OS X Mavericks 10.9.1 can't be installed on MacBook Pro retina late 2013

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Level 1

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OS X Mavericks 10.9.1 can't be installed on MacBook Pro retina late 2013

OS X Mavericks 10.9.1 installer is available in the App Store but it can't be downloaded because "OS X Mavericks can't be installed on this computer".

If the installer of version 10.9 is already in the application folder it can't be updated for the same reason.

I've seen that they are two versions of the updater that are downloadable from apple's website and one is specific for the MacBook Pro retina late 2013.

I suspect that the installer in the App Store is not an universal installer. It is stupid because you can't reinstall that Mac is needed.

I phoned to Apple (AppleCare) and they don't know why this happens.

Posted on Dec 17, 2013 7:53 AM

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Answer 1

John Galt

Level 10

140,796 points

Dec 17, 2013 8:05 AM in response to e-miclo

I suspect that the installer in the App Store is not an universal installer. It is stupid because you can't reinstall that Mac is needed.

If required, use OS X Recovery to reinstall Mavericks.

The OS X version installed on your Retina MBP's Recovery partition contains drivers particular to that model, which the App Store version does not contain. If the Recovery partition becomes corrupted or is replaced, your MBP contains firmware that will re-create the Recovery partition, and download and install the correct OS X version from Apple. There is no need for you to download Mavericks from the App Store.

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Answer 2

e-miclo Author

Level 1

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Dec 18, 2013 12:50 PM in response to John Galt

Hello,

Sorry, I don't agree with you.

I need to download the installer because :

- I want to create an external bootable drive with several tools on it

- I want to be able to boot on an external drive to reinstall OS X and not having to wait for a download (my Internet connection is very slow. Downloading Mavericks on my previous MacBook and then downloading the updates for Apple Software took me 2 full days). I had to do a clean install 4 times for my previous MacBook pro retina, 2 times just because Word crashed the Mac.

For me having the installer for my Mac can be very usefull.

I hope Apple will release an universal installer soon.

Best,

ÉrIC

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Answer 3

Dec 20, 2013 10:59 PM in response to e-miclo

me too

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Answer 4

LVB1770

Level 1

18 points

Dec 24, 2013 4:08 PM in response to e-miclo

Me three, for the exact reasons that e-miclo mentions.

I have 5 Macs and re-downloading 5GB each time is pointless and a waste of bandwidth.

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Answer 5

Dec 30, 2013 3:01 AM in response to LVB1770

Hmmm .... I need help.

I deployed a 10.9.1 from a new MBA image to the new 15" MBPr .... not a good idea. It won't boot because of the special build that the late 2013 requires.

So the original recovery HD is gone, and now I need help badly. How to get the darn thing to bootup ?

BR Martin

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Answer 6

e-miclo Author

Level 1

0 points

Dec 30, 2013 5:17 AM in response to IT dudeson

Hello,

Try to boot the 15" MBPr as target when connected to your MBA (if you have the right cables and adapters).

From the MBA, install on the 15" MBPr's disk, in that order :

The 10.9.1 update for Mavericks except MBPr

Download

and then the 10.9.1 update for Mavericks specific for MBPr

Download

The MBPr should be bootable again. I did it for an external HD.

Hope this helps.

Best,

ÉrIC Miclo

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Answer 7

Dec 30, 2013 7:32 AM in response to e-miclo

me too, i'm live in thailand and i waiting to download mavericks on internet recovery 15 hrs. sometime i can't wait because need to use in my work.

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Answer 8

U2GT

Level 1

13 points

Feb 6, 2014 11:27 AM in response to John Galt

I tried OSX recovery to install Mavericks on a USB drive and it doesn't work!! It downloads the install files onto the external drive but when it reboots it defaults to the internal drive. On my old mac pro it would boot up and install the OS on the external drive. Something is not working with new mac pros. How the heck am I supposed to create a boot drive on a USB?

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Answer 9

iW00

Level 6

8,488 points

Feb 6, 2014 11:44 AM in response to IT dudeson

Power ON you MBPr and press and hold ALT+CMD+R - your MBPr will boot from Internet Recovery Mode.

Once Recovery Mode is loaded, open Disk Utility and select physicall drive (not Macintosh HD volume), select Erase, select as a Format "Mac OS Extended (Jurnaled), changed name from Untitled to Macintosh HD and click on Erase...

After confiriming erase, quick Disk Utility and reinstall OS X. This will not only install OS X but will also restore Recovery HD partition.

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Answer 10

Apr 30, 2014 10:14 PM in response to iW00

Thank you soooooooo much you are a life saver. I tried every thing but didnt work but you saved.

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