Install Os X El Capitan No Disk

Posted on  by 

Rachel is trying to sell her Mac, but…

My friend was wiping my Mac so I could sell it and I’m pretty sure they’ve deleted the start up disk? It’s not letting me reinstall the OS on a recovery startup.

She wonders about a fix. There are a couple of options with an erased partition.

Because Recovery didn’t work, the fastest way to install fresh is to make or borrow a macOS installer on a USB flash drive or a disk drive. We have instructions for making a bootable installer with macOS Sierra (as well as archived versions for several previous releases). You need at least an 8GB flash drive. The article includes instructions on obtaining the installer, which might involve you having to use someone’s else Mac to download it, if you don’t have a replacement Mac on hand yet.

But if you can’t get access to another Mac or the necessary drive, it’s still possible to use a different Recovery mode on all recent Macs, dating back to 2010. Normally, you can start up a Mac while holding down Command-R to boot into what Apple now calls macOS Recovery. That allows you to run Disk Utility, reinstall or wipe and install the system, access Terminal for command-line functions, and so on. In that mode, when you choose to reinstall without erasing the drive, my recollection is that Recovery looks for the current OS system installer on your startup disk in the Applications folder, and uses that. (Apple doesn’t document that, and I haven’t had to test that for years.)

Failing finding it, Recovery downloads the currently installed version of macOS (or OS X), which is about 5GB. When complete, it installs it and reboots, and places the installer in the Applications folder.

However, there’s yet another option: macOS Recovery over the Internet, which requires either a Mac model released in 2012 or later, or most 2010 and 2011 models with a firmware upgrade applied. There, the Mac reaches out over a Wi-Fi or ethernet connection to download the relatively modest Recovery software, which then bootstraps the download of the full macOS installer.

Apple says Internet-based Recovery should happen automatically on supported models, and you should see a spinning globe when that mode is invoked while the download occurs. However, if you have normal Recovery installed and it refuses to install macOS for some reason, you can manually invoke Internet Recovery.

  • # Update: OS X El Capitan is no longer the latest version of OS X / macOS available on the App Store. If you want to upgrade to the latest version, you can follow our dedicated article on how to upgrade from OS X to macOS Sierra via direct download. If you are on an earlier version of OS X, you can download and install El Capitan from directly.
  • I have an early 2009 iMac running OS 10.7.5 and need to upgrade. I tried OS X El Capitan and it says this OS X can not be installed on your computer. So I have gone to disc by B utilities and erased the drive. Inserted my original OS X leopard and started up. Then upgraded to Snow leopard and then upgraded to Lion.

The installer you create can be used to install OS X El Capitan 10.11 on any eligible Mac computer. This is a more convent and less time consuming way to install OS X El Capitan on multiple machines, gives you a handy emergency disk, and enables a fresh OS X install. What Disk Utility looks like in Lion through Yosemite. In El Capitan, Disk Utility looks slightly different, as you can see below. 5) Launch “Install OS X El Capitan.” Stick to the stages offered by the setup program tips. 6) Select the SSD disk that you wish to install the OS to, and Restart. Insert the disk 'macOSX10.11.6-15G31ElCapitanDownloadedDisk.dmg'. Open 'InstallMacOSX.pkg'. Follow the steps to install the package. When the installation is over, click on the Close button and eject the disk 'Install OS X'. Open a terminal, then.

While Command-R at startup always installs whatever the most recent version you installed on your Mac, holding down Command-Option-R brings down the very latest compatible version that can be installed. Apple also offers Shift-Command-Option-R, which installs the version of OS X or macOS with which your computer shipped, or the next oldest compatible system still available for download.

(Apple just changed this behavior with 10.12.4, but if you’re using Internet Recovery for a clean install on an erased drive, the new behavior should be active as it will be pulled from the version of Recovery that’s bootstrapped from Apple’s servers. The pre-10.12.4 option is simply Command-Option-R, but it acts like the new Shift-Command-Option-R, installing the shipped OS or the oldest compatible version.)

Apple recommends the Command-Option-R option as the only safe way to reinstall a Mac with El Capitan or earlier versions of macOS if you want to be sure your Apple ID doesn’t persist even after erasure.

Ask Mac 911

We’ve compiled a list of the questions we get asked most frequently along with answers and links to columns: read our super FAQ to see if your question is covered. If not, we’re always looking for new problems to solve! Email yours to mac911@macworld.com including screen captures as appropriate. Mac 911 can’t reply to—nor publish an answer to—every question, and we don’t provide direct troubleshooting advice.

Install Mac Os X El Capitan Download

'Can I still upgrade to El Capitan though the official update is outdated?' 'How do I upgrade to El Capitan? I'm using Yosemite, is there a way that can upgrade Yosemite to El Capitan?'

On this page, we collected the complete process of how to upgrade to Mac OX S El Capitain 10.11.6 without losing any data. Follow this guide, you can download and install Mac OS X 10.11.6 on your computer with ease:

PAGE CONTENT:
Check If Your Mac Is Available for El Capitan Update
Prepare Mac Ready Before El Capitan Update
Update Mac OS X to El Capitan (Download OS X 10.11.6)
Bonus Tip: Restore lost data after El Capitan update (without backups)

Tips on this page also work to upgrade macOS Mojave, High Sierra to the latest macOS Big Sur. You may also interest in: update and install macOS.

What Is Mac OS X El Capitan

El Capitan, the last edition known as Mac OS X 10.11.6, is an operating system between Yosemite and macOS Sierra, released on July 18, 2015.

Here is a list of new features that Mac OS X 10.11.6 brings to most old Mac OS X users. And you may feel like downloading and installing the system on your Macs:

  • Support multitask
  • Better performance
  • Better user experience
  • Free download

So how to download or upgrade your Mac computer to El Capitan? Follow through the guides, any one of Mac users can make it.

1. Check If Your Mac Is Available for El Capitan Update

Before you take steps to update your present Mac OS X to El Capitan 10.11.6/10.11.2, check whether your Mac computer is available to download and install the new El Capitan. Check the below list and see whether your device or OS X can get the new update:

Supported Mac devices:

  • iMac (Mid 2007 or newer)
  • MacBook (Late 2008 Aluminum, Early 2009, or newer)
  • MacBook Pro (Mid 2007 or newer)
  • MacBook Air (Late 2008 or newer)
  • Mac mini (Early 2009 or newer)
  • Mac Pro (Early 2008 or newer)
  • Xserve (Early 2009)

Available OS X for El Capitan:

  • OS X Yosemite v10.10
  • OS X Mavericks v10.9
  • OS X Mountain Lion v10.8
  • OS X Lion v10.7
  • Mac OS X Snow Leopard v10.6.8

If your Mac OS X and devices are just right on the list, read on and follow tips to prepare your Mac OS ready for El Capitan update.

2. Prepare Mac Ready Before El Capitan Update

Reinstall Os X El Capitan

Let's see what you should do to prepare your Mac devices fully ready for the new El Capitan 10.11.6, etc. update. And if this is your first time updating Mac OS X, follow the tips below carefully:

#1. Hardware Requirement

  • Leave at least 2GB memory and 8.8 GB of storage space on Mac
  • Leave at least 45% battery on Mac
  • Connect Mac to the internet or WiFi
  • Update your Mac Apps to the latest versions

#2. Back Up All Important Mac Data (to An External Disk)

It's vitally important to back up important data on Mac to external storage devices, which will certainly help to avoid data loss issues due to Mac OS X update.

To do so, you have two options:

  • Option 1. Back up all your data via Time Machine
  1. 1. Connect an external hard drive to Mac.
  2. 2. Click the Apple menu icon, click 'System Preference', and click 'Time machine'.
  3. 3. Click 'Select Backup Disk...' and choose the external drive as a backup disk.
  • Option 2. Fully back up your Mac data via reliable Mac backup software

For a step-by-step guide, please follow: How to Back Up Mac without Time Machine for help.

If you have forgotten to backup data, reliable Mac data recovery software like EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard is the best tool to help you restore lost data.

So now, you can follow the next tutorial tips to update your present Mac OS X into El Capitan.

3. Update Mac OS X to El Capitan (Download OS X 10.11.6)

You can update your Mac OS X to El Capitan now. Follow the below guide to update to El Capitan with ease:

#1. Download and Install Mac OS X from Mac App Store

Step 1. Go to Mac App Store and search El Capitan.

El capitan os x download

Step 2. Click the Download button for El Capitan.

Step 3. Click Continue and follow the instructions to install El Capitan on your Mac.

#2. Manually Download El Capitan 10.11.6 from Apple

Here you can also download El Capitan or other new versions of macOS from the Apple support page, and install on your Mac:

When the downloading process is finished, the El Capitan installer will launch automatically. All you just need to follow the onscreen guide to install the Mac OS X 10.11.6 on your Mac computer.

Note that the El Capitan upgrade process will not take long. Just wait patiently to let the El Capitan installation process accomplish on your Mac.

You May Also Interest In:

Don't worry if you meet some problems during the Mac OS X or macOS update process. Click the below troubleshooting guide and follow to resolve the respective issue on your own.

When you encounter macOS update stuck, macOS or Mac OS X update failed, stay calm. Follow this guide to install the desired macOS or Mac OS X on your Mac.

Bonus Tip: Restore Lost Data after Upgrading Mac to El Capitan 10.11.6

If you didn't create backups before the Mac OS X El Capitan update, and you lost some important Mac files after the update process, your last chance is to turn to reliable Mac data recovery software for help.

Here, EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard for Mac is available for you to download and restore all lost files after macOS or Mac OS X update.

This software is fully compatible with all Mac OS X such as El Capitan, Yosemite, Mavericks, and the latest new macOS Mojave, High Sierra, etc.

Download it and follows to restore lost data due to the El Capitan update now:

Step 1. Where was data lost after operating system update? Choose the location and click Scan.

Step 2. EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard for Mac will immediately scan your selected disk volume and display the scanning results on the left pane.

Step 3. After the scan, select the target files that were unknowingly lost during or after the update and click Recover button to get them all back.

What Else Can EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard Do for You?

Os x el capitan 10.12

Besides macOS update file recovery, EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard dedicates to restoring lost data for Mac users under complex circumstances, such as:

  • Data deletion
  • Mac hard drives formatting
  • Storage device corruption
  • Mac system crash
  • Mac OS X reinstallation
Os x el capitan 10.11.6Install

El Capitan Still Works on Old Macs, Go and Get It Now

Don't worry if your Mac computer is not available for updating to Mac OS X El Capitan. Follow this page, you'll see if your computer can install this operating system.

If yes, follow to download and install this excellent system and renew your Mac computer now. Don't worry if you lost some files during the process, EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard for Mac can bring your files back.

Now, it's your turn. Go and get it now.

Coments are closed