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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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Feburary 17th, 2020.
Hello to whoever is reading this. After reading this whole thread I've been inspired to leave my own reply on how it has helped me be able to use my beloved IMac 27" Mid 2011 again in 2020.
To begin with... my IMac randomly stopped worked and turns out the harddrive died. I've gotten EVERY error... from a folder with a question mark to a circle with a line through it. Took it to Apple and said they cant do anything and refused to pay over 500 dollars to have it fixed by Micro Center. SO what did i do?
Like some of you i've completely replaced my entire harddrive with another fresh harddrive (not SSD) and still was getting the error of not being able to download OS X Lion for downloading errors.
So... i resorted to a bootable USB!
I followed everything on this link : https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201372
And GOOD GRACIOUS I've been able to reboot my computer with a new harddrive to it's newest and compatible OS X High Sierra. I used another iMac... in this case my sisters cause i had to use Terminal to code a little.
Long Story Short: If nothing is working... use a bootable OS X ! It is very simple and free if you already have a USB.
I wish evweryone good luck on their process to revive their memorable Macs that they love.
Stay safe everyone!
Hello to whoever is reading this. After reading this whole thread I've been inspired to leave my own reply on how it has helped me be able to use my beloved IMac 27" Mid 2011 again in 2020.
To begin with... my IMac randomly stopped worked and turns out the harddrive died. I've gotten EVERY error... from a folder with a question mark to a circle with a line through it. Took it to Apple and said they cant do anything and refused to pay over 500 dollars to have it fixed by Micro Center. SO what did i do?
Like some of you i've completely replaced my entire harddrive with another fresh harddrive (not SSD) and still was getting the error of not being able to download OS X Lion for downloading errors.
So... i resorted to a bootable USB!
I followed everything on this link : https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201372
And GOOD GRACIOUS I've been able to reboot my computer with a new harddrive to it's newest and compatible OS X High Sierra. I used another iMac... in this case my sisters cause i had to use Terminal to code a little.
Long Story Short: If nothing is working... use a bootable OS X ! It is very simple and free if you already have a USB.
I wish evweryone good luck on their process to revive their memorable Macs that they love.
Stay safe everyone!
I have a Mac Mini 2011 running High Sierra but my customer requires Mojave. So I want to wrap up this device and put it in out-of-box state but can't. I've tried posts #40 a few times and it's just not working for me on the Mac Mini.
So if I jump through the hoops and create a bootable USB will I be able to put the 2011 Mac Mini in out-of-box state for resale on Ebay?
I'm waiting for another Mac Mini that ships with Mojave installed. In the meantime I'm off the clock and losing money. Just reading through this thread has been painful. Man do I love Linux where I can easily and quickly load any version I need for a gig. This is where proprietary **** sux. I'm a remote freelance software engineer trying to become a Mac fan but it's getting harder by the day.
Okay done with rant. Thanks.
So if I jump through the hoops and create a bootable USB will I be able to put the 2011 Mac Mini in out-of-box state for resale on Ebay?
I'm waiting for another Mac Mini that ships with Mojave installed. In the meantime I'm off the clock and losing money. Just reading through this thread has been painful. Man do I love Linux where I can easily and quickly load any version I need for a gig. This is where proprietary **** sux. I'm a remote freelance software engineer trying to become a Mac fan but it's getting harder by the day.
Okay done with rant. Thanks.
Last edited:
I am having this same issue. I just created an account here, so I can't send a PM yet. I've tried downloading OS installers from the app store on a different laptop than the one I'm trying to restore, but get an error that the "update is not available". Any chance you could send me a download link to the installer packages you have?
1. (Command + R) or
2.(Option/Alt + Command + R) or
3.( Shift + Option/Alt + Command R.)
(try to use these three difference (**Command**) to boot ur MacBook, doesn't care what they saying upgrade or what version............)
Mine too is stuck in the same way, unable to reinstall Mt Lion on my Macbook Pro Late 2011
Hii, I tried all this on my MBP late 2011, but when I came into recovery mode it showed meI 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.www.digitaltrends.com
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.
From here I tried reinstalling Mac OS X Lion, but aftr almost completing installation it shows "Can't download additional contents needed for download" that's where I'm stuck, plz guide
This is a common issue with the Lion install. Happens with other versions, too, but Lion has often been there (Can't download additional components... ... )
A more useful "fix" is to boot to an external bootable installer, and reinstall from that. And then, you are not limited to what the Recovery system, or Internet Recovery offers you.
A more useful "fix" is to boot to an external bootable installer, and reinstall from that. And then, you are not limited to what the Recovery system, or Internet Recovery offers you.
Please forget what version you had before, please follow upon 3 difference option..........
You might have better information here, if you refer to your own first post #96 in this same thread.
How to reinstall macOS if Recovery won't work
What to do if Mac Internet Recovery won't work or you can't boot into Mac recovery mode. Plus how to enter Recovery on an M1 Mac.
www.macworld.co.uk
I just had the same problem with my Unibody MacBook Pro from 2012. I tried installing the OS from scratch, using Internet Recovery mode (using command-R during startup) and got the "can't download the additional components" message. I also tried restoring a Time Machine backup of my Mavericks disk, which seemed to work, but when I restarted, it would get stuck on the progress bar. Also I couldn't format as APFS; only MacOS Extended.
It seems that when you use Internet Recovery Mode, this model launches into a MacOS Lion version by default. I think that's what caused all of the problems above.
The shift-option-command-R shortcut didn't work for me, but option-command-R launched into a version of Internet Recovery mode using MacOS Catalina.
Once in this mode, I was able to format as APFS, restore my Time Machine backup, and it worked perfectly. I assume that installing the OS from scratch would also work.
Bottom line: use option-command-R when you want to use Internet Recovery mode with these older models.
It seems that when you use Internet Recovery Mode, this model launches into a MacOS Lion version by default. I think that's what caused all of the problems above.
The shift-option-command-R shortcut didn't work for me, but option-command-R launched into a version of Internet Recovery mode using MacOS Catalina.
Once in this mode, I was able to format as APFS, restore my Time Machine backup, and it worked perfectly. I assume that installing the OS from scratch would also work.
Bottom line: use option-command-R when you want to use Internet Recovery mode with these older models.
Thank you very much man. This is a weekend saver. This worked for me having same error as OP posted.
Hello folks,
I am an old man and I have very little technical skills. I have the exact same issue in regards “can’t download additional components” for my mid-2011 Mac-Mini computer which has its hard-drive "erased". The Time-Machine option does not work since it's empty. I read about making a "boot-loader" USB from the Apple support site, however the links for every macOS fails to work and all I get is a blank website page (besides the Monterey macOS).
When searching Google, I found a link where it allows one to make a boot-loader USB on Windows 10 (which I have handy). Can some one please advise if this isn't a virus?
Windows 10 USB Boot-Loader: https://www.wikigain.com/create-macos-high-sierra-bootable-usb-installer-windows-10/
Much appreciated!
I am an old man and I have very little technical skills. I have the exact same issue in regards “can’t download additional components” for my mid-2011 Mac-Mini computer which has its hard-drive "erased". The Time-Machine option does not work since it's empty. I read about making a "boot-loader" USB from the Apple support site, however the links for every macOS fails to work and all I get is a blank website page (besides the Monterey macOS).
When searching Google, I found a link where it allows one to make a boot-loader USB on Windows 10 (which I have handy). Can some one please advise if this isn't a virus?
Windows 10 USB Boot-Loader: https://www.wikigain.com/create-macos-high-sierra-bootable-usb-installer-windows-10/
Much appreciated!
I'm having problems reinstalling osx on macbook air 2015. Can you send me el capitan download link???
Much appreciated!!
After trying all the magic tricks described in this thread like changing the date, etc. I discovered that archive.org can be a lifesaver if one were in need of an old OS Retail DVD.Works exactly the way its supposed to
thank you so much jonsey. after months of headache you gave my the solution i needed.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.
Hey there- I just joined the site so I could message you. I'd like a download link for this if you think it would. I can't figure out how to PM you so I'm giving it a shot in this reply to your thread.