ghost Sphere is an 32 bit app.
Correct that. I just saw the latest update. It is almost certain that it is a 32 bit app. Won't run on Catalina or subsequent OS.

If your previous machine is still available, you will need to unlock the files on that and re-transfer.
Otherwise, as suggested above, use free versions of Parallels or VMware Fusion to install El Capitan or Mojave, unlock the files in the shared volumes and proceed from there.

Understood, very many thanks

 

[darngooddesign]

Ping your FB friends to see if someone near you has an old computer hanging around you could use for the task.

 

[Mastropiero]

Ping your FB friends to see if someone near you has an old computer hanging around you could use for the task.

Ah, not worth the hassle. Will do the VM thingie today, and the way it is coming down at the moment only a family emergency would get me out the door.

I could use my old computer but I scavenged everything I could from it, can't be bothered putting everything back in unless there was no other choice.

Thanks!

 

[Mastropiero]

Well, eventually, I prevailed. Both Parallels and VMware were complete failures for whatever reason, couldn't manage to install El Cap on either of them. I am sure had I had no other choice I would have managed to do it but, in the end, I stuck back the RAM modules and the GPU in the old thing, plugged it in and rescued the files. It was not elegant, as you can see, but it was effective.

Thanks for your help!