Issue with Re-Install

[RobMurphy2023]

Hi all, having an issue re-installing OS El Capitan on my 2009 Macbook Pro if there's anyone out there who could help me out..

I erased the drive using Disk Utility, and then rebooted in Recovery Mode. I click the option to re-install a copy of the OS, go through the installation process and the computer restarts, only to return me to the OSX Utilities menu - see attached. I've tried it a few times, resetting pram and nvram, and booting in Safe Mode (Safe Mode doesn't seem to work).

I tried to install Mojave from a USB drive (see attached -pic is blurry but first image says Recovery, second says "Install macOs Mojave". I click the install button, but the screen goes grey with a circle with a line through it, then the computer shuts itself down.

Also attached is an image from Disk Utility, these are the drives available. I'm not sure what Apple disk image or OSX Base System are, I'm trying to reinstall on the 2023 Disk, which I think is a partition of the one above it. Would deleting the partition do anything?

Any help much appreciated.

 

[Fishrrman]

Do you have access to a working Mac?
(not the broken one)

Reason why I'm asking:
The right way to do this would be to
1. Download a clean copy of the El Cap installer
2. Get a USB flashdrive, 16gb or more (8gb might also work)
3. Get the FREE app named "Install Disk Creator" (there's also another one called DiskMaker X):

Make a Bootable USB macOS Installer Download the update for Big Sur compatibility -

What’s needed for a clean install on a Mac A backup of the disk before it’s erased. Two options are to use Duplicate (a free utility which can copy and paste an entire bootable volume), or Mac Backup Guru (a paid, fully featured backup utility with unique incremental backups capability) for...

macdaddy.io

4. Use Install Disk Creator to create the bootable flash drive
5. Boot from the flash drive
6. COMPLETELY erase the internal drive
7. Install a clean copy of the OS.

Yes, this involves some work.
Not really too much, just a number of steps taken in the proper order.

Final thought:
I realize that El Cap is the "last version" Apple officially supports on a 2009 MBP.

However, it IS possible "to take it further" if you wish.
See dosdude1's page here:

dosdude1's Personal Web Server - Software

I'm thinking perhaps High Sierra, maybe even Mojave?

I helped a friend put High Sierra on a 2009 MBP 15", and it went very easily and ran fine afterwards.

 

[RobMurphy2023]

Thank you for your reply. I've tried the above with Mojave, but I've just checked it out based on your advice and I don't think it'll run that OS! So I'll retry with El-Capitan. Thank you!

 

[Fishrrman]

"I've tried the above with Mojave, but I've just checked it out based on your advice and I don't think it'll run that OS! So I'll retry with El-Capitan. "

You're missing something important here.
Dosdude1's software patches allow you to install OS versions beyond those "officially supported" by Apple.

I'd suggest you download dosdude1's "High Sierra Patcher".
In the "tool" menu you'll find the way to download a copy of HS with ONE CLICK.
Then, create the bootable flashdrive.
Boot from it, install HS.
Then run "the patch" from it, also from the USB flash drive.

The patched High Sierra actually ran better on my friend's MBP than did El Cap !

 

[RobMurphy2023]

Thank you for the detailed reply, I'll give that a go now.

 

[RobMurphy2023]

"I've tried the above with Mojave, but I've just checked it out based on your advice and I don't think it'll run that OS! So I'll retry with El-Capitan. "

You're missing something important here.
Dosdude1's software patches allow you to install OS versions beyond those "officially supported" by Apple.

I'd suggest you download dosdude1's "High Sierra Patcher".
In the "tool" menu you'll find the way to download a copy of HS with ONE CLICK.
Then, create the bootable flashdrive.
Boot from it, install HS.
Then run "the patch" from it, also from the USB flash drive.

The patched High Sierra actually ran better on my friend's MBP than did El Cap !

Followed the above steps but unfortunately I'm still having the same issue - I click to install High Sierra and the screen goes grey with the null symbol and then the computer shuts down.

 

[RobMurphy2023]

Repeated the process but with El Capitan. When I try to boot from the USB, I'm just brought to the OSX Utilities screen after clicking the Install drive.

 

[RobMurphy2023]

Just another update if anyone can help.. When I boot holding the Option key (without the USB drive connected), the only drive available is the Recovery. The internal HD is still recognised when I open Disk Utility however.