OS 10.11 will not Update

[RalphTomaccio]

I've had problems with the App store not updating apps or OS's in the past, but I was usually able to work-around that by going to the Apple Support download site, download the file manually and update in that manner. Now, ever since upgrading to El Capitan, even THAT doesn't work. I've downloaded OS 10.11.1, 10.11.2, 10.11.3 as well as the 10.11.3.Combo file and none of them will install. I have even gone as far as re-installing OS 10.11 and again trying the updates, nothing works.

What happens is that when I get to this point and click "Install":

It immediately goes to this point in less than a second:

It can't possibly install the update in such a short period of time. And that is confirmed by me going to the About this Mac dialog after restarting where it still says 10.11.

Any solutions to this on-going problem I'm experiencing?

 

[chrfr]

I have even gone as far as re-installing OS 10.11 and again trying the updates, nothing works.

Are you on a beta of OS X? You can redownload 10.11 from the App Store and you'll get a full 10.11.3 installer. That may be the best approach.
What build number of OS X are you on? Choose "About this Mac" and then click on the text that says "Version 10.11" in the window that opens. For instance, 10.11.3 shows build number 15D21.

 

[RalphTomaccio]

The build is (15A284). Is the 10.11.3.Combo file I downloaded and tried to install considered a "full" installer? All the downloads on the Apple Support Downloads page say "Update". I assume that means it's not a "FULL" installer. Can you link me to a full installer, please?

 

[KALLT]

The installation will not be performed while you are booted into the system. You will have to reboot to do this. I assume then that this process is not started?

When you download OS X El Capitan from the App Store you have the complete OS installer, fully updated to 10.11.3. The combo and stand-online updaters only upgrade you to a specific version. The combo updater should work.

 

[JohnDS]

If About this Mac says you are on 10.11, then you are already on El Capitan. The 10.11.3 combo installer will update you from 10.11.0 to 10.11.3.

 

[dianeoforegon]

It immediately goes to this point in less than a second:

It can't possibly install the update in such a short period of time. And that is confirmed by me going to the About this Mac dialog after restarting where it still says 10.11.

Any solutions to this on-going problem I'm experiencing?

There is a brief pre-install process, then when you restart it does the actual updating. Often this takes about 10-15 minutes.

To get the full El Capitan installer, look under Purchases in App Store. You can select to download again.

 

[chrfr]

The build is (15A284). Is the 10.11.3.Combo file I downloaded and tried to install considered a "full" installer? All the downloads on the Apple Support Downloads page say "Update". I assume that means it's not a "FULL" installer. Can you link me to a full installer, please?

This is the link to the full installer in the App Store: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/os-x-el-capitan/id1018109117?mt=12

 

[RalphTomaccio]

The installation will not be performed while you are booted into the system. You will have to reboot to do this. I assume then that this process is not started?

When you download OS X El Capitan from the App Store you have the complete OS installer, fully updated to 10.11.3. The combo and stand-online updaters only upgrade you to a specific version. The combo updater should work.

Are you asking if I restarted? If so, yes, I restarted after every attempt to update. Not sure I understand what you mean when you said "I assume then that this process is not started". Please explain further.
[doublepost=1455145504][/doublepost]

If About this Mac says you are on 10.11, then you are already on El Capitan. The 10.11.3 combo installer will update you from 10.11.0 to 10.11.3.

Yes, I know I'm on El Capitan 10.11. I'm trying to update to 10.11.3. Sorry if I wasn't clear on that, but I can't upgrade to 10.11.1, 10.11.2 or 10.11.3.
[doublepost=1455145667][/doublepost]

There is a brief pre-install process, then when you restart it does the actual updating. Often this takes about 10-15 minutes.

To get the full El Capitan installer, look under Purchases in App Store. You can select to download again.

Nothing happens after the restart as far as installing the update/upgrade. Just remains in 10.11.
[doublepost=1455147983][/doublepost]

This is the link to the full installer in the App Store: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/os-x-el-capitan/id1018109117?mt=12

If this is the "Full" installer, why is the original installer for OS10.11 6.09 GB and this file for 10.11.3 is only 1.4 GB? Wouldn't it be at least as large as the original El Capitan installer? Tried it and it does the same thing as in all my other attempts.

 

[chrfr]

If this is the "Full" installer, why is the original installer for OS10.11 6.09 GB and this file for 10.11.3 is only 1.4 GB? Wouldn't it be at least as large as the original El Capitan installer? Tried it and it does the same thing as in all my other attempts.

The 1.4GB file is the combo updater, not a full installer; the link to the App Store should also be around 6GB. Delete the 6 GB installer you already have, and download it again using the link I posted. Then once the download finishes, it will have downloaded into your Applications folder and will start up automatically when the download is complete.

 

[KALLT]

Are you asking if I restarted? If so, yes, I restarted after every attempt to update. Not sure I understand what you mean when you said "I assume then that this process is not started". Please explain further.

Yes, that is what I meant. Once you complete the stages it will ask you to restart. This is actually the beginning of the upgrade process, so no wonder that you are not seeing any results. Normally it should start upgrading once you are logged out, but it seems that this is not working on your device. A full install is probably a good idea, although I am not sure why it does not work.

 

[RalphTomaccio]

The 1.4GB file is the combo updater, not a full installer; the link to the App Store should also be around 6GB. Delete the 6 GB installer you already have, and download it again using the link I posted. Then once the download finishes, it will have downloaded into your Applications folder and will start up automatically when the download is complete.

Okay, I redownloaded the full 6GB installer, backed up all my stuff, placed the installer on my external HD and ran it, installing the OS on my iMac HD. It restarted and, after about 25 minutes with the progress bar on the screen, the screen went all white with no scroll bar appearing. The only thing showing currently is the cursor. If I hit any key, the cursor disappears but will return if I try moving it. It has been this way for about another 20 after the initial 25 minute startup. Nothing seems to be happening.

So, what do I do now? I was tempted to force quit and shut down, but decided that may really screw things up.

 

[JohnDS]

There are some good suggestions here: http://www.macworld.co.uk/how-to/mac/what-do-if-your-mac-doesnt-finish-update-3624050/

 

[RalphTomaccio]

There are some good suggestions here: http://www.macworld.co.uk/how-to/mac/what-do-if-your-mac-doesnt-finish-update-3624050/

Thanks for the link. I read it and feel a bit better. It mentioned:

Press Command + L. This brings up more information, such as the amount of time waiting to install. This is easier to view than the progress bar and may give you a better indication of the amount of time left.

I tried that and all I got was a "bonk" sound. No info came up at all. I'm going to give it a few more hours and if I see no change at that point, I'm going to force quite and restart to see what happens.

 

[JohnDS]

Try a safe restart holding down the shift key

 

[RalphTomaccio]

Try a safe restart holding down the shift key

After force quitting, I restarted and it eventually finished installing. I then went to About this Mac and it STILL says 10.11 (15A284).

If I wipe out my whole iMac HD and do a clean install, is this 6GB file the one I should use to start from scratch? And, at this point, are there any other options left?

 

[JohnDS]

Try downloading and running the 10.11.3 combo updater: https://support.apple.com/kb/DL1859?locale=en_US

 

[RalphTomaccio]

Try downloading and running the 10.11.3 combo updater: https://support.apple.com/kb/DL1859?locale=en_US

That was one of the first things I tried, in addition to the individual updaters, i.e.. 10.11.1, 10.11.2, etc. Nothing is working as it should. Even the full 6 GB El Capitan download from the app store that I just tried.

Is there any value in wiping my hard drive and doing a clean install? I assume I would still use the 6 GB file?

 

[KALLT]

If I wipe out my whole iMac HD and do a clean install, is this 6GB file the one I should use to start from scratch? And, at this point, are there any other options left?

Yep, the El Capitan installer is the one you want. You can copy it to a thumb drive and boot from it to perform a complete clean install, or you can do everything from recovery if you do not mind downloading the 6 GB again ad hoc. A clean install will likely be the last resort and it really should work.

 

[DeltaMac]

After force quitting, I restarted and it eventually finished installing. I then went to About this Mac and it STILL says 10.11 (15A284).

If I wipe out my whole iMac HD and do a clean install, is this 6GB file the one I should use to start from scratch? And, at this point, are there any other options left?

Yes, assuming you DO have the current installer.
You said you downloaded the full installer. What is the version of that downloaded app?
The size will be 6.2 GB, and the version of the app (from the Get Info windows) will be version 1.7.41
If you don't have THAT version, then you will need to get the current version. That's what you will get when you download through the App Store...
The installer app deletes itself when the install is complete, so unless you kept a copy of the installer, you will need to download it again.
A better solution is to create a bootable installer USB drive (you can also do that with a separate 8GB partition on your external hard drive). You can find a couple of different methods for creating the bootable partition for the OS X install, but I like to use the good DiskMakerX, which makes the process one-click simple. (Well, 2 or 3 clicks - but you don't need a trip to the Terminal command line )
(A simple file copy to a flash drive does NOT give you a bootable installer. You have to either use the steps using the terminal, or some app that does that, such as the DiskMakerX that I mentioned.

 

[JohnDS]

The best bet is to clone your drive to an external USB drive using Carbon Copy Cloner. Then reboot into recovery mode by booting while holding down command R. Choose Disk Utility and erase and reformat your main partition as Apple Extended Format (Journalled).

Then back out of Disk Utility to the main screen and choose Install Operating System.

When the computer reboots, it should ask you if you want to copy anything from another Mac. At that point connect your external USB and select it. The computer should then use Migration Assistant to copy back your file, apps and settings.

 

[RalphTomaccio]

I'm waiting till my USB drive arrives and will be following Kallt, JohnDS and DeltaMac's suggestions. Until then, I need a brain massage! I appreciate everyone's efforts and will soon be back with, hopefully good results in a few days.

 

[RalphTomaccio]

Well, here's where I'm at.

1. I created the USB bootable drive.

2. I rebooted holding down Command+R and ran First Aid. Everything checked out.

3. I wanted to see first if I could reboot with the USB drive and received a message that " This copy of the Install OS X El Capitan 10.11.3 application can't be verified. It may have been corrupted or tampered with during downloading." It then brought me back to the beginning screen.

4. I then shut down, removed the external HD and USB drive and again rebooted holding down Command+R and saw the opportunity to install El Capitan over Wi-Fi. I figured I had nothing to lose, so I tried it and it seems to have worked! I am now running El Capitan 10.11.3.

5. I'm going to stick with trying to create a bootable USB drive by re-downloading El Capitan once again, just to have it on hand.

My concern now is whether other issues will pop up eventually, necessitating that I actually do a clean install. I am hoping to avoid that, but am willing to do so if things don't work out with what I currently have running. So, let's hope I don't have to come back to this thread and bring it back to life.

I'm going to think positively now, and thank everyone who offered their help! I really do appreciate it.

 

[DeltaMac]

1. I created the USB bootable drive.

2. I rebooted holding down Command+R and ran First Aid. Everything checked out.

3. I wanted to see first if I could reboot with the USB drive and received a message that " This copy of the Install OS X El Capitan 10.11.3 application can't be verified. It may have been corrupted or tampered with during downloading." It then brought me back to the beginning screen.

4. I then shut down, removed the external HD and USB drive and again rebooted holding down Command+R and saw the opportunity to install El Capitan over Wi-Fi. I figured I had nothing to lose, so I tried it and it seems to have worked! I am now running El Capitan 10.11.3.

5. I'm going to stick with trying to create a bootable USB drive by re-downloading El Capitan once again, just to have it on hand.

My concern now is whether other issues will pop up eventually, necessitating that I actually do a clean install. I am hoping to avoid that, but am willing to do so if things don't work out with what I currently have running. So, let's hope I don't have to come back to this thread and bring it back to life.
...

I am curious. What method did you use to create the USB bootable drive?

You can boot to that drive, and run Disk Utility from there, too, along with some of the other choices that you have when booting with Command+R.
Booting with Command+R boots to the recovery partition on your hard drive, but not tothe bootable USB.
Choose your USB boot drive by booting while holding Option, and choosing your external USB boot.

The advantage when booting to the USB installer, is that you can also erase the recovery partition, so the entire installation is fresh, and not just the boot partition.

 

[RalphTomaccio]

As I said in an earlier post, I wanted to download the full 6 GB El Capitan Installer to have the freshest version as I couldn't get the USB drive to work because of a message that said it may have been corrupted during download. The problem I now have is that it won't download again from the App store. When I use the download button on the El Capitan page, the progress wheel in the upper left corner just spins and spins, but nothing gets downloaded into the Applications folder. If I go to the "Purchased" area in the App store, the file shows as having been downloaded at some point, but the "Download" button on the right side is greyed out and prevents me from re-downloading it from that area as well.

And the full 6 GB El Capitan Installer is not available from the Apple Support site either. It simple directs me to the App Store. Any other way to download that file again?

 

[CoastalOR]

The problem I now have is that it won't download again from the App store. When I use the download button on the El Capitan page, the progress wheel in the upper left corner just spins and spins, but nothing gets downloaded into the Applications folder. If I go to the "Purchased" area in the App store, the file shows as having been downloaded at some point, but the "Download" button on the right side is greyed out and prevents me from re-downloading it from that area as well.
And the full 6 GB El Capitan Installer is not available from the Apple Support site either. It simple directs me to the App Store. Any other way to download that file again?

You have to delete the "Install OS X El Capitan" app from the Applications folder (if you still have it on your Mac) before you can download the full installer from the Purchased tab in the App Store.