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Can't download the additional components needed to install Mac OS X.
- Thread starter Michael Brown
- Start date
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Thank you guys for your suggested solutions. I've been searching for months now for a solution to this problem, today I finally fixed it, and this thread was the most helpful. I don't know what helped me but I will try to be helpful as much as possible because I got every error in this thread and I somehow managed to fix them with a combination of the solutions suggested in this thread.
1. I tried changing the date to an earlier one but it didn't work, so I changed it to yesterday's date. So make sure you set your date to yesterday's date if you want to follow what I did to fix this problem. Change Date in macOS Catalina via Terminal
2. I erased the partition Macintosh HD. Following this article: How to erase a disk for Mac. Then, I repaired it and verified it.
3. I tried the solution #40 and I thought it would work when I saw the screen has changed but I still got a Lion installation on recovery mode and got the message about missing data.
4. I created a bootable USB with High Sierra. This is the mother of all problems. First, I tried creating it on Windows with TransMac but the Macbook couldn't recognize the USB as bootable and I was forwarded to the Internet Recovery mode. Then tried to create it with Install Disk Creator on another Macbook but when I used it, I got the prohibitory sign after the Apple logo loading screen.
Only this way worked for me: You must have access to another Macbook or iMac, so borrow one and download the OS you are trying to install from App Store then quit and check if it's in the application folder. Go to Applications --> Utilities --> Disk Utilities and format your USB, then follow these instructions to create a bootable installer: How to create a bootable installer for macOS
*This apparently only works with Installers for High Sierra or later if you have High Sierra or later on the device you are using to create the bootable USB, at least in my case, because I had Catalina and I got "OS is older than current one" when I tried to download an earlier OS than High Sierra, so if you want to install an earlier OS, I recommend using a device that has the OS you are trying to download or an older one, or looking for a ready-to-use bootable usb device.
5. Connect the USB to the device you want to install the OS on, restart it, then press and hold the option key until the option for your USB appears.
1. I tried changing the date to an earlier one but it didn't work, so I changed it to yesterday's date. So make sure you set your date to yesterday's date if you want to follow what I did to fix this problem. Change Date in macOS Catalina via Terminal
2. I erased the partition Macintosh HD. Following this article: How to erase a disk for Mac. Then, I repaired it and verified it.
3. I tried the solution #40 and I thought it would work when I saw the screen has changed but I still got a Lion installation on recovery mode and got the message about missing data.
First I cleared the PRAM by booting up while holding [Command, Option, P, R] and let it reboot twice. Here's a link for this process:
Is your Mac acting strange? Here’s how to reset the PRAM and SMC
Resetting your PRAM and SMC can alleviate all sorts of issues, including those related to charging and sluggishness. Here's how to do so.www.digitaltrends.com
4. I created a bootable USB with High Sierra. This is the mother of all problems. First, I tried creating it on Windows with TransMac but the Macbook couldn't recognize the USB as bootable and I was forwarded to the Internet Recovery mode. Then tried to create it with Install Disk Creator on another Macbook but when I used it, I got the prohibitory sign after the Apple logo loading screen.
Only this way worked for me: You must have access to another Macbook or iMac, so borrow one and download the OS you are trying to install from App Store then quit and check if it's in the application folder. Go to Applications --> Utilities --> Disk Utilities and format your USB, then follow these instructions to create a bootable installer: How to create a bootable installer for macOS
*This apparently only works with Installers for High Sierra or later if you have High Sierra or later on the device you are using to create the bootable USB, at least in my case, because I had Catalina and I got "OS is older than current one" when I tried to download an earlier OS than High Sierra, so if you want to install an earlier OS, I recommend using a device that has the OS you are trying to download or an older one, or looking for a ready-to-use bootable usb device.
5. Connect the USB to the device you want to install the OS on, restart it, then press and hold the option key until the option for your USB appears.
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Hey privitv8 im having the same problem with my macbook, is there any way you can also pm me and send me the installer package as well. I was trying to pm you but i just made an account on this so i dont really know how to do it
I just went though this process to get a MacBook Pro 2011 to reinstall an OS on a blank HD. There's a bunch of great ideas with creating a boot thumb drive and changing the date in BIOS but what eventually worked (thank God!) was pretty simple. First I cleared the PRAM by booting up while holding [Command, Option, P, R] and let it reboot twice. Here's a link for this process:
Is your Mac acting strange? Here’s how to reset the PRAM and SMC
Resetting your PRAM and SMC can alleviate all sorts of issues, including those related to charging and sluggishness. Here's how to do so.
Next, reboot in recovery mode but go with the option to install the latest compatible OS [Option/Alt, Command, R], not the Lion that came with the Mac. I think the problem I was having, like some of you, is that the BIOS was probably upgraded at some point and the recovery tool can't install the original OS. Since you cleared the PRAM, you'll have to enter your WiFi info along with other settings like timezone when you boot into recovery mode.
Please let me know if this works for someone else.
Thanks @jonesey5, you saved my day. It worked like a charm.
hey is there anyway you can send me an installer im currently going through the same problem. It would be greatly appreciated.
Hi All,
I have read through the full thread and am still struggling. I have spent hours on the phone to apple support and all they are asking me to do is, is repair drive under disk utilities and that's it.
I have a 2011 Mac Book Pro, havent used it much over the last few years therefore I cannot tell which OS it was last on. I have tried post #40, nothing since factory resetting the laptop. The only other thing I am reading is creating a bootable drive externally.
I have a seperate mac book air that I can do this on, however please may someone explain it in dummy form so I can get back to using my laptop.
I will even pay at this rate!
Thank you very much in advance.
I have read through the full thread and am still struggling. I have spent hours on the phone to apple support and all they are asking me to do is, is repair drive under disk utilities and that's it.
I have a 2011 Mac Book Pro, havent used it much over the last few years therefore I cannot tell which OS it was last on. I have tried post #40, nothing since factory resetting the laptop. The only other thing I am reading is creating a bootable drive externally.
I have a seperate mac book air that I can do this on, however please may someone explain it in dummy form so I can get back to using my laptop.
I will even pay at this rate!
Thank you very much in advance.
Hi Priitv8,
For some reason I cannot message you. Is there any possiblity you are able to message me so that I can download and further create a USB. It would be really apprecaited, this whole process is making me lose my mind!
Thank you in advance.
Chris
Chris samain wrote:
"I have read through the full thread and am still struggling. I have spent hours on the phone to apple support and all they are asking me to do is, is repair drive under disk utilities and that's it."
You can start by telling us what goes wrong when you press the power on button.
What happens after that?
How far do you get?
Do you get an error msg?
What does it say?
Take a pic and post it here.
What SIZE is the 2011?
Is it a 15" or a 17"?
Do you understand the meaning of "RadeonGate"?
If not, research it.
"I have read through the full thread and am still struggling. I have spent hours on the phone to apple support and all they are asking me to do is, is repair drive under disk utilities and that's it."
You can start by telling us what goes wrong when you press the power on button.
What happens after that?
How far do you get?
Do you get an error msg?
What does it say?
Take a pic and post it here.
What SIZE is the 2011?
Is it a 15" or a 17"?
Do you understand the meaning of "RadeonGate"?
If not, research it.
Apologies, let me expand.
I wanted to re-fresh my laptop and clear everything back to stock due to it being clogged up with rubbish. I followed the guide of erasing the disc when booting up pressing CMND + R. I then came to the steps of 'Download IOS', where I follow the guide of downloading Lion and I receive the error 'Cannot download the additional components'.
When booting up, without going into recovery mode, I have a light grey screen as there is no IOS to load I believe.
I have gone through with Apple support the recovery via internet and normal, following additional steps of verify disk and repair.
When I open with internet on the recovery mode, it brings up a different IOS named 'Yosemite'. I continue to download and still receive the same error message above.
I do not know what the best next step is for me. I have tried all methods above in the thread apart from creating a bootable USB stick as I cant get my head around this.
It was not updated to the latest IOS as I hadnt really used the laptop for some time.
The laptop is a 15" 2011 Macbook Pro.
Hello I am new to this forum. I have got MacBook Pro 9,1 I tried to reinstall the OS, but have not been able to do so because of the error message system always through while installing from recovery mode "can't download the additional components needed to install the MAC OS x". OS is Lion X. I would really appreciate if you could send PM me the necessary installation files.
I do not have another mac book only got windows pc. I have been going through internet available resources to find out the solution for the issue I am currently having on my MacBook without luck. Thank you.
Here! I don't even know where to start. I get stuck at the 'cannot download additional components for os x', What do you suggest? This just happened yesterday.....
what is your Mac version? if you have another mac then you can create a bootable disk/usb and install from there. Mine is macbook pro 9,1 mid 2012 version which had lion x os installed and I erased the hard drive, and was struggling to reinstalled it. I was also getting the same error you have mentioned while reinstalling the Mac lion x OS into my Macbook pro.
I've been searching everywhere for the Mavericks package, to no avail. Any way you can point me in the right direction to find it? Much appreciated.
This works! Thanks a million!!I just went though this process to get a MacBook Pro 2011 to reinstall an OS on a blank HD. There's a bunch of great ideas with creating a boot thumb drive and changing the date in BIOS but what eventually worked (thank God!) was pretty simple. First I cleared the PRAM by booting up while holding [Command, Option, P, R] and let it reboot twice. Here's a link for this process:
Is your Mac acting strange? Here’s how to reset the PRAM and SMC
Resetting your PRAM and SMC can alleviate all sorts of issues, including those related to charging and sluggishness. Here's how to do so.
Next, reboot in recovery mode but go with the option to install the latest compatible OS [Option/Alt, Command, R], not the Lion that came with the Mac. I think the problem I was having, like some of you, is that the BIOS was probably upgraded at some point and the recovery tool can't install the original OS. Since you cleared the PRAM, you'll have to enter your WiFi info along with other settings like timezone when you boot into recovery mode.
Please let me know if this works for someone else.
I tried many different ......finally.........using difference recovery mode to restart my MacBook Air Year 2013 on below. (I succeeded)
(1. Command + R) (2. Option/Alt + Command + R) (3. Shift + Option/Alt + Command R.) (try to use these three differece Command to boot ur MacBook, doesn't care what they saying upgrade or what version............)
How to install an older version of macOS using Recovery mode
Alongside the Command + R key combination we mention above there are a couple of other key combinations you can use to reinstall macOS using Recovery mode. These will allow you to choose whether to install the latest version of macOS that is compatible with your Mac, or the version of macOS that came with your Mac.
You can choose from:
Command + R Will install the latest version installed on your Mac - won’t upgrade you to the latest version.
Option/Alt + Command + R Will upgrade you to the latest macOS compatible with your Mac. Note: If you aren’t running Sierra 10.12.4 of later, this will install the version that came with your Mac; if your Mac has a T2 chip then Option/Alt + Command + R will install the latest macOS on your Mac.
Shift + Option/Alt + Command R (if you are running Sierra 10.12.4 of later) will install the version of macOS that came with your Mac, or the one closest to it that is still available.
Follow the steps in the section above to reinstall macOS via recovery.
www.macworld.co.uk
(1. Command + R) (2. Option/Alt + Command + R) (3. Shift + Option/Alt + Command R.) (try to use these three differece Command to boot ur MacBook, doesn't care what they saying upgrade or what version............)
How to install an older version of macOS using Recovery mode
Alongside the Command + R key combination we mention above there are a couple of other key combinations you can use to reinstall macOS using Recovery mode. These will allow you to choose whether to install the latest version of macOS that is compatible with your Mac, or the version of macOS that came with your Mac.
You can choose from:
Command + R Will install the latest version installed on your Mac - won’t upgrade you to the latest version.
Option/Alt + Command + R Will upgrade you to the latest macOS compatible with your Mac. Note: If you aren’t running Sierra 10.12.4 of later, this will install the version that came with your Mac; if your Mac has a T2 chip then Option/Alt + Command + R will install the latest macOS on your Mac.
Shift + Option/Alt + Command R (if you are running Sierra 10.12.4 of later) will install the version of macOS that came with your Mac, or the one closest to it that is still available.
Follow the steps in the section above to reinstall macOS via recovery.
How to reinstall macOS
Here's how to restore a Mac by reinstalling macOS via the internet using macOS Utilities and Recovery mode.
www.macworld.co.uk
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None of these work for me. 2011 13" MB Pro
1 - Reset PRAM
2 - reset time to current time.
3 . Tried all 3. Only OS that internet installs offers is Lion
Loading Lion throws "Can't download additional components".
Any thoughts on what else to try?
I'm having the exact same issue. I purchased my Macbook Air in May 2012 and just did an erase last night and now I can't reinstall Mac OS X Lion. I tried changing the date to May 2012 and still showing the same problem.
priitv8: are you able to send me a download link to make the physical install USB? I can't figure out how to PM you.