Help with creating a bootable USB for 2011 iMac

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Help with creating a bootable USB for 2011 iMac

I was recently gifted my parent's old 2011 iMac and in the process of trying to erase it for my own use I accidentally deleted the Mac OS X Software off the whole computer. I spent 2+ hours on the phone with Apple support to no avail. They told me Apple no longer services that old of a computer and I would have to take it to an outside company, but I'm not trying to spend hundreds of dollars to get it fixed when the resale value for it is barely $200. I have read countless forums and apple support posts and tried everything to fix it but I still reach a point each time where it says, "a required download is missing." I have used internet recovery and purchased both a bootable DVD and a bootable USB version of el Capitan and again, I cannot get either to work.

What are my next steps? I am obviously missing something because it doesn't seem like it should be that hard to reinstall the software. The computer was originally running on Mac OS X 10.6.6 (10J4026), but was running el Capitan Version 10.11.6 when I deleted it on accident. I purchased the bootables with that version of el Capitan on it. Do I need a different software? If so, how can I create a bootable USB for the original software for the 2011 iMac using my current 2020 Macbook Pro that's running on MacOs Monterey 12.4? I also have a Lenovo laptop that I could use if I can make the software bootable on there instead. Please help, I am desperate! Thank you!

Earlier Mac models

Posted on Oct 28, 2023 5:13 PM

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Answer 1

Oct 28, 2023 5:47 PM in response to abm11

You won't be able to use the 2020 MBP to create the bootable installer because it does not qualify (have the ability) to run the old macOS versions required for the old iMac. Neither can you use a pc to do the job. You will need another Mac that can run 10.13 High Sierra to create a bootable installer for 10.13 High Sierra, which is the newest OS that the 2011 iMac can run, and the one I recommend you try for. That would be a Mac introduced between 2011 and 2017.

If you can get your hands on another Mac of this vintage, then use the guidance for the creation of a bootbale flash drive found here:> Create a bootable installer for macOS - Apple Support

FYI > ➡️ macOS 10.13 High Sierra is compatible with the Macs listed here

The 2011 iMac originally shipped with a set of grey label Mac OS install DVDs that should have been kept with the computer. They were intended to be use to reinstall the OS should something happen to the drive or the software. Is there any chance at all that those discs are still around? It sure would make restoring this old computer so very much easier.

They may be found on the used market, but they are very machine specific and many models of Mac shipped with them. The discs for one model can't be used to boot another, so it's hard to find exactly the right discs and easy to waste money on the wrong one.

Without know the particulars of the the "bootables" you bought, I can only guess why they don't work. This iMac has the ability to boot from a properly prepared USB flash drive installer.

If you are dead set on reviving this old iMac, it can be done... if you can find the proper installer.

One other option would be to find a genuine retail version of Mac OS X 10.6.3 Snow Leopard. It will also be on the used market. It's a white label disc with a picture of the Snow Leopard. The 2011 iMac should be able to boot from that Apple manufactured dvd.

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Answer 2

Oct 28, 2023 6:34 PM in response to D.I. Johnson

Follow Up -

A little extra research and I retract my statement about using the Snow Leopard retail disc.

The 2011 iMac shipped with Mac OS X 10.6.6 and may not boot from the 10.6.3 DVD.

Typically, Macs cannot boot an OS version older than the one they ship with. I believe that would hold in this instance.

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Help with creating a bootable USB for 2011 iMac

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