Q: Can't "get" el capitan! help!

A couple of things you may want to try.

Look in your Applications folder for Install Mac OS X El Capitan.app.

If you have this move it to the trash and delete.

Also look in Launchpad for an icon with the OS X logo, if you have it

click and hold till it wiggles, click the 'x' and delete.

Restart the mac and relaunch the App Store, try and see if it will download now.

also if you are trying to download via WIFI try connecting by ethernet if you can.

If these do not work you can try removing another folder from the /private/var/folders/zz path

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.

App Stores working for me, UK.

Do go deleting files without knowing whether or not their absence might damage your installation.

you could try creating another User account with admin privileges and see if you are able to download

from the App Store.

Have you tried restarting your mac.

Nothing wrong with the App Store here either. See…

https://www.apple.com/support/systemstatus/

You use the Apple ID you set when you got your mac. Can your friends mac connect to the App Store using their AppleID.

i doubt that you will be able to use your Apple ID with your friends mac as that mac is not registered with your Apple ID.

It sounds like whoever you got the Mac from didn't deauthorize it before you received it.

In other words this…

What to do before selling or giving away your Mac - Apple Support

so there you go, your mac is second hand and the original owner has not removed their identity from the mac.

so when you sign in the App Store is really expecting the original owners sign in details.

your friend should have set up an Apple ID when she bought the mac.

have you got an Apple Retail Store nearby. You can make an appointment and see if they can resolve your issues

and they should let you download El Capitan there.

Technical Slave wrote:

 

This mac came second hand. I didn't have an apple ID until I started using this forum. I can log in using this ID on my friend's app store. However it then says you must "review your account" review/cancel. When I press review NOTHING HAPPENS. My friend doesn't remember her Apple ID, if she had one.

 

I'm amazed how hard it is to use a service that is essentially a shop that wants your money.

 

I hate apple right now. Seriously wasting my time with this garbage.

You're blaming the wrong entity.  Your problems exist because whoever you got the computer from didn't do what they were supposed to do before they gave it to you.  There are steps you're supposed to follow before selling/giving away your computer, and it involves de-authorizing your account and reinstalling the operating system so the next person can set it up from scratch the way they want.  The person you bought or received the computer from didn't do that.  That's why you're having the issues you're having.