Issue installing OS on an old second-hand iMac

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Level 1

4 points

Issue installing OS on an old second-hand iMac

I just got an old second-hand iMac and want to install a new OS.

The iMAC was wiped so I tried to install the OS from recovery restart.

The OS (El Capitan) prompted me to log in with my Apple ID and after that, I got the error message that the OS was temporarily unavailable.

I found out that this was probably because my Apple ID did not match with the previous owner's one. Okay.

I created a bootable Pendrive and I booted from it but it keeps bringing me back to the recovery window where I can install just the El Capitan even though my pendrive is a bootable Yosemite.

Is there any way to kill this Recovery Image of El Capitan? Why is this iMac not booting just from the pen drive?

Many thanks

iMac, OS X 10.11

Posted on Oct 11, 2023 6:26 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

a brody

Level 10

85,472 points

Oct 11, 2023 8:36 AM in response to S8K7000

there could be a firmware password installed.

Use the Option key on a wired keyboard to see if it boots from the pen drive. Option key is Alt on Windows only keyboards. Command is the Windows key on a Windows only keyboard.

If it doesn't see the pen drive, the Mac might not support the OS on the pen drive.

If the pen drive isn't formatted HFS Extended GUID, it will not boot of any OS on the pen drive.

If you copied the OS onto the pen drive from a Windows PC, it will not create a bootable pen drive. You must do it from a Mac that can boot El Capitan.

To verify if your Mac supports El Capitan, lean back the whole iMac so the bottom of the foot is visible and you haven't cramped any cables on its back. Use the serial number on the bottom to verify the age on http://checkcoverage.apple.com/

Macs newer than late 2016 will not run El Capitan.

iMac Mid 2007 to early 2016 will run El Capitan.

El Capitan images created from a version of El Capitan earlier than 10.11.6 may only run on mid to early 2015 Macs and older.

Macs that have had their drive replaced and installed with a newer OS than Sierra may not allow the installation of El Capitan, and have to be reformatted with HFS Extended GUID using disk utility on internet restore.

Internet restore is command-option-shift-R on a wired keyboard.

Macs older than July 2011 will not run internet restore without first a firmware install.

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Answer 2

a brody

Level 10

85,472 points

Oct 11, 2023 9:13 AM in response to S8K7000

https://everymac.com/ultimate-mac-lookup/?search_keywords=iMac8,1 shows it is an early 2008 model. So no internet restore capability. You'll need to find a copy of 10.6.3 retail to install if the machine has been wiped to rebuild the OS.

This disc will not say upgrade, dropin, or OEM.

Run these updates:

Combo v1.1 (7/25/2011), and 10.6.8 2013 Security Update 004. Then Apple menu -> System Preferences -> Software update to ensure the Mac App Store update is installed, and then run the 10.11 installer mentioned earlier. Note you may need a more compatible browser to reach these software.

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Answer 3

S8K7000 Author

Level 1

4 points

Oct 11, 2023 9:03 AM in response to a brody

Hi Brody,

Thanks for the quick reply.

It sees the pen drive and I can choose it without a wired keyboard. However, I'm still ending up in the same recovery menu where I can reinstall the El Capitan. I made a bootable pen drive for Yosemite.

This is an old iMac 8,1 so it should run both the El Capitan and Yosemite.

"Macs older than July 2011 will not run internet restore without first a firmware install." - good to know, I don't understan why it tries to connect to App store to download the OS. However, at least this is a new information.

So I will go to eductate myself about the firmwares on the different OSs

Thank you

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