10.11.4 installation can't be installed on this disk

Download OS X El Capitan 10.11.4 Combo Update

The advice from Linc Davis is spot-on. Ask your son to rather download and send you the Combo Update.

Leo

My Mac mini (2014) is running 10.11.6, but having some problems which I hoped reinstalling the 10.11.6 combo installer would fix—a technique I've used ever since Mac OS 9, and it has always worked. Now I get this message, but it doesn't tell me WHAT requirements are not met (no shortage of disk space). Any insight?

ditto (also on 10.11.6 already, from app store, and wanting to re-apply the combo update) so far unable to find an answer.

It would clearly help if you could indicate what type of problems you are having. Would it be possible to give us some log file outputs from your problem areas, or alternatively run Etrecheck and post that output?

Do you experience the same when logged in as another user? In safe mode?

We would be in a better position to provide advice after getting the specifics.

Leo

Leo, thanks for the reply. I've already started, joined, or read other relevant threads on this and other forums. (I upgraded hardware and handoff isn't working and I'd like to try to install updated drivers.)

The topic here is specific. What would be most helpful here is if someone still on 10.11.6 could try to run the combo updater to see whether you get the same message.

I wonder if by design or mistake apple is not allowing the combo updater to run over the installed version, as had been possible before. I also wonder if having installed a security update and safari and iTunes updates since installing 10.11.6 (all from app store) would block it.

I tried to simulate your problem, but it worked perfectly, on my test setup at least.

I would suggest that you do the following: (Did it with my test mac and it works)

• Backup the full disk using applicable software like Carbon Copy Cloner, Disk Utility or SuperDuper.
• Ensure that you can boot from that backup.
• Backup with Time Machine to have another copy.
• Ensure that you are familiar how to restore from that backup.
• Ensure that you know how to use Internet Recovery for a fresh install.
• Format anew the HDD/SSD that you've had the troubles with.
• Install OSX new using internet recovery.
• Update your drivers.
• Use the Combo Update to verify that all work correctly and that the system was restored correctly.

HTH

Leo

Leo, can you say anything about your test setup? What OS X version did you try this on?

I'm on 10.11.6 (15G1108)*. I tried in safe mode with the same issue (after also running Disk Utility First Aid from Recovery Disk Boot).

This page shows how to make a modified Combo installer to by-pass the volume checks. I did that and of course that doesn't refuse to install (since it's not checking the volume at all). But before I hit "go" on this, I'm terribly curious where the check failure is. The modification made essentially removes this function (abbreviated):

function VolumeCheck(prefix) {

if (system.env.OS_INSTALL == 1) return true;

var myTargetSystemVersion = (my.target.systemVersion || system.files.plistAtPath(my.target.mountpoint + "/System/Library/CoreServices/SystemVersion.plist"));

if (!myTargetSystemVersion || system.compareVersions(myTargetSystemVersion.ProductVersion, '10.11') < 0 || system.compareVersions(myTargetSystemVersion.ProductVersion, '10.12') >= 0) {

my.result.message = system.localizedStringWithFormat('ERROR_0', '10.11');

my.result.type = 'Fatal';

return false

}

return true;

Meanwhile it seems there are a bunch of system.compareVersions subroutines (function plistcheckXX) and my specific ProductBuildVersion* is not not among them. (or actually, the first one seems to disallow an abbreviated version of it?):

function PlistCheck1(prefix) {

var plist = system.files.plistAtPath(prefix + '/System/Library/CoreServices/SystemVersion.plist');

if (!plist) {

return false;

}

var plistKeyValue = plist['ProductBuildVersion'];

if (!plistKeyValue) {

return false;

}

if (system.compareVersions(plistKeyValue, '15G1') < 0) {

return false;

}

return true;

Can anyone read this JavaScript easily enough to spot the problem?

Edit: FWIW, I ran "sudo softwareupdate -ia" from terminal and it updated "Security Update Developer Beta 2016-003".

Then the 10.11.6 build number changed from 15G1108 to 15G1203. But unfortunately the problem persists with the unmodified Combo Updater.