dakamike

Q: why can't i download El Capitan from the App Store on my brand new Mac Mini?

I have been trying to download El Capitan from the App Store for 2 days with no success. The wheel at the top of the App Store window just spins and spins but nothing happens. Anyone know what's going on?

Mac mini (Late 2014), OS X El Capitan (10.11.3)

Posted on Feb 17, 2016 10:48 PM

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Q: why can't i download El Capitan from the App Store on my brand new Mac Mini?

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  • Helpful answers

  • by D.Cohen,

    D.Cohen D.Cohen Feb 17, 2016 11:14 PM in response to dakamike
    Level 6 (8,424 points)
    Desktops
    Feb 17, 2016 11:14 PM in response to dakamike

    Hi! Click on the Apple logo at the top left hand corner of the screen and select 'About This Mac'.

    What operating system does this menu show?

  • by Eau Rouge,

    Eau Rouge Eau Rouge Feb 17, 2016 11:31 PM in response to dakamike
    Level 4 (2,744 points)
    Mac App Store
    Feb 17, 2016 11:31 PM in response to dakamike

    Your profile says you have El Capitan 10.11.3, is that correct.

  • by dakamike,

    dakamike dakamike Feb 18, 2016 9:10 AM in response to D.Cohen
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 18, 2016 9:10 AM in response to D.Cohen

    <Image Edited by Host to Remove Serial Number>

  • by dakamike,

    dakamike dakamike Feb 17, 2016 11:54 PM in response to Eau Rouge
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 17, 2016 11:54 PM in response to Eau Rouge

    Not correct. I posted photo of screen shot of my OS.

  • by Eau Rouge,

    Eau Rouge Eau Rouge Feb 18, 2016 1:31 AM in response to dakamike
    Level 4 (2,744 points)
    Mac App Store
    Feb 18, 2016 1:31 AM in response to dakamike

    To quote your first post. note the bottom line. And my post was posted before your screenshot.

     

    I have been trying to download El Capitan from the App Store for 2 days with no success. The wheel at the top of the App Store window just spins and spins but nothing happens. Anyone know what's going on?


    Mac mini (Late 2014), OS X El Capitan (10.11.3)

    If you want help don't be rude.

  • by K Shaffer,

    K Shaffer K Shaffer Feb 18, 2016 2:16 AM in response to dakamike
    Level 6 (14,259 points)
    Desktops
    Feb 18, 2016 2:16 AM in response to dakamike

    If you have been attempting to download or connect via the App Store to get

    the latest full OS X upgrade, try using Ethernet and not Wi-Fi because the

    download duration should be less; because Ethernet is much faster...

     

    Also, if you cannot get the download upgrade 10.11 full system, contact an

    Apple Store or if none are in your region or country, contact an authorized

    Apple service provider or authorized Apple reseller. Independent reseller or

    service providers may charge a fee for tech and shop time.

     

     

    An official Apple Store with Genius staff usually has much faster internet

    access and can help you download and install the large OS X upgrades.

    And other technical questions. Not sure where you are, or local availability.

     

    {Usually, posts that include product Serial Numbers are removed so their info

    cannot be used for unauthorized persons who may attempt to gain access or

    to take advantage of any information they could use for illicit purpose. That is

    to say, your image of the About This Mac likely will disappear. And, is why the

    question was asked to clarify text line in first post, where latest OS X is listed.}

     

    In any event...

    Good luck & happy computing!

  • by Linc Davis,

    Linc Davis Linc Davis Feb 18, 2016 9:10 AM in response to dakamike
    Level 10 (207,926 points)
    Applications
    Feb 18, 2016 9:10 AM in response to dakamike

    Please launch the Console application in any one of the following ways:

    ☞ Enter the first few letters of its name into a Spotlight search. Select it in the results (it should be at the top.)

    ☞ In the Finder, select Go ▹ Utilities from the menu bar, or press the key combination shift-command-U. The application is in the folder that opens.

    ☞ Open LaunchPad and start typing the name.

    The title of the Console window should be All Messages. If it isn't, select

              SYSTEM LOG QUERIES ▹ All Messages

    from the log list on the left. If you don't see that list, select

              View ▹ Show Log List

    from the menu bar at the top of the screen.

    Click the Clear Display icon in the toolbar. Then take an action that isn't working the way you expect. Select any lines that appear in the Console window. Copy them to the Clipboard by pressing the key combination command-C. Paste into a reply to this message by pressing command-V.

    The log contains a vast amount of information, almost all of which is irrelevant to solving any particular problem. When posting a log extract, be selective. A few dozen lines are almost always more than enough.

    Please don't indiscriminately dump thousands of lines from the log into this discussion.

    Please don't post screenshots of log messages—post the text.

    Some private information, such as your name or email address, may appear in the log. Anonymize before posting.

    When you post the log extract, you might see an error message on the web page: "You have included content in your post that is not permitted," or "The message contains invalid characters." That's a bug in the forum software. Please post the text on Pastebin, then post a link here to the page you created.

    If you have an account on Pastebin, please don't select Private from the Paste Exposure menu on the page, because then no one but you will be able to see it.

  • by dakamike,

    dakamike dakamike Feb 18, 2016 10:00 PM in response to Eau Rouge
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 18, 2016 10:00 PM in response to Eau Rouge

    Hi, I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to come off as rude. I truly appreciate everyone's help. I just bought my first mac in 10 years. Yes my macbook pro lasted this long and I couldn't stand how slow it became, so I finally bought this new mac mini...

    This is the first time I have ever posted on a forum like this for help, and I Could see why you thought I already have OS X.11 because I put that on the forum info form. I meant to say I need help with getting it.

    I have tried over and over and every time I click "download" in the app store, the circle at the top spins and spins and nothing happens. I am never asked for my password or anything.

    Seems like its an app store problem or something....

    Ugghh

  • by Eau Rouge,Apple recommended

    Eau Rouge Eau Rouge Feb 19, 2016 10:26 AM in response to dakamike
    Level 4 (2,744 points)
    Mac App Store
    Feb 19, 2016 10:26 AM in response to dakamike

    First can you check that to see if you have Install Mac OS X El Capitan.app in your Applications folder, if so delete it.

    Also check Launchpad for OS X icon, if you see it press and hold the cursor over the icon till it wiggles, click the x

    to delete. Restart and relaunch the App Store and see if you can download. If not try the procedure below.

     

    Screen Shot 2016-02-19 at 07.27.26.jpg

    Above is the path to the folder that needs to be removed.

    The folder is normally hidden by default, to make it visible follow instructions below.

    In Finder use the Go To Folder item under Go and type in /private/var/folders in the text box

    and from there navigate to zz and then the folder zyxvp........ ending in 68, control-click and then Move To Trash, don't delete

    you could also drag it to the desktop before for extra safety.

     

    Restart the Mac and relaunch the App Store and see if you are able to download now. The folder and files within it are regenerated on Restart.

    If you are happy you can then empty the Trash and delete the one on the desktop if you did that.

     

    If you are successful and the download completes, do this before you install it.

    Look in your Applications folder for Install Mac Os X El Capitan.app, make a copy of it on an external disk or USB device.

    This will save you having to download it again in case you need to.

  • by dakamike,

    dakamike dakamike Feb 19, 2016 10:27 AM in response to Eau Rouge
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 19, 2016 10:27 AM in response to Eau Rouge

    Thanks Eau. This was super helpful. Got it up and running and now I am up to date with current technology until tomorrow.

  • by Brunettin,

    Brunettin Brunettin Sep 8, 2016 9:33 AM in response to Eau Rouge
    Level 1 (13 points)
    Mac OS X
    Sep 8, 2016 9:33 AM in response to Eau Rouge

    Thanks for this. Your instructions still work these many months later. I was trying and trying to download ElCapitan and the little wheel just sat there spinning. I found this page, followed you directions and I am downloading as I type this!