El Capitan Reload

Question

El Capitan Reload

Trying to reload El Capitan on my MPB Pro 17inch. It was running El Capitan when Safari and iTunes began to crash. I have tried command-r, option-command-r and both fail. The error message is that no packages can be found that can be installed on the computer. El Capitan is last version that this computer can run. I current have it running with an Yosemite external USB drive. The internal drive has been altered by the MacOS installer. It will only boot into the El Capitan installer and after an hour fails

I do not understand why El Capitan will not reload. GIven the current behavior it should be removed from downloads.

I would like to reload El Capitan, if I am unable to do that I would like to get the Internal Hard drive back to running the original El Capitan. That will require blessing the internal hard drive again. I know what the blass command line should look like, it is the extra files and directories that were installed that I am concerned with.

I have talked with Apple Support and they offer little support for obsolete equipment.

MacBook Pro

Posted on Oct 10, 2021 11:11 AM

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Answer 1

a brody

Level 10

85,296 points

Oct 10, 2021 5:22 PM in response to artisticforge

There is no such thing as a "powerbook pro." Apple got rid of the Powerbook moniker in 2006 with the release of Intel CPU based Macs, and replaced them with MacBook Pros.

The 2008 MacBook Pro, you would use the retail installer of 10.6.3 (does not say Upgrade, Dropin, or OEM and looks like:

Followed by:

Combo v1.1 (7/25/2011), 10.6.8 2013 Security Update 004, 2013-005 Java update

and lastly run Apple menu -> System Preferences -> Software Update to get the latest Mac App Store update, before going ahead and installing 10.11.

Itunes 10.7 has limited functionality when synchronizing with iPhones and iPads.

Use the Option key to boot the Snow Leopard installer when installing.

If you want to install 10.7, you can, by following these directions.

The El Capitan installer from the App Store will only work from 10.6.8. Although some have reported success with using the link on: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT211683 with other OSes.

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Answer 2

a brody

Level 10

85,296 points

Oct 10, 2021 11:37 AM in response to artisticforge

Pre March March 2010 models you can get the 10.6.3 retail to reinstall 10.6.3, then 10.6.8 combo, then 10.11.

March 2010 to July 2011 models command-option-shift-R sometimes works, sometimes you need the original bundled installer disc. Make sure your Mac is hard wired to a modem with ethernet if trying the 4 letter restore combination.

If using the disc, use the Option key to boot the disc.

To find out which you have, use the serial number on http://checkcoverage.apple.com/ to find out the age of the computer.

command-R only works on July 2011 and later models if the operating system was already loaded on a working hard drive.

Do not post the serial number on this discussion.

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Answer 3

Oct 10, 2021 3:28 PM in response to a brody

The Mac Powerbook Pro is early 2008. came with Snow Leopard installed. was upgraded throw all the upgraded using the App Store. In purchases tab in the App store are all the install apps. I have Yosemite running at the moment. I want to get the internal drive back working.

I have tried EL Capitan installed one last time and it failed just like before.

I have a second Mac Powerbook Pro 17inch early 2008 running Yosemite. I can also boot Snow Leopard still.

I do not need El Capitan. I like iTunes 10.7 , it works.

I would like to know why El Capitan Installer fails with stating that no packages were found to be installed on the computer.

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Answer 4

a brody

Level 10

85,296 points

Oct 10, 2021 11:45 AM in response to a brody

https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-2455 - discusses installing Snow Leopard

El Capitan link discusses upgrading to 10.11 from any Mac OS.

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El Capitan Reload

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