Sultros
Level 1 (4 points)
Mac OS X

Q: El Capitan wont install on 2011 macbook pro

Hello all

 

I picked up a 2011 macbook pro from a friend that has a dead battery and I am trying to install El Capitan. The system originally had snow leopard on it. Im waiting on a tri-wing screw driver to swap the battery.

 

It was running fine before and I tried to do the upgrade but it failed. Using my Imac, i downloaded and created an Capitan usb installer using DiskX. When I try and boot to USB, I get the apple logo and an extremely slow moving progress bar. It never moves beyond 5%

 

Any ideas on what could be causing the issue? Im not 100% sure on the date of this macbook but it has an I7 and uses DDR3 1333MHZ RAM. Im thinking it could be a bad stick of RAM. I verified the USB is working by sticking in my Imac and booting to it. I am able to get to disk recovery and internet recovery just fine. I also created a disk image of my Imac and I am attempting to restore it to the macbook to see if that works (probably not likely). The Hard drive in the macbook is new and fully verified and checks out. I saw the same behavior with both the original drive and the one I used to replace it.

 

My next step is a RAM swap as I have extra laying around. Any thoughts or ideas?

Mac Pro

Posted on Apr 14, 2016 11:39 AM

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Sultros

Q: El Capitan wont install on 2011 macbook pro

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  • Helpful answers

  • by JimmyCMPIT,

    JimmyCMPIT JimmyCMPIT Apr 14, 2016 11:43 AM in response to Sultros
    Level 5 (7,937 points)
    Mac OS X
    Apr 14, 2016 11:43 AM in response to Sultros

    use apples procedure, not anyone elses

    Create a bootable installer for OS X - Apple Support

     

    HW requirements here

    http://www.apple.com/osx/how-to-upgrade/

     

     

    disconnect all external devices.

    You may also need to configure with the original RAM if the ram was replaced, some users reported this sporadically.

    if you wish to test your RAM use the disks that came with the mac for diagnostics

    Using Apple Hardware Test - Apple Support

    if not I use this on my PC's, it works on Macs AFAIKT

    http://www.memtest86.com/

  • by Sultros,

    Sultros Sultros Apr 14, 2016 3:08 PM in response to JimmyCMPIT
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Mac OS X
    Apr 14, 2016 3:08 PM in response to JimmyCMPIT

    Thank you for the response

     

    1. I did originally try this method and the result was the same. I was able to boot off of the USB disk and the apple logo would appear with the progress bar under it. The bar never went above maybe a small sliver and sat there all night.

     

    2. I checked and this Macbook is compatible.

     

    3. Thank you for providing this info as this is exactly what I need to do to verify the hardware is good and correctly functioning. Im normally a PC guy (systems admin for work). I will test the RAM and see what happens and report back. Could the battery being in a state of failure cause this?

  • by Acm001,

    Acm001 Acm001 Apr 14, 2016 4:55 PM in response to Sultros
    Level 3 (623 points)
    iPhone
    Apr 14, 2016 4:55 PM in response to Sultros

    Do you have another usb disk to try? Ive found some - inexpensive ones - sometimes don't work.

  • by Sultros,

    Sultros Sultros Apr 15, 2016 7:41 AM in response to Acm001
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Mac OS X
    Apr 15, 2016 7:41 AM in response to Acm001

    Ive tried two different USB's and verified both work on my iMac

     

    I ran hardware tests this morning and it came back with only the battery error so it looks like things check out.

     

    I decided to download and build a Yosemite bootable and see what happens if I try and install it on a fresh HDD and so far its actually working. It's going very slow, but it is installing. Im not 100% confident it will complete but I am holding out hope.

  • by dialabrain,

    dialabrain dialabrain Apr 15, 2016 7:49 AM in response to Sultros
    Level 5 (6,372 points)
    Mac App Store
    Apr 15, 2016 7:49 AM in response to Sultros

    FWIW, you only have USB 2.0 ports so it's going to be somewhat slow.

  • by Sultros,

    Sultros Sultros Apr 15, 2016 7:53 AM in response to JimmyCMPIT
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Mac OS X
    Apr 15, 2016 7:53 AM in response to JimmyCMPIT

    I think i figured it out. I did some reading about performance with a failed battery and it matches up with exactly what I am experiencing. Apparently the battery is an important part of the power system and with it not working, CPU and video speed is cut in half.

     

    Next step is to replace the failed battery and then I will proceed further.

  • by Lanny,

    Lanny Lanny Apr 15, 2016 8:00 AM in response to Sultros
    Level 5 (7,979 points)
    Desktops
    Apr 15, 2016 8:00 AM in response to Sultros

    How many Macs do you have? If more than one, put the MacBook Pro in Target Disk Mode and install El Capitan on it from one of your other Macs.