I follow the directions for how to erase disk disk and reinstall OS X. But when I try to reinstall OS X El Capitan, I get an error message. "An error occurred while preparing the installation. Try running this application again." I have been at this for about three hours. If anyone can help me please I am not sure which MacBook this is but it is old. Was running El Capitan previously . I just want to use it to play DVDs and the Internet. TIA
I just had the same issue with 2008 MacBook Pro. After many days of trying everything I could find, it came to this. Turn on the MacBook and let it boot up to the recovery screen. Go up to the utilities drop down menu and choose “terminal”. When that opens; set the the date to “today’s “ date. Simply type in date -u 1020164523 Then hit enter. In this case the entry 10 is the current month. 20 is the current day. 1645 is the current time in 24 hour format and 23 is the current year- 2023.
Then close terminal and click the install OSx button.
RE: " I follow the directions for how to erase disk disk and reinstall OS X". That begs the question who's directions?
Here's Apple direction. I suggest you start fresh and do it all again following Apple's directive precisely.
unfortunately i was following apple’s instructions. and i have gone back with fresh several times and redone it. but thank you for the suggestion, sometimes that is all it takes. i am working on a trying to make a bootable usb now. but iit’s not working. so i may try again today
Cannot reinstall OS X after erasing!!
