Install a fresh copy of El Capitan

[Skyking75]

I am going to sell my 2007 iMac. I want to format it but I can't get to the screen to do this.
I have included a screenshot of the menu item I need. I have tried cmd - r at start up but it won't work.
What am I doing wrong. I already have the bootable usb ready to go, but I can't get to the Mac OS Utility screen.

 

[Fishrrman]

When you boot from the USB flashdrive, what screen do you get to?

The OS installer?
If that's what you see, you need to quit it, to get to the utilities screen.

 

[ScreenSavers]

Hold down option on your keyboard when you turn on the computer and select the USB device.

 

[Skyking75]

The option key does not work.

I can't get it to boot from the USB drive

 

[ScreenSavers]

You should see a boot selector screen. Are you using an Apple keyboard?

 

[retta283]

System Preferences - Startup Disk

You should hopefully see the USB drive in the list.

Sorry ScreenSavers, didn't mean to quote your post

 

[Skyking75]

I am using a windows keyboard

Startup disk does not show the usb drive

 

[ScreenSavers]

If you are using a Windows keyboard hold down alt. If startup disk does not show a USB drive you are not using a correctly formatted drive. It should look like this:

 

[retta283]

I am using a windows keyboard

Startup disk does not show the usb drive

I need you to restate the part about the option key.

Are you saying that when you hold option it does nothing? I'm pretty sure that either Windows key or alt functions as Option. Or are you saying that it doesn't appear in the boot menu?

 

[DeltaMac]

Windows keyboard should normally bring up the boot select screen, by restarting while holding the Windows key (try that instead of the Alt key)

 

[Skyking75]

I have never been able to see a boot menu

I made the USB bootable drive per the instructions I found

I see it on my desktop

 

[retta283]

I have never been able to see a boot menu

I made the USB bootable drive per the instructions I found

I see it on my desktop

Just because you see it on the desktop doesn't mean it's able to be booted from. It could still think it's a regular flash drive. Did you try holding the Windows key, or the Alt key on boot?

 

[Skyking75]

Yes I have. No luck

I want to thank everybody for the help. This is my first mac computer and I have only had it for 6 months and I purchased used to see if I would like to make switch from windows.

 

[Skyking75]

Would it be possible to verify if the usb is bootable?

I could try and install it over my existing OS

 

[DeltaMac]

Is your Windows keyboard wired USB? If not, that may be the problem. The boot keys might not work from a (non-Apple) wireless keyboard, although a bluetooth keyboard might.
In that case, you want to try to borrow a wired USB keyboard

 

[retta283]

@DeltaMac makes a good point. Non-Apple wireless keyboards have never worked with it from my experience, even ones designed for Mac/iOS.

 

[Skyking75]

Thanks I will try that tomorrow

 

[ScreenSavers]

The USB receiver keyboards tend to work ok in EFI for me.

 

[Skyking75]

EFI ?

 

[ScreenSavers]

The boot selection screen. EFI is the Mac term for BIOS.

 

[jowaju]

Open disk utility and attach a screenshot of what the flash drive is formatted as. Likely MBR instead of GPT.

 

[Skyking75]

I went a bought an apple keyboard. All the commands are working. I was able to make a bootable usb. I can load from the usb. When I try to install I get this screen. What am I doing wrong?

 

[DeltaMac]

You may have an installer with an expired (license?) - particularly if you made that bootable installer more than a week ago. Apple posted a number of new system installers about that time.
Unless your installer is less than a week since you donwloaded, I suggest that you download again, and wipe your existing bootable, making a new one from a current download.

 

[ScreenSavers]

Not even that worked for me. I had to open terminal and change the date to January 1 2019 and it worked.

date 010112002019

 

[Fishrrman]

OP:
Try ScreenSavers solution in reply 24 above.
It may "do the trick".