nuances of the App Store

[Wiley1]

As a Windows specialist, I am baffled by the behavior of the Apple App Store. First of all, I can't understand the reason why it won't allow a download of an OS X app to a machine that isn't compatible with that particular version. Is Apple trying to restrict the number of downloads? Or are they trying to protect the more obtuse user from downloading something that he can't use?

Anyway, today I using an iMac that is running High Sierra 13.10.4.
All I want to do is download the High Sierra Install App so I can create a bootable USB using DiskMaker_X_7 and install it on another iMac.
When I go to the App Store, I am not able to find the "Download" button. Where is it?
I do see an "Open" button, but it downloads a little 508 MB file.
What I really need is the full app, whose size is somewhere around 5 GB.

What am I doing wrong?

 

[chabig]

I can't understand the reason why it won't allow a download of an OS X app to a machine that isn't compatible with that particular version.

Because it won't run...users will be confused.
[doublepost=1526481750][/doublepost]

All I want to do is download the High Sierra Install App so I can create a bootable USB using DiskMaker_X_7 and install it on another iMac. When I go to the App Store, I am not able to find the "Download" button. Where is it?

It's right below the High Sierra icon:

 

[Wiley1]

Because it won't run...users will be confused.
[doublepost=1526481750][/doublepost]
It's right below the High Sierra icon:

On my screen, it doesn't say Download -- its says Open.

How do I download the full 5 (or 6) GB app file?

 

[chabig]

When I click on download I get a nearly 6GB file. I don’t know why you would not. Are you absolutely sure?

 

[Clix Pix]

I think it is because you are already using High Sierra..... Find an older Mac that has Sierra or El Capitan on it and you should be good to download then.

 

[Wiley1]

I don't have another Apple system. As soon as I get this machines working, I won't have any at all.
The sooner I get this thing out of my shop, the happier I will be.

Do the people at Apple just enjoy screwing with people's heads?
Instead of assuming that all Mac users are stupid, why can't they offer us a few choices?

 

[CoastalOR]

On my screen, it doesn't say Download -- its says Open.
How do I download the full 5 (or 6) GB app file?

The Open means the App store has detected the "Install macOS High Sierra" app somewhere on you're system (internal or external drive). Normally the "Install macOS High Sierra" app gets downloaded to the Applications folder, but it can be moved to some other location and the App Store is finding it.

I did a quick test. I'm currently running macOS 10.13.4, i launched the App store, found the macOS High Sierra page and it showed "Download" (I did not have "Install macOS High Sierra" app anywhere on my system).

I then Quit the App Store, connected my external drive that has my backup OS installers and copied the "Install macOS High Sierra" app (5.23. GB) to the internal drive. I then disconnected the external drive, launched the App Store, selected macOS High Sierra and the selection was now "Open" since I already had the "Install macOS High Sierra" app already on the internal drive.

Recommend you search for "Install macOS High Sierra" on your system to see if it is lurking somewhere.

 

[tarsins]

Get Download on both my MBP and iMac which are on 10.13.4 so I'm not sure what you've done.

 

[Wiley1]

Get Download on both my MBP and iMac which are on 10.13.4 so I'm not sure what you've done.

When I went back a couple of hours later, the Open had changed to Download. Weird. I think it was because I renamed the file to "Tiny little stub to install Mac OS High Sierra.app".

Thank you, CoastalOR, for helping me solve that mystery. Now I Have the full 5.2 GB app file.

But, I am still fighting the error 425 thing. It has happened on two different 16 GB USB drives. (different thread)

Can I just ignore that message and continue?