El capitan won't install

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Level 1

9 points

El capitan won't install

I upgraded from 10.6.8 to El Capitan. I tried to install initially and the download wouldn't start, so tried again and it started the second time.

Upon restart I get an error that says 'OS X could not be installed on your computer - File system verify or repair failed. Quit the installer or restart your computer to try again' and then there is just a restart button, which I have tried several times, with the same error message appearing each time.

I have also tried to quit the OS X installer and go though the start up disk, but the only option I have is OS X 10.6.8, when I do click on it it comes up with another error which says 'You can't change the startup disk to the selected disk - startup disk could not gather enough information on the selected disk'

I am just going round and round in circles with this system....

iMac

Posted on Oct 3, 2015 2:04 PM

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Answer 1

Eric Root

Level 10

684,039 points

Oct 3, 2015 4:20 PM in response to errie81

Do a backup, preferable 2 separate ones on 2 drives. Boot to the Recovery Volume (command - R on a restart or hold down the option/alt key during a restart and select Recovery Volume). Run Disk Utility Verify/Repair Disk and Repair Permissions until you get no errors.

OS X Recovery

OS X Recovery (2)

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Answer 2

errie81 Author

Level 1

9 points

Oct 12, 2015 12:59 PM in response to errie81

I tried this, but don't seem to get the option to back up from time machine. I only get Firmware Password Utility, Disk Utility, Terminal, System information as options

When I do choose Disk Utility and I run first aid, all of the disk images are fine, no errors, except on Macintosh HD - it says First Aid Process has failed. If possible back up the data on this volume. Press done to continue.

When I click on show details it says:

Repairing file system

Checking journaled HFS Plus volume

Checking extents overflow file

Checking catalog file

The volume Macintosh HD could not be verified completely.

File system check exit code is 8.

File system verify or repair failed.

Operation failed...

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Answer 3

Eric Root

Level 10

684,039 points

Oct 12, 2015 2:20 PM in response to errie81

You will need to erase and reformat the drive Mac OS Extended (Journaled), then reinstall the OS. This will erase all data. Do you have a backup?

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Answer 4

thboyd

Level 1

8 points

Nov 15, 2015 6:43 AM in response to Eric Root

I did this and the result of the disk repair was "File system OK"

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