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NoBoMac

Moderator
Staff member
Jul 1, 2014
6,289
4,986
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?
 
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RalphTomaccio

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Oct 26, 2014
28
2
Slatersville RI
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?

I am the OP and the original owner of the iMac. Good thought though!
 

DeltaMac

macrumors G5
Jul 30, 2003
13,757
4,583
Delaware
I agree, maybe the download is already in progress.
My suggestion is to quit App Store.
Restart your Mac.
Open App Store, then click on the El Cap download button in the Purchases again.
I have seen the download take a minute or two before it begins to download - and the Purchases tab does NOT always show progress, and it might seem like nothing at all is happening, at least in the App Store window. I use something (iStat menus) that will show that network downloads are in progress, and that will show that SOMETHING is downloading. If you have nothing else, the Activity Monitor/network tab should show activity, and you can open your Launchpad, where you should see that the El Capitan installer app is downloading. You should see a progress bar there.
So, lots of choices for checking for a download in progress.
 
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CoastalOR

macrumors 68040
Jan 19, 2015
3,032
1,151
Oregon, USA
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.
 

NoBoMac

Moderator
Staff member
Jul 1, 2014
6,289
4,986
Another thing to look for re: stalled downloads, softwareupdated process. If I recall correctly. That's the process doing the download. I seem to recall running into similar situation with Xcode update that I could not cancel it, no matter what I did. Issued a "kill" command on the process to off it.
 

DeltaMac

macrumors G5
Jul 30, 2003
13,757
4,583
Delaware
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.
 

RalphTomaccio

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Oct 26, 2014
28
2
Slatersville RI
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 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. I will try removing the installer completely from the Mac as well as turn off the external drive. As for that external drive, it was disconnected from my Mac in my last attempt to download the installer.

I'll give it another shot with no copy of the installer in sight.
 

chrfr

macrumors G5
Jul 11, 2009
13,709
7,280
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 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.
 
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RalphTomaccio

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Oct 26, 2014
28
2
Slatersville RI
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.

That was it, guys!

I was successful in re-downloading El Capitan by getting rid of previous downloads completely from my Mac. I also disconnected my external drive as well. I made the (wrong) assumption that as long as it wasn't in the Applications folder, it would download. Learn something every day!

Once again, thanks.
 
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