El Capitan - no packages were eligible for install

I got it working on my end. What I did was connect to internet via ethernet cable and then when the download finishes, unplug the cable for the installation portion of the process. I guess my clock kept resetting when connected to the internet so the key was just to unplug it as soon as it wasn't necessary anymore.

This was my situation too. I was trying to do an upgrade in place not a clean install. I would reset the date in terminal, and during restart it would connect via wifi and set the date to current. Even if i turned wi fi off it would come back after restart. One simple addition to the process 1) set the older date, 2) shutdown 3) turn off wifi router 4) restart 5) turn on wifi after install compete.

Hello,

When installing macOS, does your Macintosh have a valid connection to the internet?

Thanks so much very helpful. I had to reset the date though prior to Oct 2019 though. Once it downloaded the installer, then I switched off the wifi and all was good.

Directions here:

https://bensmann.no/changing-system-date-from-terminal-os-x-recovery/

except that I needed to set the date BACK instead of making sure it was current. In my case I set it back to 2016 and that seems to have done the trick

How are you connected to the internet, it really needs to be a cabled connection.

When downloading via the Apple Recovery Servers it is bet to connect the mac to your router via cable,

WiFi is unreliable. How did you change the date, did you do this through Terminal.

The date change worked for me. I downloaded, disconnected from the internet, changed date, and restarted.

Have you made sure WiFi is switched off.

Same to me! Just change date and restart and be sure that wi-fi connection don’t turn on.

Madm;

You have to exit disk utilities. The menus in the setup program should let you select terminal (or disk utility)i

Yes it needs to be reset to a date prior to the expiration of the certificates in October 2019.

The certificates for several of Apples OS's expired in October 2019, Apple have been very poor at getting these updated on their Recovery Servers with valid certificates. 6 months now. This may be the problem you are experiencing. 

Try this workaround, we are going to set the time and date on your mac to a date previous to the expiry date of the certificates.

Connect your mac to your router via cable, not WiFi

Boot to your Recovery HD, click on Utilities in the menubar select Terminal.

Make sure WiFi is switched off, it can reset the date back to today.

Enter a new date, for example or just copy and paste

sudo date -u 011421002016

press Return

enter your password

press Return

If Terminal returns an error saying sudo : command not found, then try again without sudo.

Now try downloading the OS.

If this works then when the OS is installed and booted up you can Open System Preferences> Date & Time

and reset the time back to today.

I tried to update my iMac version 9.1.2 2003- 2016. It said that no packages were eligible for install. Quit the installer to restart your computer and try again. Have been doing this for a day, how do I return to my original after quitting installer

I tried to update my iMac version 9.1.2 2003- 2016. It said that no packages were eligible for install. Quit the installer to restart your computer and try again. Have been doing this for a day, how do I return to my original after quitting installer