MBP 1,1-10,2 Need to install EL capitan on macbook pro 2009?

[panchoskywalker]

Hello, I've format my 2009 mb pro and now I am unable to re install el capitan.

I tried to download el capitan dmg to my 2017 mb in order to create a bootable USB but I can't install it since el capitan is older than Mojave.

I tried downloading an install app from the web and create a USB using terminal but when I tried to install it, it says the file is not complete and can't install it.

Is there any safe place to download a install app for el capitan?

Is there any other method I should try?

 

[TheShortTimer]

Is there any safe place to download a install app for el capitan?

El Capitan can be downloaded directly from Apple here with a .DMG file that you can use to create a USB installer if you wish.

 

[panchoskywalker]

The problem is I am not able to create a bootable USB from dmg as my other mb is from 2017 and I can't run the pkg file to install el capitan.

 

[MBAir2010]

If I had a 2009 MacBook Pro I would install Snow leopard, them Mt Lion
check and update permissions
then install El Captain
since Everymac states:
*This system fully supports the last version of OS X 10.8 "Mountain Lion" as well as OS X 10.9 "Mavericks" except for "Power Nap" and "AirPlay Mirroring" (which also requires an Apple TV 2nd Gen or higher). It also supports the last version of OS X 10.10 "Yosemite" and OS X 10.11 "El Capitan" -- including Mac-to-Mac AirDrop capability -- but no other advanced features are supported. It is not capable of running macOS Sierra (10.12) or subsequent versions of the macOS at all.

Since apple store wont work with Mt lion you still need a bootable thumb drive.
I did try to install Mt Lion from the apple store on a thumb drive THiS SATURDAY that would not accept the download,
the message i revived was "this install cannot be complete"
while that usb thumb drive worked last month on a 2010 MacBook Air with a new ssd drive.
so maybe something happened recently with OSXs since....... who knows?

I guess keep trying to get el cap on a thumb drive
sometimes that takes several attempts.

good luck and let us know if this helped.

 

[Amethyst1]

It is not capable of running macOS Sierra (10.12) or subsequent versions of the macOS at all.

Oh really? The only Macs that truly hit a wall at El Capitan are those lacking an SSE4-capable CPU.

 

[Grumpus]

The problem is I am not able to create a bootable USB from dmg as my other mb is from 2017 and I can't run the pkg file to install el capitan.

If your 2017 machine is running Monterey or higher, you can use the Mist app to download El Capitan and create either a usb or iso installer.

 

[panchoskywalker]

My 2017 is running mojave but I found in an old HD an installESD from lion, I create a bootable usb with it and install lion on the old mb, I am now upgrading to el capitan.

 

[MBAir2010]

My 2017 is running mojave but I found in an old HD an installESD from lion, I create a bootable usb with it and install lion on the old mb, I am now upgrading to el capitan.

Good for you!
-most of the time finding a run around like this will successfully install the osx you want!

personally i think something is up with  recently as the last week or so
that their operating systems are not installing for some reason.
Just this past Saturday my macbook pro ran into a problem installing a fresh install of Mt Lion
to a thumbdrive as the verbage was something "This____ Cant finish Installing" then stops.