basfromnl
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Q: OSX cannot be installed on your computer

I've downloaded the OSX El Capitan upgrade for my Macbook Pro (5,3)

Started the installation, system rebooted into the osx install mode, I've had to choose a disk and the installation started.

after several minutes I got this error (translated from dutch so it might not be the exact english error):

 

osx cannot be installed on your computer

no packages can be installed

 

might be that osx el capitan is not compatible with my hardware

I get the option to restart but them the whole proces repeats itself

 

I've checked my disk with the disk utility, 206GB is in use so I guess all data is still there, but when I try to stop the install I have to chose a start disk but it doesn't detect any

 

I'm stuck here, can someone please help me on how to proceed with the upgrade or start the system into the original osx version (which seems to be still there)

MacBook Pro, OS X El Capitan (10.11.2)

Posted on Dec 27, 2015 4:21 AM

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basfromnl

Q: OSX cannot be installed on your computer

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  • by Linc Davis,

    Linc Davis Linc Davis Dec 27, 2015 11:45 AM in response to basfromnl
    Level 10 (207,963 points)
    Applications
    Dec 27, 2015 11:45 AM in response to basfromnl

    Does the alert come before or after the automatic restart?

  • by basfromnl,

    basfromnl basfromnl Dec 27, 2015 12:07 PM in response to Linc Davis
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    Dec 27, 2015 12:07 PM in response to Linc Davis

    There has been 1 restart, but now it only boots into installation mode (choose harddisk to install el capiton onto, progress bar says: 24 minutes left... 23 minutes left and then the error appears)

     

    I even tried the orginal recovery/boot (osx 10.5) disc that came with the macbook pro, in that it says that all partitions cannot be used to install the os on.

  • by Linc Davis,

    Linc Davis Linc Davis Dec 27, 2015 1:18 PM in response to basfromnl
    Level 10 (207,963 points)
    Applications
    Dec 27, 2015 1:18 PM in response to basfromnl

    What backups do you have?

  • by basfromnl,

    basfromnl basfromnl Dec 28, 2015 2:42 AM in response to Linc Davis
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 28, 2015 2:42 AM in response to Linc Davis

    At this moment: none

     

    My plan, try to get some of the data from the disk and format it, try to install again.

    Otherwise I will replace it with an SSD and do a clean install. I don't see any other options

  • by Linc Davis,Helpful

    Linc Davis Linc Davis Dec 28, 2015 6:52 AM in response to basfromnl
    Level 10 (207,963 points)
    Applications
    Dec 28, 2015 6:52 AM in response to basfromnl

    If you want to preserve the data on the startup drive, and it's not already backed up, you must try to back up now, before you do anything else. It may or may not be possible. If you don't care about the data, you can skip this step.

    There are several ways to back up a Mac that is not fully functional. You need an external hard drive or other storage device to hold the data.

    1. Start up from the Recovery partition, from Internet Recovery, or from a local Time Machine backup volume (option key at startup.) Launch Disk Utility and follow the instructions in this support article, under “Instructions for backing up to an external hard disk via Disk Utility.” The article refers to starting up from a DVD, but the procedure in Recovery mode is the same. You don't need a DVD if you're running OS X 10.7 or later.

    If you use FileVault 2, then you must first unlock the startup volume. Select its icon ("Macintosh HD," unless you gave it a different name.) It will be nested below another disk icon, usually with the same name. Click the Unlock button in the toolbar. Enter your login password when prompted.

    2. If Method 1 fails because of disk errors, then you may be able to salvage some of your files by copying them in the Finder. If you already have an external drive with OS X installed, start up from it. Otherwise, if you have Internet access, follow the instructions on this page to prepare the external drive and install OS X on it. You'll use the Recovery installer, rather than downloading it from the App Store.

    3. If you have access to a working Mac, and both it and the non-working Mac have FireWire or Thunderbolt ports, start the non-working Mac in target disk mode. A Retina MacBook (from 2015 or later) with a USB-C port can also be started in target disk mode and connected to another Mac using a USB cable and an adapter.

    Use the working Mac to copy the data to another drive.

    This technique won't work with USB (except on a Retina MacBook), Ethernet, Wi-Fi, or Bluetooth. Note that a Retina MacBook Pro (with Thunderbolt) is different from a Retina MacBook, and it can't be connected to another Mac via USB in target disk mode.

    4. If the internal drive of the non-working Mac is user-replaceable, remove it and mount it in an external enclosure or drive dock. Use another Mac to copy the data.