Cannot install os x onto a reformated a1225 imac

[nigel1107]

Hi a complete newbie to mac's, I was given an a1225 mac which had no osx on it. I tried to reinstall using the built in disk utility, but after the first attempt after logging into the apple servers using my email it returned an error saying couldn't download any pkg's try again later. After looking into it I used terminal to see that the date was way out, and managed to change date and time using the date command but the timezone is still wrong (i'm in the UK) but I have no idea how to change the timezone in terminal using bash. And still cannot do an install even using el catana. Any help would be appreciated and most welcome. Nigel

 

[wordsworth]

Have a look at the information at this link: it may provide a bit more detail re what you were trying to do.

Mac stuck in "El Capitan" installer loop: "no packages were eligible for install"

My problem is that my Mac starts up to the "El Capitan" installer. After restarting several times, OS X is still on screen telling me that "no packages were eligible for install&quot...

apple.stackexchange.com

 

[nigel1107]

Have a look at the information at this link: it may provide a bit more detail re what you were trying to do.

Mac stuck in "El Capitan" installer loop: "no packages were eligible for install"

My problem is that my Mac starts up to the "El Capitan" installer. After restarting several times, OS X is still on screen telling me that "no packages were eligible for install&quot...

apple.stackexchange.com

Thank you so much after all the reading of done online over the last week, I wouldn't have thought about changing the year. Thank you so much it worked a treat, fully working imac now.

 

[Fishrrman]

That's a "pre-2010" iMac ("a1225" does not indicate exactly WHICH iMac it is).
It could be a 2007, 2008, or 2009.
There are websites that will tell you exactly which year it was made by entering the serial number.

It can't do "internet recovery".

You need either an install DVD (needs to be either a "universal" software disc or the specific discs that shipped for that Mac)
or...
A bootable USB flash drive installer.

I believe the latest version of the OS it will run (any year) is 10.11 "El Cap" (as you have found out).

Do you have access to another, working Mac...?

 

[wordsworth]

Delighted for you.

I ran into the same problem trying to install El Capitan on my 2009 white MacBook a couple of years ago. I'd stuck with Snow Leopard for ages and then when I decided to install El Capitan (years after it was initially released), found the laptop caught in a loop. It was with some relief that I subsequently discovered the same tips referred to in the link.

I kept a copy of my several and various internet findings in case they might prove of use to someone else. And here we are…

That's one of the great things about MacRumors – the sharing of experiences and knowledge.