mlsav
Level 1 (0 points)

Q: OS X Cap install failed and iMac won't reboot

I have an iMac that was running the most recent OS version before I attempted to install OS X El Capitan. The installation of the new OS X failed to finish and  the message said to quit the installer and restart. However, I got a message saying there isn't enough information to restart. So I'm stuck in this install/utility purgatory. When I restart the mac it comes back to the end of the OS X install, which fails. If I try to reboot in safe mode (holding shift key), the mac shuts off. Please help!

iMac, OS X El Capitan (10.11)

Posted on Oct 5, 2015 5:13 AM

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mlsav

Q: OS X Cap install failed and iMac won't reboot

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  • by jeremy_v,Helpful

    jeremy_v jeremy_v Oct 6, 2015 7:16 AM in response to mlsav
    Community Specialists
    Oct 6, 2015 7:16 AM in response to mlsav

    Hello mlsav, 
     

    Thank you for participating in the Apple Support Communities. 
     

    It looks like the El Capitan installation didn't complete and when you try to boot into safe mode your Mac shuts off. I have several steps to offer that may help. 
     

    First, boot to OS X Recovery (by holding command-R when your Mac starts up) and repair your hard drive from Disk Utility. 
     

    Here are the full steps from Resolve startup issues and perform disk maintenance with Disk Utility and fsck: 
     

    Use these steps to use the Disk Utility app to verify or repair a disk.

    1. If you're using OS X Lion or later, start the computer from Recovery System or Internet Recovery. If you're using an older version of OS X and your computer came with a Mac OS X Install disc, insert the installation disc and restart the computer while holding the C key instead.
    2. When your computer finishes starting up, choose Disk Utility from the Utilities window, or from the Installer menu if you're started from an installation disc.
    3. Click the First Aid tab.
    4. Click the disclosure triangle to the left of the hard drive icon to display the names of your hard disk volumes and partitions.
    5. Select your Startup Disk (usually named "Macintosh HD").
    6. Click Repair. Disk Utility checks and repairs the disk.


    If the Mac shuts off unexpectedly during this process, I'd recommend checking the hardware using the steps in Using Apple Diagnostics.


    Let us know what Disk Utility finds and we should be able to offer some additional steps.


    Sincerely. 

  • by mlsav,

    mlsav mlsav Oct 6, 2015 6:20 AM in response to jeremy_v
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 6, 2015 6:20 AM in response to jeremy_v

    Thanks for the response. Unfortunately, I'm still stuck. I was able to reboot in Recovery mode and followed your steps to repair the disk. I got: error:L Disk Utility can't repair this disk....e disk, and restore to your backed-up files. (see screen shot attached). I tried to then do a backup from time capsule and it couldn't find a disk to restore from. It just kept saying scanning for disks.

     

    IMG_0045.JPG

  • by jeremy_v,Helpful

    jeremy_v jeremy_v Oct 10, 2015 7:36 AM in response to mlsav
    Community Specialists
    Oct 10, 2015 7:36 AM in response to mlsav

    Hi mlsav,
     

    Thank you for replying with the steps you tried and their results.
     

    It looks like from your screenshot that Disk Utility can't repair your Macintosh HD and suggests erasing the hard drive and restoring from a backup. You mentioned that you tried restoring from a backup on your Time Capsule, but it didn't get past "scanning for disks."
     

    If you didn't already, try erasing your hard drive and reinstalling a new copy of OS X. You can follow these steps from How to reinstall OS X on your Mac:
     

    You can use these steps to erase the files on your startup disk and install a new copy of OS X:
     

    1. Before you begin, make sure your Mac is connected to the Internet.
    2. Restart your Mac. Immediately hold down the Command (⌘) and R keys after you hear the startup sound to start up in OS X Recovery.
    3. When the Recovery window appears, select Disk Utility then click Continue.
    4. Select the indented volume name of your startup disk from the left side of the Disk Utility window, then click the Erase tab.
    5. If you want to securely erase the drive, click Security Options. Select an erase method, then click OK.
    6. From the Format pop-up menu, select Mac OS Extended (Journaled). Type a name for your disk, then click Erase.
    7. After the drive is erased, close the Disk Utility window.
    8. If you’re not connected to the Internet, choose a network from the Wi-Fi menu.
    9. Select the option to Reinstall OS X.
    10. Click Continue and follow the onscreen instructions to reinstall OS X. 


    If erasing the HD and reinstalling OS X doesn't succeed, I'd recommend contacting Apple Support for help with your iMac hardware. You can use this link: https://expresslane.apple.com/GetproductgroupList.action 


    Best Regards.