lexvo

Q: Can't install El Capitan: "This copy of the Install OS X El Capitan application can't be verified. "

I am trying to upgrade to El Capitan on my father's iMac now running Yosemite. At the end of the download from the app store we keep getting this error "This copy of the Install OS X El Capitan application can't be verified."

 

I already tried several things:

- delete the install file from Programs and download again - failed (tried redownload two times)

- check the date in Terminal - date is OK

- switch off energy saving modes - did not help

 

Doe anyone else have a solution? We never had these problems before installing OS-X.

iMac, OS X Mavericks (10.9.5)

Posted on Jan 30, 2016 10:14 AM

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Q: Can't install El Capitan: "This copy of the Install OS X El Capitan application can't be verified. "

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  • Helpful answers

  • by Kappy,

    Kappy Kappy Jan 30, 2016 10:29 AM in response to lexvo
    Level 10 (271,743 points)
    Desktops
    Jan 30, 2016 10:29 AM in response to lexvo

    Bad download. Try it again.

  • by lexvo,

    lexvo lexvo Jan 30, 2016 10:32 AM in response to Kappy
    Level 1 (87 points)
    Mac App Store
    Jan 30, 2016 10:32 AM in response to Kappy

    I already tried two times to redownload. Am I supposed to keep trying until it succeeds? Each download takes several hours. And with previous versions of OS-X we never had a problem.

  • by Kappy,

    Kappy Kappy Jan 30, 2016 10:39 AM in response to lexvo
    Level 10 (271,743 points)
    Desktops
    Jan 30, 2016 10:39 AM in response to lexvo

    I can't help you. It's a matter between your server and the remote server. The only other reason would be your drive has a bad sector or two, and they are where the download is being saved. Try repairing your drive with Disk Utility. There is nothing we can do if the problem is in the Internet connections.

  • by lexvo,

    lexvo lexvo Jan 31, 2016 2:41 AM in response to Kappy
    Level 1 (87 points)
    Mac App Store
    Jan 31, 2016 2:41 AM in response to Kappy

    OK. Fair enough. Thanks for your replies.

     

    What stings me is that for some people the date setting causes the problem. But they get the same (in that case wrong) error message. Maybe some other parameter is causing this error message also? I find that confusing.

     

    And again, we have downloaded many large updates of OS-X before and that never was a problem. Errors in downloading remind me of the time dial-in modems. And even then everything was quite reliable.

     

    Anyway, we are kind of stuck now. My father wants to update from Yosemite to El Capitan, but I don't know how to accomplish this (besides endless retrying downloading).

  • by EcoGreg,Helpful

    EcoGreg EcoGreg Feb 11, 2016 12:34 PM in response to lexvo
    Level 3 (554 points)
    Mac OS X
    Feb 11, 2016 12:34 PM in response to lexvo

    HI Lexvo

    Sorry to hear about your install issues.

    My guess is that Kappy is correct that you are having issues with the download itself and this is corrupting your El Capitan download.

    You also state that the download from the App Store is taking several hours, this also indicates a problem somewhere in the download process, very slow internet.

    Are you experiencing slow internet in general? Is this normal? Are you on Wifi network or directly plugged into a cable modem? You may need to reset your modem if directly plugged in. You may need to do this anyway if Wifi is still slow after resetting Wifi. If on DSL you are on your own.

    If using Wifi…

    Try turning off wifi, wait a minute and then turn back on. You can also go into System Preferences>Network>Advanced>TCP/IP>Renew DCHP Lease. Do this after the above. This will re-establish the communication link with your wifi router, if appropriate.

    Do you now have faster internet speeds? Try downloading again if you do. (There are lots of speed tests out there to check internet.)

    If not you need to gain access to a fast internet connection or go to the Apple Store. If a store is near, take a USB thumb drive in and ask nicely for help.

    You don't say if your father's computer is portable like a laptop, if so then you can take it to a fast internet location to download the files.

    Here is another way, by creating a Bootable installer. I create and keep a bootable installer for every OS that comes out.

    Purchase a USB3 8GB or larger thumb drive. Insert it in any late Mac and using Disk Utility, erase the drive and format to OS X Extended (Journaled) (GUID Partition Map)  (A USB 3 device is faster than USB 2 but will work in either a USB 2 or 3 port)

    Now you need to have access to fast internet and a Mac with App Store account. You'll need the Apple ID and password.

    You need to download El Capitan, but DO NOT INSTALL

    When the Installer launches, Quit the Installer and this will preserve the download file. If you allow it to install, the file is automatically deleted, not to mention you just installed EC on the connected computer.

    You can follow these instructions but one thing left out if using Terminal is that you will need to type in your password when using sudo (Super User DO) You will not see what you type so type carefully then press enter. The enter (return key) is how to execute each command in Terminal. If you use Disk Maker you will also have to use Admin/password.

    Here are some links…

    Create a bootable installer for OS X - Apple Support

    Leaves out some steps like above

    http://www.macworld.com/article/2981585/operating-systems/how-to-make-a-bootable -os-x-10-11-el-capitan-installer-drive.h…

    Better for step by step and gives you info on Disk Maker

    http://diskmakerx.com/diskmaker-x-5-x-est-enfin-disponible/?lang=en

    Direct link to Disk Maker if you would like to use a GUI interface.

     

    Ok once you have created a USB installer, you can now install EC on any eligible Mac without having to download each time.

     

    PLEASE Make Sure You Have Back Ups of your computer before upgrading!!!!!

     

    Good luck and happy computing:)

    Hope this helps, Greg

  • by lexvo,

    lexvo lexvo Feb 3, 2016 9:21 AM in response to EcoGreg
    Level 1 (87 points)
    Mac App Store
    Feb 3, 2016 9:21 AM in response to EcoGreg

    EcoGreg, thanks for your extensive reply.

     

    I made a bootable USB stick with El Capitan at home and also copied the El Capitan installer file on another USB stick. With these two sticks I drove to my father last monday.

     

    Alas, we didn’t succeed.

    At first I did a disk check (OK), checked the SMART status (OK) and repaired file permissions. My father’s iMac successfully booted from the USB stick and the installation looked to go well until we got a message “Something unexpected happened, need to reboot". After reboot, and trying to install again the message appeared once more. I then formatted the HD and tried to install again. Same failure.

     

    Then I tried to restore everything from a TM backup. Same error message: “Something went wrong, need to reboot”.

     

    After that I did a PRAM and NPRAM reset. After this I could successfully restore from the TM backup. I noticed a few glitches but after a reboot everything was OK.

     

    At this time we had been busy for some hours so we decided to stop here (as my father had a working iMac again, on Yosemite).

     

    Anyway, I am still unsure what caused all these problems. I first thought it was the HD, but now I think maybe some other hardware problem. And maybe El Capitan could successfully be installed after I did the PRAM and NVRAM reset. I will hear from my father how it goes now and maybe drive by next week to try again.

  • by lexvo,Solvedanswer

    lexvo lexvo Feb 11, 2016 10:44 AM in response to lexvo
    Level 1 (87 points)
    Mac App Store
    Feb 11, 2016 10:44 AM in response to lexvo

    Well, I managed to solve the problem.

     

    Yesterday I drove to my father again. I removed the RAM from his iMac, blow away the dust (there wasn’t much) and carefully reinstalled the RAM. I started the iMac to check if everything was OK.

     

    Then I booted from the OS-X install USB stick I made last week. The whole upgrade to El Capitan went very smoothly, just as I am used from Apple. I then checked some things and everything was working OK.

  • by EcoGreg,

    EcoGreg EcoGreg Feb 11, 2016 12:30 PM in response to lexvo
    Level 3 (554 points)
    Mac OS X
    Feb 11, 2016 12:30 PM in response to lexvo

    Wow Good for You!

    Ya, sometimes the problem is hidden. Great perseverance!

    The pins on RAM sticks and other cards can be cleaned with Isopropyl alcohol or even a pencil eraser. Just something to pass on.

    Thanks for posting your solution.

    Best to you and your father.

    Happy Computing

     

    Greg