Cant update my iMac beyond 10.9.5

[sl1ppers]

Hi I recently bought the new Football Manager 2019 to play on my mac. I downloaded it all fine and when I went to launch it I couldn't. Said my operating system is too old. Now Steam won't even launch on my computer anymore. Is it possible to update the hardware on my 2009 iMac to avoid having to buy a brand new one? I currently have Mavricks and i believe even the next operating system Yosemite would be enough to run the game.

My computer is
Processor 3.06 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
Memory 4 GB 1067 MHz DDR3
Graphics NVIDIA GeForce 9400 256 MB
Software OS X 10.9.5 (13F1134)

Any advice would be great!

 

[DeltaMac]

I do see that Steam does not support any Mac system older than El Capitan. That changed on Jan 1, 2019.
That means that Yosemite (10.10.5) would also not be supported.

You can follow the steps to upgrade to El Capitan here - https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT206886

 

[sl1ppers]

I do see that Steam does not support any Mac system older than El Capitan. That changed on Jan 1, 2019.
That means that Yosemite (10.10.5) would also not be supported.

You can follow the steps to upgrade to El Capitan here - https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT206886

Hi, Thanks for that. Ive just looked at that and it should be able to install on my iMac as it says 2007 or newer and I have all the relevant space needed but it says my computer can't update to this version. Any ideas?

 

[hwojtek]

You should install the most recent OS available for your computer. A late 2009 iMac runs macOS 10.13.6 maximum, which means you should download the High Sierra.

You may also consider upgrading the amount of RAM. This computer takes 16 GB maximum and with the prices of RAM nowadays it will cost next to nothing. Even 8 GB will do miracles in regards to usability and comfort, especially as you do not have an SSD disk.

 

[sl1ppers]

You should install the most recent OS available for your computer. A late 2009 iMac runs macOS 10.13.6 maximum, which means you should download the High Sierra.

You may also consider upgrading the amount of RAM. This computer takes 16 GB maximum and with the prices of RAM nowadays it will cost next to nothing. Even 8 GB will do miracles in regards to usability and comfort, especially as you do not have an SSD disk.

My computer isnt letting me update beyond 10.9.5. If I try newer it says that my computer can’t update. Any ideas why that would be?

 

[hwojtek]

Did you try starting it up from a bootable USB installer instead of running the installer straight from the Mac OS?
What is your date, including year, and time set to?

 

[sl1ppers]

Did you try starting it up from a bootable USB installer instead of running the installer straight from the Mac OS?
What is your date, including year, and time set to?

My computer won't let me download it so i can't try and boot it from USB. Is there somewhere i can download the install?

Sorry I'm not sure what you mean by date, year and time?
thanks for your time
Richard

EDIT* Finally managing to download sierra. Will report back with results!

 

[nambuccaheadsau]

If your iMac is an early 2008/9 24" model it can handle El Capitan OS X.11.6.

Do you have an Apple ID in order to download from the App Store? Here is a link explaining how to do this, and under 'Learn More' toward the bottom of the page is a link to download El Capitan.


https://support.apple.com/en-au/HT206886

Then use DiskmakerX to burn the Installer to an 8GB thumb drive, boot from this and run the Installer. Make sure you download the El Capitan compatible version, 5.0.3.


https://diskmakerx.com/whats-this/

 

[hwojtek]

If your iMac is an early 2008/9 24" model it can handle El Capitan OS X.11.6.

Pics tell it's a late 2009 so High Sierra.

@sl1ppers - skip Sierra and get High Sierra right away from here: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/macos-high-sierra/id1246284741?mt=12 No matter which Sierra you got, use https://macdaddy.io/install-disk-creator/ or DiskmakerX mentioned kindly by @nambuccaheadsau to create your installer.

If it doesn't work, crawl your way through Sierra to HS, most probably you will not need to create another installer, just install HS right away.

And yes, I was asking if your clock and date in your iMac are set properly, because if not, then funny thing happen with secure communication certificates (like they are not recognized and you can not download some stuff, including MacOS).

 

[eluniquo]

Pics tell it's a late 2009 so High Sierra.

@sl1ppers - skip Sierra and get High Sierra right away from here: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/macos-high-sierra/id1246284741?mt=12 No matter which Sierra you got, use https://macdaddy.io/install-disk-creator/ or DiskmakerX mentioned kindly by @nambuccaheadsau to create your installer.

If it doesn't work, crawl your way through Sierra to HS, most probably you will not need to create another installer, just install HS right away.

And yes, I was asking if your clock and date in your iMac are set properly, because if not, then funny thing happen with secure communication certificates (like they are not recognized and you can not download some stuff, including MacOS).

Pics tell it's a late 2009 so High Sierra.

@sl1ppers - skip Sierra and get High Sierra right away from here: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/macos-high-sierra/id1246284741?mt=12 No matter which Sierra you got, use https://macdaddy.io/install-disk-creator/ or DiskmakerX mentioned kindly by @nambuccaheadsau to create your installer.

If it doesn't work, crawl your way through Sierra to HS, most probably you will not need to create another installer, just install HS right away.

And yes, I was asking if your clock and date in your iMac are set properly, because if not, then funny thing happen with secure communication certificates (like they are not recognized and you can not download some stuff, including MacOS).

Hello, i just got an old iMac from my uncle it's a late 2013 i5 27" with 10.9.5 installed. When i go to software update it shown no update available. can anyone guide to which OS version i can update to in sequence and where to get them?
Fairly New to Mac OS, so appreciate the help and consideration.
Regards

 

[mj_]

Late 2013 is supported by the latest macOS 10.15 Catalina so there's absolutely no reason not to go with that. You will find it in the Mac App Store and not Software Update.

 

[eluniquo]

Late 2013 is supported by the latest macOS 10.15 Catalina so there's absolutely no reason not to go with that. You will find it in the Mac App Store and not Software Update.

Thank you for the quick response, i will try that today.

 

[eluniquo]

Thank you for the quick response, i will try that today.

Good morning. i tried updating to Catalina as suggested but it does do anything and sits there. After clicking next and accepting the install it says Catalina will be installed on this HD but nothing happens for hours. See attached Thank you for your help

 

[eluniquo]

Thank you for the quick response, i will try that today.

Late 2013 is supported by the latest macOS 10.15 Catalina so there's absolutely no reason not to go with that. You will find it in the Mac App Store and not Software Update.

Good morning. i tried updating to Catalina as suggested but it does do anything and sits there. After clicking next and accepting the install it says Catalina will be installed on this HD but nothing happens for hours. See attached Thank you for your help

 

[DeltaMac]

I need to ask the obvious question, so... what happens on that screen when you click the "Install" button?
If nothing at all happens, click the "back" button, then try to start the install again, clicking the "Install" button.
Your "Macintosh HD" appears to be selected, but be sure to click on that drive icon, too, then click the "Install" button.
You should see a progress bar, showing that the install actually starts.

 

[eluniquo]

I need to ask the obvious question, so... what happens on that screen when you click the "Install" button?
If nothing at all happens, click the "back" button, then try to start the install again, clicking the "Install" button.
Your "Macintosh HD" appears to be selected, but be sure to click on that drive icon, too, then click the "Install" button.
You should see a progress bar, showing that the install actually starts.

Hello, yes, the obvious question, i did. I agreed to terms, Hd selected and when i get to that screen and hit the install arrow, then it becomes unclickable and sits there. to the top right the install log file does not show anything, also when i go back to the apple store, it does show the catalina software as installed. see attached. I just dont know and pardon my ignorance, it may something simple but i am new to apple. Thank you

 

[DeltaMac]

"Installed" means that you have that app downloaded, and it is in your Applications folder, ready to use.
You are still booted to Mavericks (Mac OS X 10.9.5), and something about your system apparently is preventing the Catalina installer from running.
What's your next step? Create a bootable installer on an external drive, using that Catalina app.
Here's how you can do that, using your Terminal app: (You will need an external drive. A 16GB USB thumb drive will work fine for this. )

Insert your USB flash drive. Erase that thumb drive, using your Disk Utility. Make sure it is formatted Mac OS Extended (journaled), and the partition Map is "GUID"

The Catalina installer app (Install macOS Catalina) should be in your Applications folder.

Right click on that installer app, and choose "Show Package Contents". Open the Library, then open the "Resources" folder. Leave that alone for a moment...

Launch your Terminal app, then type sudo, and add a single space.

From the Resources folder that you left open, drag the file "createinstallmedia" and drop it on your terminal window. You will see the full path to that file appear next to sudo.

Next, type --volume, and add one space to that. (notice there are TWO dashes, not just one)

Now, find the icon for your flash drive (the one you just erased. Should be on your desktop somewhere). Drag that icon into the terminal window. You will see that disk, with its path, added to the line you have been typing.

AND, press enter. You will be asked to enter your admin password. Do that, you will NOT see what you type (it's a security feature, just type your password, then press enter. It will work.

Finally, the terminal will ask you to press "y" to start the command that you just typed, so type Y, and press enter.

Then, you will see some numbers appear, showing the progress of the command. Some flash drives will be slow, maybe 30 minutes. It will get to 100%, then do a few final items to complete the installer and make it bootable. And, it's ready to go!

Boot to your new bootable installer. I will expect that the install will run successfully this time.

 

[mj_]

How long did you leave it sitting there? Before the installer can do anything it needs to convert your hard disk from HFS+ to APFS which, given that you have a 1TB hard disk with 400GB of data on it, can take a few hours worst case.

 

[eluniquo]

"Installed" means that you have that app downloaded, and it is in your Applications folder, ready to use.
You are still booted to Mavericks (Mac OS X 10.9.5), and something about your system apparently is preventing the Catalina installer from running.
What's your next step? Create a bootable installer on an external drive, using that Catalina app.
Here's how you can do that, using your Terminal app: (You will need an external drive. A 16GB USB thumb drive will work fine for this. )

Boot to your new bootable installer. I will expect that the install will run successfully this time.

ok i just tried it and this is what i got. Apparently i cant go directly to Catalina because i only have OX 10.9.5
i was told i could go straight to catalina from 10.9.5

thoughts?
[automerge]1588178639[/automerge]

How long did you leave it sitting there? Before the installer can do anything it needs to convert your hard disk from HFS+ to APFS which, given that you have a 1TB hard disk with 400GB of data on it, can take a few hours worst case.

it sat there for hours. and never showed the progress bar, that's what was concerning.no progress bar and just sitting there and no option to go back or else due to the arrows being grayed out.

 

[RogerWilco6502]

ok i just tried it and this is what i got. Apparently i cant go directly to Catalina because i only have OX 10.9.5
i was told i could go straight to catalina from 10.9.5

thoughts?
[automerge]1588178639[/automerge]

it sat there for hours. and never showed the progress bar, that's what was concerning.no progress bar and just sitting there and no option to go back or else due to the arrows being grayed out.

Here's the El Cap installer link, you should install this first and then install Catalina from there.

How to download and install macOS - Apple Support

Download and install current or previous versions of the Mac operating system on compatible Mac computers.

support.apple.com

While you can go up to Catalina, you need to install El Cap first to upgrade, similar to how people who wanted to run OS X versions after Snow Leopard had to install Snow Leopard first if they had Leopard or Tiger.

 

[Nick012983]

I do see that Steam does not support any Mac system older than El Capitan. That changed on Jan 1, 2019.
That means that Yosemite (10.10.5) would also not be supported.

You can follow the steps to upgrade to El Capitan here - https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT206886

Hello DeltaMac,


I was just replying to ask you if you know if I can get 10.9.5 (Mavericks) on my early 2009 iMac? I was wondering if I can because I am trying to use it as my school computer but Zoom.us doesn't work correctly with it. I just need an upgrade. Also, do you know if I can download 10.9.5 (Mavericks) using the Apple Support website? Here is the link to what I wanna download for my early 2009 iMac: https://support.apple.com/kb/DL1760?viewlocale=en_US&locale=en_US


Thank you,
Nick

 

[chrfr]

Hello DeltaMac,


I was just replying to ask you if you know if I can get 10.9.5 (Mavericks) on my early 2009 iMac? I was wondering if I can because I am trying to use it as my school computer but Zoom.us doesn't work correctly with it. I just need an upgrade. Also, do you know if I can download 10.9.5 (Mavericks) using the Apple Support website? Here is the link to what I wanna download for my early 2009 iMac: https://support.apple.com/kb/DL1760?viewlocale=en_US&locale=en_US


Thank you,
Nick

This link is just for an updater to bring 10.9 through 10.9.4 up to 10.9.5. The latest operating system your computer can use is macOS 10.11.6, El Capitan. Follow the directions here to get that installer: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT211683
You will need another Mac to get the installer.

 

[Nick012983]

Download OS X El Capitan 10.11.6 Combo Update - Apple Support

The OS X El Capitan 10.11.6 Combo update improves the stability, compatibility and security of your Mac, and is recommended for all El Capitan users.

support.apple.com

Can I get this? Will this work?

 

[chrfr]

Download OS X El Capitan 10.11.6 Combo Update - Apple Support

The OS X El Capitan 10.11.6 Combo update improves the stability, compatibility and security of your Mac, and is recommended for all El Capitan users.

support.apple.com

Can I get this? Will this work?

No, you need to follow the link I posted.

 

[DeltaMac]

Yes, chrfr is completely correct. The link you posted is for the combo updater, which requires the El Capitan system to be already installed. Follow the link that chrfr posted, which will get you the full installer for El Capitan. Follow the install steps carefully, as the El Capitan installer takes several steps before you can install that system. The linked page provides all the steps that you need.