Cannot complete reinstallation of El Capitan with message "OS X El Capitan failed to download, Use the Purchase page to try again."

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Cannot complete reinstallation of El Capitan with message "OS X El Capitan failed to download, Use the Purchase page to try again."

Hi, I've been trying to reinstall El Capitan OSX to a new SSD in my Macbook Pro 2009. However, in the middle of installation when it try to download additional components, I got the above message as attached. I've tried to reinstall many times but it still display the same message. Does the OSX is no longer supported in App Store? It does allow the process to download the components but the message appear at the end of the download with 0 seconds remaining.

Please someone assist me on this, thanks in advance.

Earlier Mac models

Posted on Jun 21, 2023 5:46 PM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

HWTech

Community+ 2026

Level 9

75,020 points

Jun 22, 2023 12:18 PM in response to AdiRosli

Try changing the system date to sometime in 2017. Launch the Terminal app from the Utilities menu on the menu bar and use the following command to set the system date & time to Jan. 2, 2017 @ 11:33am:

date  -u  010211332017

The error may be due to an expired installer certificate. If so, then setting the date like this may allow it to install. Please let us know if this allows the install to proceed.

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Answer 2

BDAqua

Level 10

251,399 points

Jun 22, 2023 9:23 AM in response to AdiRosli

Do you have a friend that can help you with this?

Make a USB installer...

Create a bootable installer for macOS - Apple Support...

Create a bootable installer for macOS - Apple Support

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Answer 3

BDAqua

Level 10

251,399 points

Jun 21, 2023 6:06 PM in response to AdiRosli

How did you format the SSD?

El Capitan cannot understand APFS, El Capitan needs MacOS Extended Journaled.

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Answer 4

BDAqua

Level 10

251,399 points

Jun 21, 2023 6:42 PM in response to AdiRosli

Like many others, I ran into the dreaded “The recovery server could not be contacted” message when trying to do a restore of Mac OS High Sierra for a 2010 13 inch MBP that I was selling (yes I know it’s worth almost nothing, but someone wanted to buy it from me)…

MacOS High Sierra Problem - Apple Community

Reapply the Mojave OS...

1. Start up from macOS Recovery

Option-⌘-R

Upgrade to the latest macOS compatible with your Mac.

APFS won't work for Sierra, Sierra needs MacOS Extended Journaled. High Sierra won't work for APFS on earlier Macs.

What has often worked for others is to use this Restore Method instead of CMD+r keys...

Option-⌘-R

Upgrade to the latest macOS compatible with your Mac.

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/254793247?answerId=258936149022#258936149022

Clean Install of High Sierra: Multiple Fa… - Apple Community

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Answer 5

AdiRosli Author

Level 1

8 points

Jun 22, 2023 10:12 AM in response to BDAqua

If you look again at the image, I've managed to create the USB installer and launch the installation process. The problem is I could not complete the installation, could be due to problems with connecting to Apple server or Apps Store to complete the download process, etc.. I've done almost all the suggestion available in the internet. I'm almost accepted the fact that this is an impossible mission! :(

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