charliejpg7

Q: Reinstall osx El Capitan from usb NOT clean install

Hello apple community,

 

I need to know if I can do a "Re-Install" on OSX. I have an USB bootable with EL CAPITAN in it, you know.. for Clean Installs.

I have a MacBook Pro 13 Mid 2010 that is my day to day computer and my file OSX system crashed and I can't get it pass the initial Apple Logo.

My idea was to use this USB Drive that has EL CAPITAN in it (bootable) and perform a Re-Install of EL CAPITAN for me to not loose any of my files, pictures, videos, movies and data.

 

Can this process be done. I do know there is an option that does this but it will download the OSX version from Apple servers. My problem is that i am currently in Costa Rica in a rural zone and I have very low internet connection. This process from dowlaoding it from the servers will take 145 hours.

 

Please advise,

 

Thanks!

MacBook Pro, OS X Yosemite (10.10.1)

Posted on Oct 12, 2015 1:23 PM

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Q: Reinstall osx El Capitan from usb NOT clean install

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  • Helpful answers

  • by Kappy,

    Kappy Kappy Oct 12, 2015 1:34 PM in response to charliejpg7
    Level 10 (270,278 points)
    Desktops
    Oct 12, 2015 1:34 PM in response to charliejpg7

    Reinstall El Capitan Without Erasing the Drive

     

    Boot from the USB installer. When the splash screen appears select the target drive. From the screen's menubar you will see a Utilities menu. Select Disk Utility and use it to do the the following:

     

    When the recovery menu appears select Disk Utility and press the Continue button. After Disk Utility loads select the indented Macintosh HD entry from the the left side list.  Click on the First Aid button in the toolbar. Wait until the operation completes, then quit Disk Utility and return to the main menu.

     

    Reinstall OS X: Select Reinstall OS X and click on the Continue button.

     

    Note: You will need an active Internet connection. I suggest using Ethernet if possible because it is three times faster than wireless and more reliable.


    As long as you do not erase the drive before installing then the installation simply overwrites the existing one but will not touch any of your files or applications (third-party.)

  • by charliejpg7,

    charliejpg7 charliejpg7 Oct 12, 2015 1:53 PM in response to Kappy
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 12, 2015 1:53 PM in response to Kappy

    So using my USB Drive with EL CAPITAN will not delete all my files? It wont ask me to use internet connection. The installation files are already in the USB.

  • by Kappy,

    Kappy Kappy Oct 12, 2015 3:14 PM in response to charliejpg7
    Level 10 (270,278 points)
    Desktops
    Oct 12, 2015 3:14 PM in response to charliejpg7

    Correct.

  • by jazzlifedk,

    jazzlifedk jazzlifedk Jan 4, 2016 8:18 AM in response to Kappy
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 4, 2016 8:18 AM in response to Kappy

    Thank you very much! I have the original El Captain install file (10.11.0). After installation from USB will it be possible to update to 10.11.1? Or will the only update available be 10.11.2?

  • by FatMac>MacPro,

    FatMac>MacPro FatMac>MacPro Jan 4, 2016 9:11 AM in response to jazzlifedk
    Level 5 (4,805 points)
    Jan 4, 2016 9:11 AM in response to jazzlifedk

    jazzlifedk wrote:

     

    ...After installation from USB will it be possible to update to 10.11.1? Or will the only update available be 10.11.2?

     

    You can download the 10.11.1 updater here.

  • by ponchiyo,

    ponchiyo ponchiyo Sep 8, 2016 12:47 PM in response to charliejpg7
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Sep 8, 2016 12:47 PM in response to charliejpg7

    I have the same problem as you have. I have a MacbookPro 15'' Mid 2009, it still works great. I had "El Capitan 10.11.3" and on September 2th, I did an update to "El Capitan 10.11.6" and my System CRASHED, for whatever reason my Mac Freeze, I can use it 5 seconds and Freezes for about 5-10 minutes, over and over again. I can do Nothing on my OSX.

     

    I have an USB bootable with EL CAPITAN in it (OSX 10.11.0), I need to know if I can do a "Re-Install" on my OSX.

     

    The problem is that when I'm reinstalling the OSX, it connects to Internet and try to download the latest version of "EL CAPITAN (10.11.6)" and although I have a Good Internet Connection it stucks on "15 hours and X minutes Left", after 24 hours of installation so I cannot complete the REINSTALL.

     

    Is there a way to avoid Installing the CAPITAN (10.11.6) form the Apple Servers? if I already HAVE it in the USB (10.6.0), and do not want that Version (10.11.6) because id didn't work on my MacbookPro.


    Or how Can I Install or Reinstall without loosing my personal files, El Capitan OSX 10.11.0, 10.11.1, 10.11.2, 10.11.3, whatever version except the newest version (10.11.6)??


    Thanks Regards,

  • by ponchiyo,

    ponchiyo ponchiyo Sep 8, 2016 12:51 PM in response to Kappy
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Sep 8, 2016 12:51 PM in response to Kappy

    Hi Kappy,

     

    I did the Reinstall exactly as you say. But never pass the Instalation from Apple Servers, It takes more than 24 hours and still keeps installing. I would like to reinstall whathever version of EL CAPITAN 10.11.x, except the newest one (10.11.6 because it freezed my Entire System).

     

    Regards,