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Attempting to re-install OS X El Capitan on a 10 year old iMac

Helping a friend, I have limited Apple experience.

  1. Wiped the drive
  2. Logging in the only screen I can get to is OS X Utilities Restore From Time Machine Backup/Reinstall OSX/Get Help Online/Disk Utility
  3. I started with Reinstall OSX
      1. Everything worked up to input the 6 digit code, when I entered the 6 digit , a code, a dialog appeared that the OS file can't be found. Tried 5 more times, same result.
  4. I called Apple, and they suggested I download the OS to a USB
      1. The USB requires access to a Terminal Window
      2. The only thing I can access is the dialog described in 3.a. above
  5. Apple hasn't been able to offer any other options. Does anyone know of another way of installing the OS? Maybe a way to access a Terminal Window?


Posted on Jan 20, 2021 6:20 PM

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Question marked as Apple recommended

One will need a Compatible Apple Computer as per this link. On that computer and that computer only Create a Bootable Installer of El Capitan. This can not be done from a Windows computer

Posted on Jan 26, 2021 1:45 AM

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3 replies

Jan 21, 2021 1:53 AM in response to isappledifficult

There is a way that requires access to another functioning Mac Computer that is compatible to run El Capitan. It involves downloading the complete Installer and Creating a Bootable Installer as per Linked Page. It also requires the functioning Mac to use Only Safari to open the link to El Capitan which will open a redirect and open the Apple Store to El Capitan to download.

Jan 25, 2021 8:19 AM in response to P. Phillips

Hello, I need clarification, I need another function Mac Computer (I do).


Compatible to run El Capitan? not clear what this means, do you mean this Mac is running El Capitan, or that it has resources to at least run El Capitan?


I've already downloaded the El Capitan install to a USB as described below, although I did it from a Window's PC. Are you saying that if I download to a Mac, it will actually create a bootable USB? I have the USB from my Windows PC download on the MAC, but it definitely doesn't seem to recognize it. Unless you are telling me I need to somehow access the USB from the MAC I'm trying to install to? I see no way of accessing the USB to run InstallMacOSX.pkg.


  • Download: OS X El Capitan
  • This downloads as a disk image named InstallMacOSX.dmg. On a Mac that is compatible with El Capitan, open the disk image and run the installer within, named InstallMacOSX.pkg. It installs an app named Install OS X El Capitan into your Applications folder. You will create the bootable installer from this app, not from the disk image or .pkg installer.



Attempting to re-install OS X El Capitan on a 10 year old iMac

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