How to acquire osx el capitan install

[macstatic]

Good point!
One question comes to mind: once a bootable USB installer has been created, is it possible to use Disk Utility to create a disk image file of it? I have more free hard drive space available than USB sticks (and it's practical to keep all various OSX versions of the installers in one folder).
On the other hand, having a USB stick with the installer ready to use at any time beats everything in case of an emergency!

I hadn't heard of Install Disk Creator before, but looked it up and believe this is the one you're referring to. What makes it easier and more reliable to use than Diskmaker X?

 

[mjoecups]

Well if that's the case, then just use Internet Recovery (Cmd-Opt-R at chime) to reinstall it.


Yes, it was free, but still treated as a "purchase" (for $0) in the App Store.

That no longer works. Apple seems to have killed whatever used to host this great feature for El Capitan.

 

[mjoecups]

I am trying to install El Capitan on an old (2007 iMac) Mac.

I am lifetime Mac Tech. I have every version of Mac OS back to 1.01 (floppies).

Of course with El Capitan, there was no distribution media.

Now we see, that Apple doesn't care anymore. They have broken the restore mode server for El Capitan, so if you try that you get "Not available, try again later" (Don't bother).

Also, they have a web page that offers to allow you to download an El Capitan Installer:

How to download and install macOS - Apple Support

Download and install current or previous versions of the Mac operating system on compatible Mac computers.

support.apple.com

This supposedly installs the installer into your applications folder.

I have tried for 2 days to get a working install of El Capitan and so far, no luck. I can install from my Snow Leopard DVD, and then update (This all still works ok). When I attempt to use Apple's installer it appears to be working, then stops and says "There are no packages available for this install" (this is from memory, so words are likely wrong), Then reboots having KILLED my Snow Leopard.

Super frustrating and time wasting. I am dreaming of just having a good El Capitan complete install on time kind of media. I have a USB installer, but that fails the same way as Apple's. UGH!

Oh, I also tried this on another mac (MacBook pro 2008). Both machines are known good and working...

 

[Nermal]

That no longer works. Apple seems to have killed whatever used to host this great feature for El Capitan.

If this is on the 2007 machine then it's too old for Internet Recovery. As far as I'm aware the server is still there, but only 2011 and later computers have the necessary ROM for it.

 

[mjoecups]

No it isn't too old. Recovery mode works, and attempts to get to the server that ISN'T THERE.

 

[Nermal]

Recovery and Internet Recovery are different things.

 

[mjoecups]

Recovery and Internet Recovery are different things.

That is not helpful. Holding down command R at boot on this system invokes recovery mode, which boots from the recovery partition (if you installed one). This allows for an internet reinstall of the system (If Apple still has it available). This feature did not exist when the machines were new, but when it appeared in a later system (Mountain Lion?) installing that system added the recovery partition and function.

Considering this OS (El Capitan) is much more likely to be needed on an older machine, like the mid 2007 iMac, it really is lame that Apple no longer supports this method to reinstall.

On a more positive note, I believe I now have a working El Cap install! I started with a DVD install of Snow Leopard (AGAIN), updated it through the "Software Update" in the Apple menu. Repeat until there is no more to update. Then I went to the link: How to get old versions of macOS and downloaded the El capitan.

Please note: This download does not install the OS, it installs the OS installer into the applications folder in your target system. Then I ran "Install Mac OS X El Capitan" from the Applications folder.

I believe one difference was that when I booted up from Snow Leopard, I erased my destination drive with the Disk Utility from Snow Leopard. HFS Extended Journaled/GUID.

The above linked installer WILL NOT install on a blank drive. In fact, I cannot find an El Capitan installer that will?

 

[Nermal]

Apologies; I didn't mean to actually post that! I'm at work and was planning to type more, then someone came to my desk and evidently I accidentally clicked Post.

Anyway, the recovery partition will run from the hard drive and will attempt to reinstall the same OS version that your computer already has. Internet Recovery will work with a blank hard drive and will attempt to reinstall the same version that the computer originally shipped with.

You can create a USB installation drive from your downloaded installer by using the createinstallmedia tool. This will install onto a blank drive.

 

[mjoecups]

Apologies; I didn't mean to actually post that! I'm at work and was planning to type more, then someone came to my desk and evidently I accidentally clicked Post.

Anyway, the recovery partition will run from the hard drive and will attempt to reinstall the same OS version that your computer already has. Internet Recovery will work with a blank hard drive and will attempt to reinstall the same version that the computer originally shipped with.

You can create a USB installation drive from your downloaded installer by using the createinstallmedia tool. This will install onto a blank drive.

Thanks for that. Actually the above (install on a blank drive from a USB) does NOT work. I tried, repeatedly. It fails with a "No Resources to install" message. Not sure why, I tried on two different systems with different drives and different installers. ONLY worked over Snow Leopard.

Oh and thanks a lot for being here and talking about this old timey stuff! I do appreciate it.

 

[Nermal]

That's really strange. USB installers are supposed to install to anywhere, without any reliance on Apple servers. I'm not sure how to troubleshoot that sort of thing

 

[DeltaMac]

hmm... El Capitan (again)
You can install that if you change your system date to a couple of years ago.
Disconnect from your internet (so the time and date do not update during the install process)
Open your Terminal. type:

date 1116211618

Press return to run the command.
NOW, try the El Capitan install. Be sure that you reconnect to your internet after El Capitan completes the install.