Install Issue: TSplicedFont failed creating descriptor...

Thanks Carrascoproducer,

I actually belong in two threads, but the folder issue is easily fixed with putting in the USB boot disk, however the issue of the TSplicedFont still remains.

However, I am happy to report that VICTORY HAS BEEN WON!

Here is how I worked around it, hope this helps someone else:

1. Insert the older disc that came with the iMac (in this case Lion, but anything will work), or else DL a copy from a trusted source and create a boot disk.

2. Hold down C upon bootup to select the boot Disk (in my case the Superdrive) as the bootup, which should boot into the setup/recovery screen.

3. Install the OLD version of OS X onto an EXTERNAL USB or Firewire hard drive with sufficient capacity (you may need to format this hard drive first).

4. Allow the old OS to restart using the OS installed on the external hard drive.

5. Perform minimal setup/configurations so that you can get to the point of downloading El Capitan from the App Store.

6. Once it is downloaded, run the setup and INSTALL INTO THE MAIN HARD DRIVE for the computer (NOT the external hard drive).

7. Voila, I now have a CLEAN install of El Capitan on the main hard drive!

So, its all good now. For some reason, I could NOT get past installing El Capitan from the USB key. It wouldn't work. Had to be a fresh download from the App store, on the computer I was using to install from.

Thanks all for your advice and help!

Over and out for now.

Hi, carrascoproducer,

Thanks for sharing your solution.

I already have tried it, but in my case, there is only the OS X Lion available to install, even if the Mac is connected to Internet.

Could you help me?

Hi Leo,

Maybe your mac isn't compatible with OSX El Capitan?

IF it is compatible, i would try installing OSX Lion.. Then once logged in, go to the App Store, and search for El Capitan. From there, download the installer from the App store and run it.

-Henry

Thank you again. It's fully compatible.

Anyway, It's solved now. I just had to wait a (not so) little bit. Yet I noted that installing OS X on a fusion drive doesn't take as long as on a SSD.

This is still an issue on a brand new device trying to do a NetRestore. There's nothing on the drive, but it's still repeatedly complaining about the character set and not being able to create a descriptor for it. Additionally, every once in a great while I get a complaint from InstallAssistant, "Chuck download failed, retrying...."

Known good device (brand new out of the box). Has happened to multiple known good new devices.

Known good network cable, connection, etc.

This haven't really worked for me. It automatically connected to the wifi, but never asked any Apple ID, it just got stuck at "About a second remaining". I'll try the external drive method now...

Did try formatting your drive before installing the new OS X? I remember needing to format it then doing the steps described.

I Had the same issue. MacBook Pro 15 early 2011 after upgrade HDD into SSD and clean OS X 10.11 El Capitan install from USB 16Gb drive created with Lion Diskmaker.

The only advice helped me: clean OS X 10.10 Yosemite installation, basic setting, then upgrade into OS X 10.11 El Capitan from AppStore.

What i did and worked on the last 1 second (after a lot of waiting) :

-> deaktivate WIFI ! <-

Hopefully its a solution for eveyone.

Tried it w/o WiFi, still didn't install. I can't help but wonder if your success with WiFi off was a coincidence, but seemed causal? Curious if anyone else reports success with that simple settings change.

Just to add data points: I'm am using a USB stick created on newer MBP, to try to reinstall El Capitan to an older MBP. El Capitan was originally installed using the App Store. I've probably tried to install ten times, always with a long hang at one second left, and always ends with "An error occurred while preparing the installation. Try running application again." The most recent attempt was on a freshly-erased drive. Also tried installing to a clone I made to an external drive (using a new computer).

Seems to be a lot of people using a USB stick to install, who are reporting issues in this thread. Is anyone in the thread using a USB stick created on the same computer that you're trying to install to? I'm certainly not.

Hi Rob,

Yes, I created the USB installer using the same computer (2008 aluminium MacBook). After running into this error I re-created the USB installer on my iMac and still have exactly the same problem. If you look in the Installer Log this error pops up before you even attempt to install OS X.

Before my first install attempt I reset the PRAM and formatted the hard drive. Have since tried repeating this and resetting the SMC (clutching at straws) to no effect. Obviously can't perform internet recovery because my recovery partition no longer exists.

I had an early version of the El Capitan installer on USB which worked fine. Unfortunately I overwrote that with this updated installer (10.11.6). My next step is try to find an older version of the El Capitan installer.

I am sorry to hear that Rob!

I tried it on my Mac mini late 2009. El Capitan was downloaded on a USB Stick and booted from it.

It hung every time on this last second. When deactivated Wifi it installed completely at a sudden and i could reboot it.

Should have said, I obviously had to create the recovery USB using another mac.

Don't sweat it. Just wait half an hour.

"about 1 second remaining" turned into "about 0 seconds remaining" and then OS X finally rebooted.

My case:

• Bootable usb created with tool from El Capitan installer.
• Bootable usb was created on same macbook of installation.

This did the trick for me!

El Captain running smoothly now.

Thanks.