Using startup disk to boot from usb

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arch7916 Author

Level 1

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Using startup disk to boot from usb

So my previous post didn’t get any replies, so I thought I could’ve worded it better.

I want to install OS X El Capitan on my Mac, but it just says “item unavaliable, try again later”

so I got a usb of OS X El Capitan, but my Mac just wont get to the boot menu and I don’t know why.

but I realised there is a startup disk option, but it wants you to automatically restart your computer.

so could I set the startup disk to the usb, and then restart my computer, but then I would have to restart it again when I set it back to the hard drive, so after I install OS X, does it do it automatically?

Earlier Mac models

Posted on Aug 23, 2023 4:46 AM

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Answer 1

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dialabrain

Level 10

136,355 points

Aug 23, 2023 5:02 AM in response to arch7916

Normally if you have a bootable USB installer, you would restart your computer while holding the option key. which should open a screen asking which drive you want to start from. Once there and you select the USB drive, it should boot from it, then offer to install El Capitan to your internal drive.

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Answer 2

dialabrain

Level 10

136,355 points

Aug 23, 2023 7:26 AM in response to arch7916

Did you make the USB bootable installer yourself? If you purchased it online who knows what you may have received.

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Answer 3

dialabrain

Level 10

136,355 points

Aug 23, 2023 10:40 AM in response to arch7916

There's no way to know if what you bought online is set up correctly.

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Answer 4

arch7916 Author

Level 1

26 points

Aug 23, 2023 2:56 PM in response to dialabrain

it has a recovery disk with macOS utilities on it, but it can’t install from the internet so I’m trying to install it from a usb, but I can’t get to the boot menu for some reason, so is there any way I can just use the startup disk option to restart to it? Will the startup disk automatically go back to the main hard drive after I’m done installing it?

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Answer 5

arch7916 Author

Level 1

26 points

Aug 23, 2023 7:21 AM in response to dialabrain

I’ve held down option, but that dosent work, and I’ve tried spamming option, which also didn’t work, I’ve basically tried every combination of option which didn’t work

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Answer 6

arch7916 Author

Level 1

26 points

Aug 23, 2023 8:11 AM in response to dialabrain

i purchased it online since i only have one mac, which dosent have an os, but it came with instructions at least, and also support incase i need help

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Using startup disk to boot from usb

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