El Capitan Cannot Be Installed On This Computer

| 05-10-2021
[RAND-1-100] Comments

Finally, after about 25 more minutes, OS X El Capitan should be successfully installed on the target drive. Boot into El Capitan via the USB Device. After the second reboot, boot from the USB device once again, but this time, select Boot OS X from El Capitan, and select verbose mode. Press Enter and cross your fingers again. If all goes well. Question: Q: Failed attempt to install El Capitan, now cannot restart in previous version. I tried to upgrade to El Capitan from OS X 10.6.8, which I realise is not possible. On restart, Mac keeps trying to install it and now I can't get back into my Mac at all.

  1. El Capitan Cannot Be Installed On This Computer System
  2. El Capitan Cannot Be Installed On This Computer System
This content has been archived, and is no longer maintained by Indiana University. Information here may no longer be accurate, and links may no longer be available or reliable.

On this page:

  • Reinstall El Capitan on a computer alreadyrunning it

Upgrade from previous versions to OS X 10.11 (El Capitan)

  1. From the Apple menu, select App Store....
  2. When the App Store opens, search for and download El Capitan. If you don't already have an Apple ID, you'll need to create one. You can monitor the download process in the 'Purchased' section of the App Store.
  3. Once the download is complete, the installer should automatically open.

    If it doesn't, or you don't want to complete the installation at this time, you can come back later and double-click Install OS X El Capitan in your Applications folder.

    Within the installer, click Continue, agree to the license agreement, and then choose the disk where you want to install El Capitan.

    After you begin the installation, your computer may need to restart more than once before finishing, and then you may be asked to enter basic information.

  4. From the Apple menu, select App Store..., and then install any available updates.

Reinstall El Capitan on a computer already running it

To reinstall or recover El Capitan, you must have an active internet connection. If you are on campus at IU, UITS recommends the wired Ethernet network instead of wireless. However, if IUSecure is your only option, see Connect to an IU wireless network in macOS if booted from your Recovery HD.

Reinstall while keeping files, applications, and settings

  1. Restart your computer, and immediately hold down command-r until the gray Apple logo appears.
  2. If prompted, select your main language and then click the arrow.
  3. Click Reinstall OS X, and then Continue. Follow the instructions on the screen, and then choose your hard disk. Click Install, and enter your Apple ID information if prompted.
  4. When the installation is complete, select App Store... from the Apple menu, and install any available updates.

Reinstall while erasing everything on your computer

Computer

El Capitan Cannot Be Installed On This Computer System

  1. Restart your computer, and immediately hold down command-r until the gray Apple logo appears.

  2. If you see a screen asking you to select your main language, choose it, and then click the arrow.
  3. Click Disk Utility, and then Continue.
  4. In Disk Utility:
    1. Click your hard disk in the left column, and then click the Erase tab.
    2. Next to 'Format:', make sure OS X Extended (Journaled) is selected. In the 'Name:' field, give your disk a name. Click Erase.
    3. Once it's completed, quit Disk Utility.
  5. Click Reinstall OS X, and then Continue:
    1. Follow the instructions on the screen, and then choose your hard disk.
    2. Click Install. If prompted, enter your Apple ID information.
    3. Once the installation is complete, you'll be asked to enter basic information, and have the option to transfer data from another computer or backup.
  6. From the Apple menu, select App Store, and then install any available updates.

OS X could not be installed on your computer.
No packages were eligible for install. Contact the software manufacturer for assistance.
Quit the installer to restart your computer and try again

Computer

Oh dear… When trying to install OS X 10.11 (El Capitan) you may encounter this message. This happens because the the installer certificates are no longer valid when checked against the clock of your mac.

El Capitan Cannot Be Installed On This Computer System

Don’t panic though as this is easily fixed using Terminal, so don’t restart immediately.

El capitan cannot be installed on this computer
  • Click Utilities on the menu bar
  • Select Terminal
  • Type date 062112422016
  • Exit Terminal
  • Click Restart

When you restart the mac and try the installer again it will now believe the certificates are valid and will continue as it should.