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User profile for user: madmoravian
madmoravian Author
User level: Level 1
8 points

Attempting to upgrade from Mountain Lion to El Capitan on 2014 MBP

I'm attempting to upgrade my aunt's computer from Mountain Lion to El Capitan so I can then upgrade it further.


I downloaded the base El Capitan dmg from the support apple: http://updates-http.cdn-apple.com/2019/cert/061-41424-20191024-218af9ec-cf50-4516-9011-228c78eda3d2/InstallMacOSX.dmg

[This is a Direct Download Link]


And ran the install. It ran successfully but did not upgrade the OS. It still sits at 10.8.6. I then attempted to run an 11.6 upgrade install and it, of course, complained that it needs 10.11 to run.


The machine is very difficult to upgrade because most websites Safari says it can't display the pages, so I can't easily visit links in the browser. If it's a direct download it's doable.


Any thoughts? Is that a bad download? Is there a link to a good download?

Posted on Feb 13, 2021 8:28 PM

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User profile for user: HWTech
HWTech
User level: Level 9
56,234 points

Posted on Feb 13, 2021 8:40 PM

When you run the .pkg app inside the mounted .dmg file it will extract the real installer to the Applications folder. You should find the "Install macOS El Capitan" app within the Applications folder.


Here is an Apple article with a link to the macOS 10.11 to 11.2 installers as well as instructions for creating a bootable macOS USB installer (it also mentions the extraction process):

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


I recommend creating the macOS USB installer so you have more options just in case something goes wrong during the upgrade.


Make sure to have a good backup before attempting to upgrade macOS.

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User profile for user: HWTech
HWTech
User level: Level 9
56,234 points

Feb 13, 2021 8:40 PM in response to madmoravian

When you run the .pkg app inside the mounted .dmg file it will extract the real installer to the Applications folder. You should find the "Install macOS El Capitan" app within the Applications folder.


Here is an Apple article with a link to the macOS 10.11 to 11.2 installers as well as instructions for creating a bootable macOS USB installer (it also mentions the extraction process):

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


I recommend creating the macOS USB installer so you have more options just in case something goes wrong during the upgrade.


Make sure to have a good backup before attempting to upgrade macOS.

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Attempting to upgrade from Mountain Lion to El Capitan on 2014 MBP

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