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El capitan install problems

godzukee

godzukee

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Jan 10, 2019
7
1
Hi,
Im trying to reinstall El CApitan on my 2008 iMac and i get errors. Namely,
"this item is temporarily unavaiable" and sometimes "this boot disk is corrupt".

I formatted my usb drive in order to get around the corrupt message. However I dont know where I can get legitimate usb image of El Capitan.


I hope you can help.
Kind regards,
Tim.
 
Fishrrman said:
Here are links to downloads of full installer apps from Apple for El Capitan & Sierra:
El Capitan:
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT206886
https://itunes.apple.com/app/os-x-el-capitan/id1147835434?mt=12

I would try to download a clean copy of the installer from the above links (if you don't have one).
Then... create a new USB installer from scratch.
Then... boot from the installer and try again.
Click to expand...
[doublepost=1547134903][/doublepost]Hi the second link takes me to the itunes store which it says this item only available in US.
Have you got a link to UK site ? Also can I make this bootable disk on a windows machine?
(just for reference mu iMAc is blank)

Many thanks.
 
Last edited:
"Hi the second link takes me to the itunes store which it says this item only available in US.
Have you got a link to UK site ?"

Sorry, those are the only links I have.
There are (cough, choke) "other places" to get a copy of the El Cap installer, and I would not hesitate to use them if nothing else works.

"Also can I make this bootable disk on a windows machine?"

I don't know of any -easy way- to create a USB installer for the Mac on a PC.
I understand that it can be done, but again, it's difficult - I can't help with that.

If you don't have a working Mac on which to do this, then I'll offer another suggestion:
1. Go on ebay
2. There are sellers there who will sell you a USB flashdrive with the Mac OS installer of your choice pre-installed
3. Buy one -- they sell for about $20
4. Use that to boot the Mac.

Questions:
Does the iMac boot right now?
If so, why do you need to re-install?
 
You could call Apple UK support and ask them if they can provide you with a direct link to the installer. If there is one it's not easy to find. If you don't have another Mac to use an App Store link won't do you any good! I suspect this will be a dead end.

I found this but you need a Mac to get it to work. Catch 10.11

As for creating the USB installer on a Windows machine...there's a lot on the web about this but I have no experience doing it myself.
 
Fishrrman said:
"Hi the second link takes me to the itunes store which it says this item only available in US.
Have you got a link to UK site ?"

Sorry, those are the only links I have.
There are (cough, choke) "other places" to get a copy of the El Cap installer, and I would not hesitate to use them if nothing else works.

"Also can I make this bootable disk on a windows machine?"

I don't know of any -easy way- to create a USB installer for the Mac on a PC.
I understand that it can be done, but again, it's difficult - I can't help with that.

If you don't have a working Mac on which to do this, then I'll offer another suggestion:
1. Go on ebay
2. There are sellers there who will sell you a USB flashdrive with the Mac OS installer of your choice pre-installed
3. Buy one -- they sell for about $20
4. Use that to boot the Mac.

Questions:
Does the iMac boot right now?
If so, why do you need to re-install?
Click to expand...
BrianBaughn said:
You could call Apple UK support and ask them if they can provide you with a direct link to the installer. If there is one it's not easy to find. If you don't have another Mac to use an App Store link won't do you any good! I suspect this will be a dead end.

I found this but you need a Mac to get it to work. Catch 10.11

As for creating the USB installer on a Windows machine...there's a lot on the web about this but I have no experience doing it myself.
Click to expand...
Fishrrman said:
"Hi the second link takes me to the itunes store which it says this item only available in US.
Have you got a link to UK site ?"

Sorry, those are the only links I have.
There are (cough, choke) "other places" to get a copy of the El Cap installer, and I would not hesitate to use them if nothing else works.

"Also can I make this bootable disk on a windows machine?"

I don't know of any -easy way- to create a USB installer for the Mac on a PC.
I understand that it can be done, but again, it's difficult - I can't help with that.

If you don't have a working Mac on which to do this, then I'll offer another suggestion:
1. Go on ebay
2. There are sellers there who will sell you a USB flashdrive with the Mac OS installer of your choice pre-installed
3. Buy one -- they sell for about $20
4. Use that to boot the Mac.

Questions:
Does the iMac boot right now?
If so, why do you need to re-install?
Click to expand...
Fishrrman said:
"Hi the second link takes me to the itunes store which it says this item only available in US.
Have you got a link to UK site ?"

Sorry, those are the only links I have.
There are (cough, choke) "other places" to get a copy of the El Cap installer, and I would not hesitate to use them if nothing else works.

"Also can I make this bootable disk on a windows machine?"

I don't know of any -easy way- to create a USB installer for the Mac on a PC.
I understand that it can be done, but again, it's difficult - I can't help with that.

If you don't have a working Mac on which to do this, then I'll offer another suggestion:
1. Go on ebay
2. There are sellers there who will sell you a USB flashdrive with the Mac OS installer of your choice pre-installed
3. Buy one -- they sell for about $20
4. Use that to boot the Mac.

Questions:
Does the iMac boot right now?
If so, why do you need to re-install?
Click to expand...





Hi.


Many thanks for your replies. I have a flash drive with el capitan i got from amazon but i get the errors i mentioned , namely i get "temporarily unavailable at this time" . Also, it boots to the dialog to format disk and install os x, etc.
I try to install os but i get the previously mentioned above.
Regards,
Tim.
 
Clarification is needed...which of these statements are true?
  1. You have a 2008 iMac with the original internal hard drive.
  2. You have a bootable, USB El Capitan installer (flash drive) you got from Amazon.
  3. You have a USB external drive connected to the iMac.
  4. You do NOT have a USB external drive connected to the iMac.
  5. You have tried installing from the USB EC installer to the internal and get the error messages in your first post.
  6. If 3 is true, you have tried installing from the USB EC installer to the USB external drive.
  7. You had a bootable, USB El Capitan installer (flash drive) you got from Amazon but for some reason you re-formatted it.
 
Hi,
1. Im not sure but the internal hard drive doesn't show up, but i do have original hard drive in my machine. It is a 2008 early imac.
2. I wiped the usb drive with El Capitan by mistake so I am waiting untill I receive another drive arrives Saturday.
3.I have an external HD which I tried to install El Capitan on as an experiment!
4.
5. As the internal hard drive doesnt show up I cant answer that.
6.
7.Yes.

n.b All that shows up in the "Install OXS" dialog box is my Time Capsule and Recovery drive.
 
Hi, It boots to OS X Utilities dialog box. I click to install and get " signing into app store." I then enter my apple id and password and after this I get "This item is temporarily unavailable. Try again later".
 
Did you say that you have another USB flash drive installer coming?

If the answer is yes, do this when you have it in your hand:
1. iMac powered OFF
2. Insert flash drive into USB port
3. Press iMac power on button
4. IMMEDIATELY hold down the option key, and KEEP HOLDING IT DOWN until the startup manager appears
5. Select the icon for the USB flashdrive with the pointer and hit return.
6. Let it boot up.
7. Now, what do you see? You should see the OS installer.

If you can get that far, come back here and tell us.

One other thing:
I don't know what your financial situation is, but at 11 years old, perhaps it's time to start looking for a new (or at least, "newer") Mac...
 
Fishrrman said:
Did you say that you have another USB flash drive installer coming?

If the answer is yes, do this when you have it in your hand:
1. iMac powered OFF
2. Insert flash drive into USB port
3. Press iMac power on button
4. IMMEDIATELY hold down the option key, and KEEP HOLDING IT DOWN until the startup manager appears
5. Select the icon for the USB flashdrive with the pointer and hit return.
6. Let it boot up.
7. Now, what do you see? You should see the OS installer.

If you can get that far, come back here and tell us.

One other thing:
I don't know what your financial situation is, but at 11 years old, perhaps it's time to start looking for a new (or at least, "newer") Mac...
Click to expand...
Fishrrman said:
Did you say that you have another USB flash drive installer coming?

If the answer is yes, do this when you have it in your hand:
1. iMac powered OFF
2. Insert flash drive into USB port
3. Press iMac power on button
4. IMMEDIATELY hold down the option key, and KEEP HOLDING IT DOWN until the startup manager appears
5. Select the icon for the USB flashdrive with the pointer and hit return.
6. Let it boot up.
7. Now, what do you see? You should see the OS installer.

If you can get that far, come back here and tell us.

One other thing:
I don't know what your financial situation is, but at 11 years old, perhaps it's time to start looking for a new (or at least, "newer") Mac...
Click to expand...
[doublepost=1547220677][/doublepost]Will give it a try on Saturday when i get the new usb drive.
Thanks for your advice!
Tim.
 
godzukee said:
[doublepost=1547220677][/doublepost]Will give it a try on Saturday when i get the new usb drive.
Thanks for your advice!
Tim.
Click to expand...



Hi. Just to bring you guys up to speed. EC installed using the new usb drive!
Thanks for all your help.
Tim.
 
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