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User profile for user: Inscapes
Inscapes Author
User level: Level 1
10 points

El Capitan Update refuses to install, "volume does not meet requirements"...

Hi,


There's two ways I've tried installing this apparent "update" for El Capitan: one from my apps update notices in the App Store and one from El Capitan update downloaded from the Mac website, "OSXUpdCombo10.11.6.dmg".


I've tried a number of times to download and install this. I go through all the trouble and the installer tells me this: "OSX El Capitan can't be installed on this disk. This volume does not meet the requirements for the update."


Well, then, why am I getting these system update notifications? Why am I not told what the problem is? I have enough disk space. I'm currently running 10.11.6 on a mid-2011 iMac with 12GB of ram. I have 200 GB of available space on my system drive.


It would be really helpful if the installer told me what the problem was, rather than leaving me in the dark. It would also be helpful if I didn't get these upgrade nags from the App store, when the "upgrade" is not applicable to my computer.


Thanks for any input!

iMac 27″, OS X 10.11

Posted on Mar 27, 2021 5:59 PM

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User profile for user: Eau Rouge
Eau Rouge
User level: Level 8
42,602 points

Posted on Mar 28, 2021 12:35 AM

I can confirm that the build number for a fully up to date version of Mac OS X El Capitan

is the same as yours, 15G22010.


Open System Preferences> App Store and switch off Automatically check for updates.


A 2011 iMac can upgrade to macOS High Sierra 10.13.6 if you are interested.


Open Safari and click on this link, 

How to get old versions of macOS – Apple Support

Go to the Download OS section and click on macOS High Sierra.


Before upgrading make a full back up of your Mac.


Check that third party apps you use have updates available for the new OS.

https://roaringapps.com

Check that your printers/ scanners etc have updated drivers and software available for the new OS.


Connect your mac to your router via cable rather than rely on WiFi.

Do not use your mac while it is downloading

and do not use any other devices that share the same internet connection.


If the App Store says ‘Open’ then it is detecting a previous download of the install app

go to the Applications folder locate Install macOS High Sierra.app.

Move it to the Trash, empty the Trash.

Restart, click on the link again, the App Store should say ‘Get' or 'Download'.



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User profile for user: Eau Rouge
Eau Rouge
User level: Level 8
42,602 points

Mar 28, 2021 12:35 AM in response to Inscapes

I can confirm that the build number for a fully up to date version of Mac OS X El Capitan

is the same as yours, 15G22010.


Open System Preferences> App Store and switch off Automatically check for updates.


A 2011 iMac can upgrade to macOS High Sierra 10.13.6 if you are interested.


Open Safari and click on this link, 

How to get old versions of macOS – Apple Support

Go to the Download OS section and click on macOS High Sierra.


Before upgrading make a full back up of your Mac.


Check that third party apps you use have updates available for the new OS.

https://roaringapps.com

Check that your printers/ scanners etc have updated drivers and software available for the new OS.


Connect your mac to your router via cable rather than rely on WiFi.

Do not use your mac while it is downloading

and do not use any other devices that share the same internet connection.


If the App Store says ‘Open’ then it is detecting a previous download of the install app

go to the Applications folder locate Install macOS High Sierra.app.

Move it to the Trash, empty the Trash.

Restart, click on the link again, the App Store should say ‘Get' or 'Download'.



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User profile for user: Eau Rouge
Eau Rouge
User level: Level 8
42,602 points

Mar 28, 2021 3:21 PM in response to Inscapes

How long did you give High Sierra before you went back to El Capitan, when you install a new OS

it can take some time for Spotlight to index all drives in and connected to the mac.

This can lead to initial disappointment at the efficiency of the new OS.

It is also recommended that to run macOS High Sierra your mac needs a minimum of 4GBs of RAM.


In October 2019 a lot of OS's available from Apple had their certificates expire meaning they would not install

unless you reset the date on the mac to a date previous to the date of expiry.

Apple released newer versions of each of these OS's with new certificates with an expiry date of October 2029

these of course will install without resetting the date and time.

If you are interested you can get them here.


Open Safari and click on this link, 

How to get old versions of macOS – Apple Support

Go to the Download OS section and click on the OS you want to install.


Before upgrading make a full back up of your Mac.


Check that third party apps you use have updates available for the new OS.

https://roaringapps.com

Check that your printers/ scanners etc have updated drivers and software available for the new OS.


Connect your mac to your router via cable rather than rely on WiFi.

Do not use your mac while it is downloading

and do not use any other devices that share the same internet connection.


If the App Store says ‘Open’ then it is detecting a previous download of the install app

go to the Applications folder locate Install macOS ******.app.

Move it to the Trash, empty the Trash.

Restart, click on the link again, the App Store should say ‘Get' or 'Download'.


If you are going to download the new certified version of El Capitan it downloads as a disk image to your

Downloads folder, it then requires a three stage process to get the Install OS X El Capitan.app which

you use for the installation of the OS or for creating a bootable installer.

I can give you more details if you are interested.

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User profile for user: Eau Rouge
Eau Rouge
User level: Level 8
42,602 points

Mar 27, 2021 11:32 PM in response to Inscapes

Click on the top left of your screen, click on About This Mac

what version of El Capitan are you running, put the cursor on the

word Version and click the Control key, tell us what the build number is.


It is entirely possible that your mac is fully up to date on El Capitan.

it has been known that the App Store repeats there are updates

available when they have already been installed.

Ignore them.


While the About This Mac panel is open click on System Report.

Go to Software and then Installations.

Click twice on Install Date twice so the list now displays the most

recent installs first.

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User profile for user: Inscapes
Inscapes Author
User level: Level 1
10 points

Mar 27, 2021 11:48 PM in response to Eau Rouge

Hello,

the build is this: 10.11.6 (15G22010).


When I sorted my installed software, there is a

"Mac App Store Update for OSX El Capitan"

listed for a year ago.


I guess it's possible that this is a duplicate of the

update that refuses to install. But because these

updates have no identifying series numbers or names,

there's no way I can be sure.


And it seems that it would be simple for Apple to embed

some kind of identifier that would prevent me from even

bothering to download the unknown update, which I've

done three times.


I originally switched from PC to Mac because it was more

"user-friendly" and "intuitive". I'll never go back, but this

is not at all "friendly" or "intuitive"...!!


😳👀😱


thanks for your aid in clarifying!

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User profile for user: Inscapes
Inscapes Author
User level: Level 1
10 points

Mar 28, 2021 1:49 PM in response to Eau Rouge

thanks, ER, that's answered my question!


I did try in the past to upgrade to High Sierra, but it bogged down, and slowed down my system to much, it was really pathetic. And so I had to "downgrade" back to El Capitan. And even then, it refused the install until I "tricked" by system by back-dating the clock to 2014. "Thanks, Apple. That's really 'helpful'...."!!


enjoy your day! 🐼

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User profile for user: Inscapes
Inscapes Author
User level: Level 1
10 points

Mar 29, 2021 5:41 PM in response to Eau Rouge

THANKS AGAIN, E.R.

Your information is extremely helpful, very well presented: concise and articulate. You should be hired full-time by Apple to help people so they don't waste hours of time on issues that should never have arisen!


Much appreciated!


(on the subject of High Sierra, I may give it a try after I upgrade to an SSD drive. I believe I tried it out for at least a month, before 'downgrading' the OS again. I currently have 12 GB of ram on the mid 2011 iMac, but will likely upgrade it to 24. The tech specs of this computer say it will only handle 16, but rumor has it that the new OS's will utilize 32 in the current RAM slots).


cheers!

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El Capitan Update refuses to install, "volume does not meet requirements"...

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