El Capitan installation problem MacBook

Try a PRAM reset since this can help with visual issues and clearing old caches that could be causing the issue.

How to Reset NVRAM on your Mac - Apple Support

If this doesn't fix it, you may need to reinstall. The installer could have been corrupted from a poor/interrupted internet connection. Could have also happened from an interrupted install (Battery dying, closing the lid, etc...)

I would boot to the Recovery by holding Command + R after you hear the startup chime. Go to Disk Utility > First Aid > Select your hard drive and click "Repair Disk." This can take several minutes.

If it says "The Volume Macintosh HD appear to be ok," and it still doesn't boot, you likely need to reinstall El Capitan.

How to reinstall OS X on your Mac - Apple Support

When you reinstall it always downloads the newest version so you shouldn't have to worry about reinstalling the same bad copy.

This is the third thread created on this problem today. No solution yet.

There is no start up chime. As a result no way to use command r or any other command.

You said you can get to the login screen correct? If there is no chime, it could be because of your volume settings.

Are you seeing the Apple when it starts up? You want to hold Option + Command + P + R before you see the Apple. So literally right after you hit the power button. I honestly think a reinstall would fix this. I haven't seen the other threads but I'll take a look.

It was not a volume issue, but I was finally able to:

1. Reset PRAM - did not solve issue.

2. Booted in safe mode and ran disk utility - did not solve issue

3. Booted in safe mode, downloaded El Capitan and reinstalled - computer froze up at the same point.

I've be using macs since they first came out. Have administered labs of Macs. Never had this problem updating the OS before.

I was able to boot El Capitan in safe mode and it works, however rebooting into normal mode still hangs up. (It does not get to the login screen)

I am going to erase the drive, do a clean install and then restore files with my time machine backup. That should solve the issue.

Sounds like a good call. Sorry I couldn't help much. I would test how it works before you transfer data using Time Machine.

Just see if it works ok with a brand new user. That way, if it has the problem again when you put your info back on the computer, you will know there is something on your account causing the issue.

Good luck!

If you can boot in safe mode, then the issue is likely a third-party kext or plugin which is at fault. Redoing the same process will end up in the same place because that file will still exist. Booting into Recovery Mode (if safe mode is so sluggish to be unusable) and deleting the offending files would fix the problem in those cases.

Denbee-

The startup chime is generated in software after the Power-On Self Test passes. No chime means you have a Hardware problem in the processor, firmware, or RAM Memory.

NO code from the drive has been loaded at that point, so your Upgrade status does not matter. You do not even need to have a drive installed to get the chime.

If your Mac blinks the Power-on/Sleep indicator, that often means, "Not enough working RAM memory to start up".

A clean install may be what you need though. This seems to be a number if issues happening at the same time. Since you are trying to upgrade to a newer OS, you can get free support from AppleCare. They may be the best place to go for this issue.

Only other thing I would suggest is downloading El Capitan from another internet connection. Perhaps you are having some package loss issues with your connection and it is not downloading correctly. Maybe ask a neighbor or go to the Apple Store and download it on their network. They can help you with it from there if the issue persists.

I upgraded a MacBook Air (2010) from Yosemite to El Capitan without a hitch. Encouraged, I tried the same on my MBP Retina 15 but ran into same problems as others. First, I installed directly from App Store and when that failed I did a clean install using a bootable USB install drive. Restrored all files from latest Time Machine backup in both cases. Both lead to spinning ball at startup. Unable to log in with my user id and password--just the spinning ball. Am not restoring the Yosemite system from Time Machine.

Any solutions out there?

Several Users have posted this anecdotal solution that worked for them.

Boot into Safe Mode.

Finder > Go > Goto folder: /Library/Extensions

... (this folder is used for all Non-Apple extensions)

create a new folder named "Extensions (disabled)" in the Library folder ( right next to the Extensions folder).

Move all the files in Extensions to Extensions (disabled).

restart in "regular mode"

Your problem of non-starting in regular mode should be fixed.

If you need some of those Extensions on your Mac, return them to their position in the Extensions folder one at a time and test each one. Be sure to check troublesome extensions for up-to-date.

I was able to install El Capitan after uninstalling Kaspersky virus protection software. The current version is not compatible with El Capitan.