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raven237 Author

Level 1

4 points

2011 iMac not responding to recovery or installation

Hello all,

I have a 2011 iMac that was given to me. When I turn it on, I am brought to the macOS Utilities screen and given the option of recovering from Time Machine or reinstalling El Capitan. When I try to install El Capitan, I am able to follow the prompts, agree to terms, log in to apple, and select a drive to install, until I get to the loading bar where it says "Downloading additional components. Your computer will restart automatically." When the loading bar finishes, the screen just closes and I'm brought back to the macOS utilities screen. No reset, nothing. The Installer Log is repeating an error "[420] TSpliced font failed creating descriptor for ___" with a font name. I have reset the PRAM, tried using internet recovery (nothing happens), changed the date in terminal, erased the drive, and still nothing happens. I have attempted to create a bootable drive but my MacBook Air no longer supports El Capitan. Any advice on how to move forward with this would be appreciated.

iMac, OS X 10.11

Posted on Aug 15, 2023 3:31 PM

Top-ranking reply

John Galt

Level 10

146,348 points

Posted on Aug 15, 2023 4:33 PM

If you are unable to use Internet Recovery then you will need to obtain installation media. That Mac's two original, grey, System Install DVD and Applications Install DVD must accompany those Macs from cradle to grave.

Assuming they were not also given to you, your next course of action is to purchase a retail, white, Mac OS X Snow Leopard DVD. Apple no longer sells them but you may be able to find one on the used market. Boot from that disc, erase the Mac, install that operating system, and update it using Software Update. That will result in OS X 10.6.8, which will incorporate the App Store, which conveys the ability to upgrade to the latest macOS version compatible with that Mac (probably High Sierra). Read How to download macOS - Apple Support. Scroll down to High Sierra 10.13. Follow its instructions (use Safari).

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2011 iMac not responding to recovery or installation

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