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iM 4,1-14,4 Restore to newer OS x version - current 10.6.8 os x imac 9.1

gow75

gow75

macrumors member
Original poster
Nov 10, 2011
36
8
Boise, Idaho
Hello, I need some assistance with performing a restore, I recenlty acquired another Imac found at a thrift shop and it works great however i need help trying to or performing a restore and erase current user profile. the current version installed is OSX 10.6.8 this is a IMAC 9, please see pic for other info. everything works on it no issues with hardware. I just to see if i can upgrade it to at least to LION or above.
  • Mac OS X Snow Leopard: 10.6.8
how do i create a bootable usb , the imac has a disk drive but i do not have any DVD's

where do i get an image from? lion or above.

thanks
 

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DeltaMac said:
iMac 24-inch, Early 2009
Shipped with Leopard installed.
You can upgrade to El Capitan, if you want to do that. El Capitan would be the newest version that Apple provided to support your iMac9,1
You can download the installer app from Apple. Links and other info in this support doc - https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT211683
Click to expand...
thanks how would i run it? can i create a usb boot on my windows pc? or do i have to be on the imac to do it?
 
this is going to be an issue, I downloaded the dmg file for el capitan and ran it it is asking for username and password i do not know the password how can i install from usb to install and erase previous user profile?
 
gow75 said:
this is going to be an issue, I downloaded the dmg file for el capitan and ran it it is asking for username and password i do not know the password how can i install from usb to install and erase previous user profile?
Click to expand...

If the DMG has successfully downloaded then you don't need to pursue the USB install route.

To reset the password on Snow Leopard, which will then allow you to install El Capitan from the DMG, try this...

 
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ok so i was able to get the password changed, I logged in and ran the dmg file package for el capitan and authenticated however nothing changed? what is the issue
 
I went into recovery mode and erased the hard drive which is an Hitachi drive and kept the disk imager which can not be erased, I launched the restore to new version of OS x and logged into itunes app store and authenticated with my account, ( this mac did not belong to me i bought it a thrift store) it will not update the OSX just says app store not availabe try again later. wth
 
You will get to try again...
Download the installer dmg file.
When you run that, it says it is installing. It is not, in fact, installing El Capitan. That dmg file simply copies the installer app, which can then be found in the Applications folder. Once you have that installer app in your Applications folder, you can then run the installer. THAT will then upgrade the system that you are presently booted to, to El Capitan.
 
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DeltaMac said:
You will get to try again...
Download the installer dmg file.
When you run that, it says it is installing. It is not, in fact, installing El Capitan. That dmg file simply copies the installer app, which can then be found in the Applications folder. Once you have that installer app in your Applications folder, you can then run the installer. THAT will then upgrade the system that you are presently booted to, to El Capitan.
Click to expand...
the imac i am trying to restore has been wiped so i have to create a bootable USB or DVD? i have another imac that i maybe can run the boot loader installer on it here is the specs on that one is this doable?

iMac "Core 2 Duo" 2.16 20" Specs (Late 2006, MA589LL, iMac5,1, A1207, 2118): EveryMac.com

Technical specifications for the iMac "Core 2 Duo" 2.16 20". Dates sold, processor type, memory info, hard drive details, price and more.
everymac.com everymac.com


the one i want to restore with new image is this imac :

iMac "Core 2 Duo" 2.4 24" (Al) Specs (Mid-2007 - 24", MA878LL, iMac7,1, A1225, 2134): EveryMac.com

Technical specifications for the iMac "Core 2 Duo" 2.4 24" (Al). Dates sold, processor type, memory info, hard drive details, price and more.
everymac.com everymac.com
 
I did it this way.
First, get from Internet Archive an iso of El Capitan. If possible, torrent the download, it's much faster. On your other mac, download balena etcher.
Use that to make your USB installer.
Boot to it in your 'new' mac. Use disk utility to completely erase, not restore.
Close disk utility and go to Install macOS and away you go.
 
DCBassman said:
I did it this way.
First, get from Internet Archive an iso of El Capitan. If possible, torrent the download, it's much faster. On your other mac, download balena etcher.
Use that to make your USB installer.
Boot to it in your 'new' mac. Use disk utility to completely erase, not restore.
Close disk utility and go to Install macOS and away you go.
Click to expand...

Another option is this method. It enabled me to create an El Capitan USB installer within macOS - doing it this way precluded the need to download additional software or an ISO. This approach also means that the installer is the recertified version and spares you the hassle of entering Recovery Mode and Terminal to alter the computer's time/date settings in order for the installation to proceed.
 
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DCBassman said:
I did it this way.
First, get from Internet Archive an iso of El Capitan. If possible, torrent the download, it's much faster. On your other mac, download balena etcher.
Use that to make your USB installer.
Boot to it in your 'new' mac. Use disk utility to completely erase, not restore.
Close disk utility and go to Install macOS and away you go.
Click to expand...
im going to try both.. thank you all much will be in touch soon.
 
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ok so i used a usb flash drive on my old mac 2006 one and copied the elcapitan.dmg file over to the mac and ran disk utlity, however i run into this issue now wtf
 

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That probably won't work.
Double click on the .dmg
It will mount on your desktop as a folder. Open that folder. Should be a package (.pkg) file inside that folder.
Double click the .pkg file. THAT will copy the installer app to your Applications folder.
Then, do two more steps. Copy that "Install OS X El Capitan" app to an external drive, as the install process will delete the installer app in your Applications folder, as a final step in the OS X install. You should save it to an exteranl drive before you start the install, just in case you need it again later, you will have it stored on your external drive.
THEN, simply double-click the installer app (in your Applications folder, right?), and follow the steps to upgrade your existing system to El Capitan. You don't actually need a bootable install, when you can simply run the installer to upgrade your existing system.
 
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gow75 said:
ok so i used a usb flash drive on my old mac 2006 one and copied the elcapitan.dmg file over to the mac and ran disk utlity, however i run into this issue now wtf
Click to expand...
I figured it out USB has been imaged now via disk utility now i am going to try and image the newer iMAC 9.1
 
DeltaMac said:
That probably won't work.
Double click on the .dmg
It will mount on your desktop as a folder. Open that folder. Should be a package (.pkg) file inside that folder.
Double click the .pkg file. THAT will copy the installer app to your Applications folder.
Then, do two more steps. Copy that "Install OS X El Capitan" app to an external drive, as the install process will delete the installer app in your Applications folder, as a final step in the OS X install. You should save it to an exteranl drive before you start the install, just in case you need it again later, you will have it stored on your external drive.
THEN, simply double-click the installer app (in your Applications folder, right?), and follow the steps to upgrade your existing system to El Capitan. You don't actually need a bootable install, when you can simply run the installer to upgrade your existing system.
Click to expand...
this will not work because the imac 9.1 is wiped, i also have another imac that is 2006 one i am trying disk utlity on it.
 
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