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.
I did.
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.
Here's probably a dumb question: is the OP the original owner of the machine, or was this bought used? Possibly that the machine was never de-authorized, hence, OS updates still tied to original owner?
Never have had a pre-owned Mac and or sold mine, so, never have had to deal with de-authorizing. Seems similar issue as when people are having issues re-installing free iWork apps to a machine.
ADD: not talking about why .1 .2 .3 updates are not being applied, but, App Store downloads not happening. Also, maybe already a download in progress and stuck?
Are you saying that you definitely deleted or removed the previously downloaded "Install OS X El Capitan" app off of your Mac? The "DOWNLOAD" button on the Purchased page will be greyed out as long as the App Store can find the "Install OS X El Capitan" app on your Mac.I did.
Are you saying that you definitely deleted or removed the previously downloaded "Install OS X El Capitan" app off of your Mac? The "DOWNLOAD" button on the Purchased page will be greyed out as long as the App Store can find the "Install OS X El Capitan" app on your Mac.
BTW, I think it is recommended to not have any extra peripherals connected (unless it is a external boot drive, keyboard, and mouse) during major OS installs.
The installer needs to be deleted from the computer entirely, or at least on an external drive that is not attached to your computer. Otherwise the App Store application will find the existing installer, wherever it is on your computer, and the download will likely fail.The original question was whether I deleted the installer from the Applications folder and to that I said "I did". I moved it to another folder, but on the same Mac.
The App Store also will show "Downloaded" (not just "download"), and won't let you download again, as long as your system can see a downloaded El Capitan installer app.
I have to remember that I have an El Cap installer app on an external drive that is sometimes connected. As soon as I dismount that drive, and there is no other El Cap installer app somewhere that the system can see, then the App Store will then let El Cap download again.
The installer needs to be deleted from the computer entirely, or at least on an external drive that is not attached to your computer. Otherwise the App Store application will find the existing installer, wherever it is on your computer, and the download will likely fail.