Q: i don't have the "OSX El Capitan installer" in my apps !

Did you already install OS X El Capitan on the computer?  The installer, /Applications/Install OS X El Capitan.app, deletes automatically after upgrading.  If you wish to create a bootable installer it needs to be downloaded again from the App Store.

Go to the App Store and download El Capitan from the Purchased tab.

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201372

After you get another new copy of El Capitan OS X 10.11.5 installer,

you could read about how to make bootable copies, on other disks.

See the menu in this page; the product runs free, yet is donationware.

http://diskmakerx.com/

Perhaps it may be useful. There are other ways including a clone on

an external enclosed hard drive, for example.

Good luck !

Since the item is no longer in your computer, you need to have it (again) in order to proceed in this path.

You can make a bootable copy using the information in previous noted link(s) one of those ways is with

DiskMaker X, a free utility; the other way is more technical, as specified in the Support article.

• DiskMaker X - does not require a command-line to use:

http://diskmakerx.com/

• Create a bootable installer for OS X - Apple Support - requires use of terminal or 'command-line' to use

If you want a duplicate of your present running OS X including applications, user accounts, and etc, you could 'make a bootable clone' on a local hard drive that has correct formatting to support OS X booting (same as the one in the computer) and this could be an external drive or a spare internal drive.

There are a few good or well known clone utilities, downloadable from their maker's sites:

(The First one says you can make a clone, using a basic version, free; Second says they

will let you trial use theirs 30-days. Both have a good history of working with Mac OSX.)

• SuperDuper -- from Shirt-Pocket.com:

http://www.shirt-pocket.com/SuperDuper/SuperDuperDescription.html

• Carbon Copy Cloner -- from Bombich software:

http://bombich.com/

The resulting clone could be made on an external USB flash drive; or on an externally enclosed self-powered drive that has fast connections so it could run the computer almost as fast as one installed inside the computer. The bus speeds are faster usually than external cable speeds, generally. Thunderbolt2, USB3 and some other options exist with an external enclosure of reputable quality. The better models run on their own AC power adapter and not computer data-port power.

examples: https://eshop.macsales.com/shop/external-storage

In any event... there is a hardware solution, that creates new options in use, backup, & troubleshooting.

Good luck & happy computing!

the strige thing is that the OSX installer is a one shot usage.

it could remain in the apps after usage. This would save reloading....

 

Will the reload of El Capitan erase my disk ?

i do use Time machine

If it stayed on the disk, everyone would complain about the waste of disk space...

A new download will not erase your disk.

The new download of the Installer, should not automatically try to install... See details

in this older thread (in a reply by Kappy.) Get any suggested software direct from maker.

Keeping OS X Installer for Later (re) use:

https://discussions.apple.com/message/24458817#24458817

You can download ahead of time, and leave any available OS X installer, in App folder.

It will disappear after it is installed. (A second installer would not disappear right away

but should be acted upon as suggested -- use DiskMaker X -- to create bootable install

that can be saved on an external device.)

The time of day (early AM for me, near 3 AM here, is the end of a long day) is working

against some better ideas or quality in rendering them here. The thread above is from

a few years ago, but the basics are sound.

Good luck & happy computing!

Nabil Antoun wrote:

 

K Shaffer,

 

thanks,

 

the strige thing is that the OSX installer is a one shot usage.

it could remain in the apps after usage. This would save reloading....

 

Will the reload of El Capitan erase my disk ?

i do use Time machine

No. It is just a file download. It will create a "Install OS X El Capitan" file in the Applications folder. It won't change anything else.

The installer uses some 6GB of space on your disk. Most users just know enough to click and install the software.

It can be redownloaded if necessary, so it seems to me a sensible decision to let the installer delete itself.

Once we know that (and it has been like this since OS X became a download only a few years back), it is a simple matter to make a copy *before* letting the installation proceed; or quite simply download it again.

• How to make your own bootable OS X 10.11 El Capitan USB install drive (from your download installer)

http://arstechnica.com/apple/2015/09/how-to-make-your-own-bootable-os-x-10-11-el -capitan-usb-install-drive/

Since the time is after 3AM, I'm very tired...

Hopefully you can save the effort next time by having learned, better late...

Nabil Antoun wrote:

 

to Shaker & chroot,

 

this is a crazy situation :

 

I have 10.11.5 why does the solution forces me to reload it ?

 

After this new download i would again loose the installer since it desapeers after installation !

 

Is Apple just forcing the use of Apple Store just for the sake of depending on them ?

Since i have the right to download El Capitan, why not just let he installer in the apps ...?

This would save a lot of energy...

 

But maybe i am get out of the technical aspects and getting close to ecology

 

thanks to both of you...

Because you used it already, just download another one and don't install it this time.

Not every one wants a 6+GB file that they have already used in their applications folder

In the future you can copy the installer app to a flash drive or copy it somewhere else on the hard drive such as your user's home folder.  After installation you will then retain a copy for future use without having to download again.