Unable to install macOS High Sierra in 2024

[redheeler]

I've an older iMac (27" mid 2010) that I'm trying to install macOS High Sierra onto. The install just keeps failing. I've redownloaded / recreated the installer several times and even tried installing to an empty partition but nothing worked. A snippet of the error log output is below:

NSFilePath = "/Volumes/Untitled/.OSInstallSandboxPath/Root";
NSLocalizedDescription = "An error occurred while extracting files from the package \U201cCore.pkg\U201d."
NSURL = "Core.pkg - file:///Volumes/InstallESD/Packages/OSInstall.mpkg"
NSUnderlyingError = "Error Domain=PKXARArchiveErrorDomain Code=101 \"archive verify failed\"

Would be nice to get this iMac usable again so any help is appreciated. (Target Display Mode and a 32-bit version of EyeTV 3 prevent me from trying the OpenCore Legacy Patcher on this iMac).

 

[minik]

Could it be the cert expired for that installer? Have you tried internet recovery (Option-Command-R)?

 

[redheeler]

Could it be the cert expired for that installer? Have you tried internet recovery (Option-Command-R)?

I tried setting the computer's clock back and got a "The installer resources have expired" error message with that. It's a fresh download from Mist and shouldn't have cert issues.

Internet Recovery wouldn't install High Sierra on a 2010 machine, unless I'm mistaken?

 

[redheeler]

Some more info: Error happens on the white screen with Apple logo after the installer reboots the computer, it switches to an error message that it was unable to install MacOS in an installer window on gray background. If I click on the window I'm able to get a menu bar with access to some options like Startup Disk, Terminal, and Disk Utility. Strangely, Startup Disk doesn't display anything, not even the bootable USB installer. All options display and work correctly in the computer's boot menu.

 

[minik]

I remember having some issues especially with High Sierra and older iMac. It's also the introduction of APFS. Is it traditional hard drive or Apple SSD? Which file system is on the bootable USB thumb drive?

 

[Bigwaff]

I remember having some issues especially with High Sierra and older iMac. It's also the introduction of APFS. Is it traditional hard drive or Apple SSD? Which file system is on the bootable USB thumb drive?

SSD preferred. USB thumb drive will be formatted HFS+ by the ‘createinstallmedia’ program.

 

[redheeler]

I remember having some issues especially with High Sierra and older iMac. It's also the introduction of APFS. Is it traditional hard drive or Apple SSD? Which file system is on the bootable USB thumb drive?

It’s a third-party SATA SSD. The High Sierra installer converted it to APFS which is why I wasn’t able to roll back to Sierra. The Mac is able to boot off it, though it only gets as far as the install error.

 

[redheeler]

The iMac in question has kicked the bucket after a long 14 years. RIP