I want to reinstall OS X 10.7, but cannot get past verified with Apple

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barryp9 Author

Level 1

7 points

I want to reinstall OS X 10.7, but cannot get past verified with Apple

I have just bought a 2009 iMac 2.66GHz Core2Duo.

The seller erased the OS (OS X 10.11), ready to re-intall.

On startup, I see the Mac OS X Utilities window.

I click Reinstall Mac OS X set up and install a new copy of Lion.

I see a picture of a lion, and Mac OS X Lion To set up the installation of Mac OS X 10.7 click Continue.

I click Continue.

I see To download and restore Mac OS X, your computer’s eligibility will be verified with Apple.

I click Continue.

I see An error occurred while preparing the installation, try running the application again.

I have run it several times, always getting the same result.

I have restarted several times (sometimes holding down Command-R).

The menu bar confirms I am connected, with password, to my router (and I know my router is connected to the internet, since another computer is using it to access the internet).

How can I re-install Mac OS X Lion?

iMac

Posted on Dec 31, 2023 9:46 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

HWTech

Level 9

68,660 points

Dec 31, 2023 12:51 PM in response to barryp9

If you have an Early or Mid-2009 model, then you can try to purchase an OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard retail upgrade DVD (one with a picture on it). From there you can install macOS 10.11 El Capitan using the instructions in this Apple article:

How to download and install macOS - Apple Support

If you have a Late-2009 model, then you would need the gray OS X 10.6 restoration DVD....one with the gray label which only works with one specific model computer. It is possible you may find a used version online, but you need to make sure it is for your exact model Mac.

You can get the exact model of the iMac by entering the system serial number on this Apple page to check warranty coverage. The system serial number of an iMac can be found on the bottom of the stand.

Check Your Service and Support Coverage - Apple Support

Otherwise you will need access to another Mac generally from 2007 to 2015 in order to create a bootable macOS 10.11 USB installer using the instructions in this Apple article:

Create a bootable installer - Apple Support

If you are getting the option to reinstall macOS 10.7 Lion, then it seems your iMac may be a Late-2009 model since that is the first iMac which was given access to Internet Recovery Mode. Try booting the iMac into Internet Recovery Mode using Command + Option + R to see if it will boot to the macOS 10.13 High Sierra online installer. Unfortunately some Macs will only boot to the online installer for the OS which originally shipped with the Mac from the factory regardless of the keys used for booting.

If you still only get access to the Lion installer, then try changing the system date to 2017 (or perhaps earlier) since the security certificate for the online installer may be expired which can produce an error which may appear unrelated. 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  0102113317

Another unfortunate possibility is that Apple has turned off those servers providing the older macOS online installers.

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Answer 2

barryp9 Author

Level 1

7 points

Dec 31, 2023 2:29 PM in response to HWTech

HWTech, your instruction on using Terminal to change the date worked brilliantly (I used 2017 first, no good, but then: ) I used today’s date, and I got through to the install process.

The previous owner must have inadvertently changed the date!

CONCLUSION: using Terminal to reset the date solved the problem. Thankyou HWTech for your detailed instructions!

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Answer 3

John Galt

Level 10

155,294 points

Dec 31, 2023 11:08 AM in response to barryp9

Its previous owner should also have provided that Mac's two original grey System Install and Applications Install DVDs.

They must accompany that Mac from cradle to grave. Without them... that Mac might as well be a brick.

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Answer 4

HWTech

Level 9

68,660 points

Jan 3, 2024 5:22 PM in response to barryp9

You run the .pkg file as you would any other app. It will extract the real installer app & place it in the Applications folder. You can only execute this .pkg app on a compatible Mac generally from 2007 to 2015. Once this is done, then you can use the command line in the Terminal app to create the USB installer.

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Answer 5

HWTech

Level 9

68,660 points

Dec 31, 2023 6:02 PM in response to barryp9

Thanks for the follow up. That is indeed very interesting. It means the online servers for older versions of macOS for older hardware are still active and Apple has updated their security certificates. Very good to know since I haven't had time to do my own research.

If you have the Late-2009 model, then you can upgrade to macOS 10.13 High Sierra which is the last supported version of macOS for the Late-2009 model. macOS 10.13 is still out dated, but it will probably prove more useful than macOS 10.11.

Enjoy your "new" iMac...I'm always glad when old hardware is kept in service.

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Answer 6

barryp9 Author

Level 1

7 points

Jan 3, 2024 2:07 PM in response to HWTech

Happy new year!

I seem to have Early 2009. I successfully made a bootable installer for OS 10.13, but when I tried to install onto my “new” computer, I got the circle with a line through it.

So I tried to make a bootable installer for OS 10.11 the same way, but I couldn’t because Terminal seems to need an .app file, and the download (https://support.apple.com/en-gb/102662) gives a .pkg file for OS 10.11 (and not an .app file as for OS 10.13).

How can I extract an .app from the .pkg?

(btw, I’m going for a bootable installer because I got “Connection failed” when I tried to log in to the App Store)

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Answer 7

barryp9 Author

Level 1

7 points

Jan 6, 2024 5:46 AM in response to HWTech

Thanks for the assurance. Running the .pkg, it says that clicking Continue will start the installation (on, for me, the wrong computer), but that’s really misleading because, as you say, it only “installs” the .app in the Applications folder.

Anyway, I decided to trust you, and clicked away. Scary.

But it worked! I now have a perfectly working OS X 10.11.

(btw, once I had the bootable USB stick, it still didn’t work until I used Terminal to change the date again. And the installation stuck at “about one second to go” for about 20 minutes - one just has to be patient.)

Thanks again!

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I want to reinstall OS X 10.7, but cannot get past verified with Apple

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