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macgru

macrumors member
Original poster
Sep 16, 2016
36
1
I have an old 2011 imac 21 inch. It keeps booting into disk utils i reinstalled osx and restarted it said startup disk. So i choose Lion os but it goes straight back into disk utils. I have checked the disk using first aid it says everything is fine. Is there a way to make it boot into the OS
 
I see Macintosh hd which i select still goes into Disk utils
 
If you have another Mac available then I'd suggest downloading OS 10.13 (the latest officially supported on a 2011 iMac) and then using the createinstallmedia tool to make a bootable USB drive. Install that, rather than trying to mess around with the ancient version 10.7.

Edit: It seems that the forum has broken the link to the OS. It should be macappstores://apps.apple.com/app/macos-high-sierra/id1246284741?mt=12
 
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I would do that install from a bootable external OS X installer, not from the recovery system.
And, I agree, 10.13 (High Sierra) would be your best choice at this point.
 
So i choose Lion os but it goes straight back into disk utils
I can't quote a reference, but my memory is that there are problems with Lion from Recovery. Much easier to install from a bootable USB (can be an 8GB flash drive) as suggested above. And yes High Sierra.

If the App Store (as suggested by @Nermal) won't offer you High Sierra, get Sierra from section 5 of https://mrmacintosh.com/how-to-download-macos-catalina-mojave-or-high-sierra-full-installers/. Upgrade to High Sierra once you have it installed. This page also has links for Lion in case you really want Lion. All the links are to Apple downloads - so nothing dodgy from Mr.Macintosh.

Most often I use Mist to download installers from Apple.
 
Thank you for your quick replies. I,ll let you know how i get on
 
i have found it,s a imac 9.1 core 2 duo 2.2. I have managed to install el capitain and upgraded with an old ddr3 4gb stick which made a big difference. I have installed open core 2.2 and hope to install catalina.. Hopefully it will be fit for purpose control a digi 003 and watch youtube videos
 
I think this question is related but somewhat different - - Some time ago I set up an external SSD as the boot drive - it works great - I would like to put the latest system on the iMac internal drive so when I see it - its there - - any thoughts on how best too o that ?
 
Still the 2019 iMac?
What system is installed on that internal HDD now?
You asked for the best way to get the latest system.
First step would be to replace the internal HDD with an SATA SSD.
Once you have that internal SSD, install whatever system you want. Latest system would be Tahoe (macOS 26), which is (AFAIK) the last/newest system that will still support that Intel CPU in the 2019 iMac.
Is that what you want on the internal drive? I would NOT recommend doing a macOS upgrade to latest on an internal HDD, that just won't be worth doing for ANY reason (just too slow, if you ever would want to try to use it)
THEN, make an external USB installer for whatever system you decide you want to install on that internal SSD. Use THAT to install macOS.
 
Still the 2019 iMac?
What system is installed on that internal HDD now?
You asked for the best way to get the latest system.
First step would be to replace the internal HDD with an SATA SSD.
Once you have that internal SSD, install whatever system you want. Latest system would be Tahoe (macOS 26), which is (AFAIK) the last/newest system that will still support that Intel CPU in the 2019 iMac.
Is that what you want on the internal drive? I would NOT recommend doing a macOS upgrade to latest on an internal HDD, that just won't be worth doing for ANY reason (just too slow, if you ever would want to try to use it)
THEN, make an external USB installer for whatever system you decide you want to install on that internal SSD. Use THAT to install macOS.
No system on it - booting from the SSD - just use it as a backup So you're saying us the external to instal the new system open the internal ?
 
Yes, use a macOS installer that you have created from an external bootable drive, such as a thumb drive. Recent installers need something larger than 16GB, so a 32GB thumb drive would be useful for this.
You COULD also boot to the recovery drive, and install whatever is offered through your internet recovery. (Probably Tahoe, but could be Sequoia)
Is that still the old HDD in the iMac? Or, have you swapped that out for an SSD?
I still recommend that installing a new system on an HDD is just not worth anything to you, when you already say that your external boot drive is working well for you.
 
Yes, use a macOS installer that you have created from an external bootable drive, such as a thumb drive. Recent installers need something larger than 16GB, so a 32GB thumb drive would be useful for this.
You COULD also boot to the recovery drive, and install whatever is offered through your internet recovery. (Probably Tahoe, but could be Sequoia)
Is that still the old HDD in the iMac? Or, have you swapped that out for an SSD?
I still recommend that installing a new system on an HDD is just not worth anything to you, when you already say that your external boot drive is working well for you.
I understand - but at some point I will replace this and when I sell it I want it to have a bootable system on the HDD for someone else to start from - I will keep my external SSD. Thanks I think I get it now and wills ee if I can put an older system on it that won.t be quite as slow
 
And... your iMac would be more "sell-able' with that internal "anchor" already replaced with an SSD.
As that would be the first thing I would do when getting a used Mac, the existence of a boot system would not be of real value to me.
Well, yes, I do have a good amount of experience getting in and out of just about any Mac, so I have a biased position on used Macs -- yes, I do. but, I also consider that SSDs are an essential part of any Mac that can use them - internal SSDs always are a priority, particularly if I am "flipping" a used Mac. Because I do this very often, when I am selling a used Mac, I also provide an external installer USB (cheap, often free), same version as the latest for that Mac, so the new owner can erase and reinstall, should they need to do that. (I also offer free tech help for Macs that I sell. Just part of who I am.)
 
exo wrote in reply 13 above:
"at some point I will replace this and when I sell it I want it to have a bootable system on the HDD for someone else to start from"

Worry about that bridge when you come to it.
For now, boot and run from the external SSD.

When it's time to sell the iMac, do this:
- sign out of iTunes, iCloud, "find my Mac", all of these things.
- then, boot to INTERNET recovery (command-OPTION-R at boot)
- open disk utility, go to the view menu and choose "show all devices".
- ERASE the ENTIRE internal drive (should be "top line on the left")
- Use the installer to install a brand-new copy of whatever OS it offers you
- When the install is done, DON'T go through the setup. Just quit or if quit doesn't work for you, reach around and hold in the power on button until the iMac shuts off.
- It's now ready for the new owner.
 
exo wrote in reply 13 above:
"at some point I will replace this and when I sell it I want it to have a bootable system on the HDD for someone else to start from"

Worry about that bridge when you come to it.
For now, boot and run from the external SSD.

When it's time to sell the iMac, do this:
- sign out of iTunes, iCloud, "find my Mac", all of these things.
- then, boot to INTERNET recovery (command-OPTION-R at boot)
- open disk utility, go to the view menu and choose "show all devices".
- ERASE the ENTIRE internal drive (should be "top line on the left")
- Use the installer to install a brand-new copy of whatever OS it offers you
- When the install is done, DON'T go through the setup. Just quit or if quit doesn't work for you, reach around and hold in the power on button until the iMac shuts off.
- It's now ready for the new owner.
Oh thanks for that Fish - will do - and some one else advice to provide a bootable USB
 
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