OS X Could Not Be Installed on Your Computer!

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Level 1

12 points

OS X Could Not Be Installed on Your Computer!

I'm trying to re-install the OS onto my old iMac late 2009. I have tried all options from Apples support and it does not work. 😣 I can't do it via the cmd+R menu. My iMac downloads El Capitan but fails to install. Then when I try to download High Sierra from the App Store the file can't be found. If I try to down load El Capitan from the App Store then I can't make a bootable USB as my new computer can't convert the .dmg to a .app file. 😣😣😣 This is like owning a PC now! Come on Apple! 😣😣

iMac, OS X 10.11

Posted on Oct 6, 2021 12:13 PM

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Answer 1

Jack-19

Level 8

46,062 points

Oct 6, 2021 4:08 PM in response to marzoid

In certain installations when reinstalling OS X El Capitan from OS X Recovery, OS X El Capitan may not install correctly.

To fix this, create an OS X El Capitan (or macOS High Sierra) bootable installer using another Mac: How to create a bootable installer for macOS - Apple Support and use it on the Late 2009 iMac.

Cheers,

Jack

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Answer 2

Old Toad

Level 10

210,901 points

Oct 6, 2021 3:03 PM in response to marzoid

Late 2009 iMacs can only run 10.13.6 - High Sierra.

Have you tried installing El Capitan more than once?

Boot into the Recovery volume (boot with the Command + R keys held down), launch Disk Utility and run First Aid on the drive before trying to install El Capitan again. If you get any error indications rerun First Aid until you get none.

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Answer 3

Oct 7, 2021 6:25 AM in response to marzoid

Changed the system date?

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Answer 4

Oct 6, 2021 1:13 PM in response to marzoid

What version are you on now? What version do you want to install?

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Answer 5

marzoid Author

Level 1

12 points

Oct 6, 2021 1:16 PM in response to Keith Barkley

I have no idea what the latest OS was. The hard drive is erased. Nothing left. The automatic INSTALL OS X is trying to install El Capitan. But that installation just fails every time.

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Answer 6

marzoid Author

Level 1

12 points

Oct 7, 2021 12:23 AM in response to Jack-19

I found a solution. During the installation when the error message pops up, I changed the date to 2017 via terminal. Then El Capitan was installed over the internet from the OS X recovery.

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OS X Could Not Be Installed on Your Computer!

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