Where to Download 10.11 Install File?

[Jodeo]

Hi,
I need to download El Capitan 10.11 down to a MacBook Pro (running Sierra) so I can install it on an external drive. I'm trying to do a fresh external build before cloning over to a 2007 iMac (they max out at 10.11). The iMac is running 10.10 and (a) some newer software baselines at 10.11, (b) Safari 10.1.2 in Yosemite is no longer supported on some sites, and (c) many reports suggest the iMac will run a tad bit faster. Maybe.

How can I download the DMG file w/o installing directly on the iMac?


Thank you!

 

[casperes1996]

If you've ever downloaded it before you can just download it from the Purchased tab on the App Store. It won't install on your computer you download it from. The app will show up after it's downloaded but you just quit it and proceed to put it on a flash drive.

 

[jbarley]

You can try this Apple link...
Get OS X El Capitan

and as casperes mentioned, once the download completes, close the installer and create a usb install drive.

How to create a USB installer...
https://support.apple.com/en-ca/HT201372

 

[Jodeo]

I never downloaded it before, hence I need a link. It's no longer available from the App Store.
[doublepost=1516740926][/doublepost]

You can try this Apple link...
Get OS X El Capitan

Thanks but it won't download to a Mac running a later version of the OS. I'm going to have to set up my external drive with 10.10, then download, then copy the installer over and blah blah blah. Same steps I planned to take but in a different order (since I had to make a clone of the iMac to the external anyway).

If that doesn't work, I'll let you know.

Thanks.

 

[CoastalOR]

I never downloaded it before, hence I need a link. It's no longer available from the App Store.

Thanks but it won't download to a Mac running a later version of the OS. I'm going to have to set up my external drive with 10.10, then download, then copy the installer over and blah blah blah. Same steps I planned to take but in a different order (since I had to make a clone of the iMac to the external anyway).

Here is a thread I participated in that was a similar situation. Check it out:
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/how-to-acquire-osx-el-capitan-install.2101629/#post-25721507
My testing showed that using Yosemite to download El Capitan from that link did not work.

You might have better luck to download El Capitan with the 2007 iMac since it is the max OS for the iMac, which is one of the reasons the download link was made available.
https://support.apple.com/en-gb/HT206886

 

[casperes1996]

Thanks but it won't download to a Mac running a later version of the OS. I'm going to have to set up my external drive with 10.10, then download, then copy the installer over and blah blah blah. Same steps I planned to take but in a different order (since I had to make a clone of the iMac to the external anyway).

Could always just use a VM instead of formatting a drive

 

[Jodeo]

I was able to download it on the iMac, quit the installer, copy the installer from the Applications directory to my external drive and take it from there! Whew!

 

[oldhifi]

I never downloaded it before, hence I need a link. It's no longer available from the App Store.
[doublepost=1516740926][/doublepost]

Thanks but it won't download to a Mac running a later version of the OS. I'm going to have to set up my external drive with 10.10, then download, then copy the installer over and blah blah blah. Same steps I planned to take but in a different order (since I had to make a clone of the iMac to the external anyway).

If that doesn't work, I'll let you know.

Thanks.

I had the same problem on my 2010 MBP with High Sierra, had to delete Mac HD and install
El Captain..