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Can't do an internet restore on an IMAC

B

Baseballdad20

macrumors member
Original poster
Nov 6, 2020
38
2
Hi, my IMAC was having some issues so I'm in the process of reinstalling the OS but when I do the internet restore it's giving me the error: The item is temporarily un-available, try again later. It's trying to restore OS X El Capitan. I do have it hard wired to the internet in my house also. Here are some specs on my system also.

EMC # 2210
Model # A1224
S/N: W88225BTZE2.
20"/2.4GHZ/1GB/250GB HD

Thanks for any help you can provide.
 
I tried going to everymac.com to ascertain WHAT YEAR your iMac was made.

It seems the number "A1224" was used on several models of iMacs, ranging in production from 2007 to 2009.

But it doesn't matter.
Internet recovery WILL NOT WORK on ANY iMac before 2010.
It's simply not possible.

You're going to have to do it "some other way".

Do you have access to any other working Macs?
If so, tell us:
- which Mac
- what year made
- what OS is running on it.

Perhaps then we can be of more help.

The iMac with the problem --- is it bootable RIGHT NOW?
(even if it's "having problems", a bootable Mac is better than one that won't boot at all)

Can you give us a rundown of what's wrong with it?
 
I do have another IMAC but it's BIOS locked. If I can get past that I think I can use that if that would work? Here are the specs on that one....

EMC: 2210
Model: A1224
S/N YD8383CCZE2.
Appears to be a 20" model

I'm not sure of the Mfg. date on this one but hopefully the above numbers help.
 
When I boot the original IMAC it just comes up to the screen where I select my language then the OS X Utilities screen comes up.
 
I wasn't totally correct on my backup system, when I boot it up it just has the flashing folder.
 
The flashing folder icon means the Mac can't find a valid copy of the OS from which to boot.

Provide it with "a good copy" (such as from an external drive), and it will boot...
 
I can do that. So do I just download the MAC OS X DMG file to my external and then extract it? Do I need to format the external first on the MAC and then extract the files to it?
 
OP:

If nothing else works for you, you can go on ebay and BUY a USB flashdrive that already has a copy of the OS installer of your choosing. There are a number of sellers who make these -- expect to pay about $20.

But I think to get anywhere "on your own", you're going to need a Mac that's "bootable to the finder".
Recovery partitions and internet recovery may not be enough...
 
I did go ahead and purchase a USB stick on Ebay today. I also found some instructions online that have you install Trans Mac on your Windows PC with a USB stick so I was trying that also as I have the DMG file of El Capitan. So trying to fix this on a couple fronts.
 
Just for the heck of it I tried Trans Mac and it says it did create the bootable USB but when I boot to it it gives me a grey circle with a line through it. That's probably not a good thing. I'll just wait for the one I ordered.
 
Received the bootable USB stick of El Captain today in the mail and tried installing it twice. Both times I'm getting the error. OS could not be installed on your computer. No packages were eligible for install. Contact the software manufacturer for assistance. How to I get around this?
 
Yes, El Capitan can't install, as the security license on the installer is out of date. Apple has never fixed that.
It will install after you change your system date. It's simple to do that.
Boot to your installer. At the menu screen, open Terminal from the Utilities menu.
Type the command
Code: 
date 1116211618
then press enter.
That will change your iMac's system date to a couple of years ago. Quit the terminal, then continue on with your system install.
 
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DeltaMac said:
Yes, El Capitan can't install, as the security license on the installer is out of date. Apple has never fixed that.
It will install after you change your system date. It's simple to do that.
Boot to your installer. At the menu screen, open Terminal from the Utilities menu.
Type the command
Code: 
date 1116211618
then press enter.
That will change your iMac's system date to a couple of years ago. Quit the terminal, then continue on with your system install.
Click to expand...
Deleted
 
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I do also have another IMac that I'd like to get up and running as a troubleshooting type system. Not exactly sure on the age but I attached a couple screen shots of the numbers. Is there a way to see what Mac OS this system supports? If I need to order a bootable USB stick I can do that too.
 

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This iMac also has a BIOS lock on it I'm having trouble getting around that too. I tried Command + R to boot to the utilities menu but I just keep getting the flashing folder with a question mark on it.
 
Baseballdad20 said:
I do also have another IMac that I'd like to get up and running as a troubleshooting type system. Not exactly sure on the age but I attached a couple screen shots of the numbers. Is there a way to see what Mac OS this system supports? If I need to order a bootable USB stick I can do that too.
Click to expand...
Don't order bootable USB sticks, you can make those yourself as long as you have a working mac.

Create a bootable installer for macOS - Apple Support

You can use a USB flash drive or other secondary volume as a startup disk from which to install the Mac operating system. These steps are primarily for system administrators and other experienced users.
support.apple.com support.apple.com
 
Baseballdad20 said:
This iMac also has a BIOS lock on it I'm having trouble getting around that too. I tried Command + R to boot to the utilities menu but I just keep getting the flashing folder with a question mark on it.
Click to expand...
Flashing folder means it can't find anything to boot from. Attaching a bootable disk or an installation stick (that's bootable as well) - should get you going.

Now the big question: what wiped the OS on the internal disk (if the internal disk still working properly) ?
 
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If you have a firmware password on your old iMac (it is an early 2008, for your information), that is simple to disable.
Look on the bottom edge of the display. You will see a single screw on the middle of a small panel. Loosen the screw, then pry out that little panel. There's your RAM memory slots. Remove one memory stick. There's usually two installed, so leave one in place. Plug in power and keyboard, and do an NVRAM reset. (Press and release the power button, then immediately hold the Option-Command-P and R keys. Wait for the boot chime to sound. Continue to hold the same 4 keys for two more chimes, then release the keys. The firmware password is now turned off. If you still get the flashing folder, then it may also mean that the hard drive is bad, or just erased.
Hold the power button to shut the power off, disconnect the power card. Re-insert that memory stick that you removed.
Your Early 2008 iMac will support up to El Capitan (OS X 10.11.6)
** Both of your iMacs are the same Early 2008 20-inch models. **
Each of them will also support as much as 6GB memory (one 4GB stick, and one 2GB stick.) You should be OK with 2 x 2GB for a total of 4 GB installed. (The 4GB PC2-6400 sticks are still a bit expensive, if you can find any. 2 GB size are much easier to find.)
 
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Baseballdad20 said:
Hi, my IMAC was having some issues so I'm in the process of reinstalling the OS but when I do the internet restore it's giving me the error: The item is temporarily un-available, try again later. It's trying to restore OS X El Capitan. I do have it hard wired to the internet in my house also. Here are some specs on my system also.

EMC # 2210
Model # A1224
S/N: W88225BTZE2.
20"/2.4GHZ/1GB/250GB HD

Thanks for any help you can provide.
Click to expand...
the exact same thing happened to me this past week using internet restore on my 2015 MacBook Pro. Unavailable.

I tried various things but now I’m getting a black screen with a big symbol of something indicating it can’t proceed. So I’ve taken the advice today to purchase a USB with Carolina on it. Only thing is though - I’ve ordered a 2020 iMac, ETA January 13. Wish I’d known before about a USB. Good luck with your problem.
 
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