Clean install on a blank hard drive

USB Bootable Installer:

Using the following link, create a USB Bootable Installer of El Capitan.

Go Here: How to Create a Bootable Installer for macOS - Apple Support

Mylit Said:

"Clean install on a blank hard drive: [...]C. Tell me how, but they are both newer model laptops."

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macOS 10.11 Limitations:

The farthest an install can go back to is what came with with Mac. So, on a newer Mac that came with Sierra (macOS 12) or later, this would not work. So, if you have no other such Mac, then see if you know someone who has a computer that came with macOS 10.11 and see if it the current drive will work on that. But ask them for permission to use it, of course.

Mylit Said:

"Clean install on a blank hard drive I have tried several different methods to install a new Mac OS X El Capitan onto a blank hard drive which is 1 of 4 hard drives installed in my Mac Pro and each one has ended in the same result. Please help!"

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Try Running First Aid:

Perhaps you have a failing hard drive? So, run First Aid, and find out. Perform the following:

1. Boot: in Recovery Mode
2. Select: Disk Utility
3. Select: Your Internal Drive
4. Click: First Aid button

Mylit Said:

"tried that all day today with a blank DVD but I could never get the terminal to recognize the name"

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USB Flash Drive:

The code is intended for a USB Flash Drive - not a blank DVD.

So, create a new Administrator User on your macOS, and then try creating the USB Bootable Installer though that user.

Mylit Said:

"[...]However, this time there was 182 GBs installed on the blank disk. So, I am thinking it is installing the OS but it is still not able to be a startup disk??????"

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Reveal your Volume(s):

Use Terminal while in Recovery Mode:

1. Go to: Utilities menu
2. Select: Terminal

Once in Terminal:

1. Enter this command (use the slash)

cd /Volumes

2. Then use this Command:

ls

What is shown?

Mylit Said:

"Clean install on a blank hard drive: [...]I followed step by step and still got the same message [...]any other suggestions?"

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A Few Thoughts:

A. Try a Different MacOS:

For troubleshooting purposes: Would you be up for trying a different macOS? Try doing so, and see if that works. Try High Sierra (macOS 13).

B. Use a USB Bootable Installer:

If you were to use a USB Bootable Installer, then use one for High Sierra (macOS 10.13).

C. Use Another Mac:

See what happens when you connect this drive on another Mac. If the install then works, then you'd be all set, and it would be confirmed that it is indeed this Mac giving you this error. If not, then it is the drive.

Mylit Said:

"Clean install on a blank hard drive: I am sorry the previous was not it recovery mode. the following is:[...]”

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Thank you for following up.

Use this Hard Drive:

Boot into this hard drive, and then run Terminal while in Recovery Mode. Any difference?

If the Issue Persists:

That shows that the volume is corrupt, as it did not go through successfully. So, is there any concern for losing data? If not, then just erase that one hard drive (of all 4). Then, proceed with an install. Try creating and using using a USB Bootable Installer for El Capitan, as I mentioned above. See where things go from there.

Mylit Said:

"Clean install on a blank hard drive: I only have 1 startup disk listed. In disk utility if I click on the "I" icon it says that only the startup disk is bootable. How can I get them to be bootable?"

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To Emphasize:

If it is not showing up as a startup disk, then the install is non existent. So, you need to perform another install. Boot into Recovery Mode, and then erase this hard drive. Tray another install.

There are 4 internal hard drives - boot from the one hilighted here:

Mylit Said:

"Clean install on a blank hard drive: [...]I followed step by step and still got the same message [...]any other suggestions?"

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Search eBay:

I am looking on eBay, and do not see the out-of-the-box installation disks. But, USB Bootable Installers are often available for order, as of this reply. Purchase at your own risk.

eBay Search Queue: el capitan installer

Mylit Said:

"Clean install on a blank hard drive: [...]I am now convinced that there is something wrong with the app store installer. I installed an old version of Snow Leopard that I had an install disk for and it was listed as a start up drive, updated it to the latest version and then connected to the app store to install el capitan and I got the same error message!"

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Provide Apple Feedback:

Do your Part: If one works, and the other does not, then your conclusion seems accurate. So, inform Apple of this.

1. Go Here: Feedback - iTunes - Apple
2. Select: "Broken Link" fro the "Feedback Type"
3. Proceed from there as necessary

Mylit Said:

"Connect the USB flash drive or other volume that you're using for the bootable installer. : What does other volume that you're using for the bootable installer mean?"

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"Hard Drive" Vs. "Volume"

A Volume would be the name of the install on the hard drive. But, having 3 the hard drives that work, they each have their own volume(s) on it. So, use one of the three other drives by booting into it, using Terminal while logged in. This is the volume names on each hard drive.

1. El Capitan
2. Mountain Lion **2
3. Mountain Lion

So, boot into one of the other drives, and use Terminal in it, with a USB Flash Drive plugged in.

Or, to make it simpler - user another Mac.

Mylit Said:

"How do I boot into the hard drive that I want to install if it is not bootable?"

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Change the Startup Disk.

Go Here: Change your startup disk once Apple Support. Once you reboot, it should boot into that. If that does not work, then the drive is not being readable somehow.

Mylit Said:

"Clean install on a blank hard drive: So let me see if I have this correct. 1 I reboot in RM and install from there? 2.And then when that install doesn't work I Erase the hard drive while still in RM? 3 then I try to reinstall again while in RM?"

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Spot on. You are correct. That is how to perform this.