OSX Freezes on Install (Tried MOST Fixes)

[Jesuslizardjr.]

I recently made the silly decision to upgrade to El Capitan on my 2011 MacBook Pro as it went off without a hitch on my iMac at work.

It has incurred the same issue that I have read about countless times and I am trying to fix it and have tried almost everything. It freezes at about 70% install or fully fills and then does nothing, I've left it over night to no use.

- Ive booted it up I recovery mode and reinstalled the OS to no avail
- Ive flashed the NVRAM a few times to no avail.

I HAVENT tried deleting any 3rd party kexts as I don't know how, the commands I followed in other threads when typed into terminal just said command not recognised etc.

i understand there are many topics on this but I have scoured them and tried everything I could to my knowledge and it still hasn't worked. If someone could aid me in deleting any kexts that are causing issues with the install that would be great, and if that doesn't work some further assistance if possible! I really don't want to do a hard install, as there's data I want to keep and wouldn't mind being able to use El Capitan..

thanks, any help is massively appreciated

 

[Weaselboy]

Can you still boot to and run the system? If so, try looking in the following locations for third party launch items and kexts that might be causing trouble. Just note where they are and drag them to the desktop then restart and try the update again.

~/Library/LaunchAgents (~ is your users folder)
/Library/LaunchAgents
/Library/LaunchDaemons
/Library/StartupItems
/System/Library/Extensions/

 

[Jesuslizardjr.]

Thanks for the reply, I can't boot at all, I can boot in recovery mode but Safe Mode won't boot, so I have access to Terminal but the commands don't work in there, I think the path is iffy with my Mac, won't even recognise sudo.

Can you still boot to and run the system? If so, try looking in the following locations for third party launch items and kexts that might be causing trouble. Just note where they are and drag them to the desktop then restart and try the update again.

~/Library/LaunchAgents (~ is your users folder)
/Library/LaunchAgents
/Library/LaunchDaemons
/Library/StartupItems
/System/Library/Extensions/

 

[Weaselboy]

Thanks for the reply, I can't boot at all, I can boot in recovery mode but Safe Mode won't boot, so I have access to Terminal but the commands don't work in there, I think the path is iffy with my Mac, won't even recognise sudo.

Do you have a backup so we can erase the whole disk and start over?

How are you trying to install El Capitan... from a USB key or from within the existing OS install?

 

[mmomega]

Is this over WiFi ? Ethernet?
Using a USB drive?
Try running Disk Utility and First Aid / Check and Repair Permission before and after an upgrade.

I would try to fix permissions first, if doing a standard upgrade over your current OS, I always do ethernet cable if possible to take out any chances of wifi interference issues and above that I would go with permission fix and a known reliable USB drive.

 

[Jesuslizardjr.]

Well that's the last option, to start fresh but there's a couple of items I don't want to lose (unfortunately)

I think it's already installed, in recovery mode it says the OS is 10.11.6, which is El Capitan, so I assume the issue is in booting up the OS and something is interfering with it. I've done disk recovery and first aid, disk is all good

I installed it from download via Ethernet, I've reinstalled it a couple of times from recovery mode (no luck) and downloaded the combo install from apple website, stuck it on a usb but I have no idea how to install a dmg from a usb in recovery mode, i assume that's down to terminal.

Thanks pal.