Unable to install Mac OS El Capitan on MacBook Pro 2010

Fredul -  
 Anonymous user -
Hello community!
I have a 2010 MacBook Pro for which I had to replace the hard drive.
I formatted the new hard drive to Mac OS Extended (Journaled) and installed it in place of the old one.
In addition, I started the process of "Creating a bootable installer for macOS" found here and on Apple's online support through my 2009 MacBook that is already running El Capitan (I went to the App Store, my purchases ...).
Booting with the alt key on the MacBook Pro! I select the bootable installer. The Apple logo appears! The progress bar too. After 5 minutes ... a fleeting black screen then a white screen ... and nothing more!
I also tried the command r keys: a world map appears, I select the network (by the time I figured out that my keyboard had switched to QWERTY and that I shouldn't press SHIFT for the numbers, several days had passed!), of course I also tried safe mode, or without wifi with ethernet.
Nothing! Always the white screen, it's been a week that I've been going around in circles, going from tutorials to forums!
Thanks to whoever can help me.
Additional question: this MacBook Pro originally came with 2 sticks of 2GB memory, can I upgrade this memory ... once it comes back to life?

21 réponses

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Anonymous user
 
Hello,

Since your 2009 Macbook is already running El Capitan, you should be able to download El Capitan here:
http://updates-http.cdn-apple.com/2019/cert/061-41424-20191024-218af9ec-cf50-4516-9011-228c78eda3d2/InstallMacOSX.dmg

Then, still using this operational Macbook, create a USB installation drive using this method:
https://www.commentcamarche.net/faq/44770-creer-une-cle-usb-d-installation-os-x-10-11-alias-el-capitan

Next, start the 2010 Macbook pro with the USB drive inserted while holding down the alt key so that the Mac prompts you to choose the startup disk, then select the USB drive, go through Disk Utility before installation, to format the disk as Mac OS Extended (Journaled) on GUID Partition Scheme, and finally install El Capitan.

Best regards.
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Fredul
 
Thank you ...
I want to make sure I understood correctly: remove the hard drive from the Mac that won’t start, and put it in place of the one from the 2009 Mac? And then try to restart it?
Is that right?
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Anonymous user
 
Does this external drive manage to start the other Mac?

If so, this could confirm a hardware issue with the problematic Mac...
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Fredul
 
Hello,
Thank you for your help.
I did exactly what you described.
I am indeed selecting the USB drive as the boot medium...
The Apple logo and the progress bar appear, then a fleeting black screen and a white screen. I don't know how to access Disk Utility.
I hope I'm not being messy and that I make sense.
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Anonymous user
 
There must be a hardware issue with the Mac...

What if we put its drive into the functional Mac to perform the installation there, and if it works, then put the drive back into the 2010 Mac...?
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Anonymous user
 
Yes, but starting from the USB drive that was prepared for the installation of El Capitan. Then, if it works, format the hard drive to Mac OS Extended on a GUID scheme (using the disk utility present on the drive, if it was created correctly), and then install El Capitan. If everything is okay at the end, put the drives back in their Macs. We will then know if the issue is related to a hardware problem with the defective Mac.
It should also be possible to put the working Mac's drive into the one that has issues, which will also provide an indication.
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Fredul
 
Alright, starting tomorrow morning!
On July 14th, I'll stay in my cozy bed
On November 11th too!!!
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Fredul
 
So, indeed, while the new disk "responds" on the 2009 Mac, the disk from the latter remains silent on the MacBook Pro, no matter what I try, command R, art, shift...
Any ideas?
PS, the new disk is currently loading the backup from the dead disk (23 H ..., I’m going to make myself a coffee!!!)
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Anonymous user
 
So, indeed, while the new disk "responds" on the 2009 Mac, the disk from this one remains silent on the MacBook Pro, no matter the manipulation, command R, art, shift...


probably a connection issue between the disk port and the motherboard...?

try an SMC reset:
https://support.apple.com/fr-fr/HT201295

Does a hardware test work?
https://support.apple.com/fr-fr/HT202731
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Fredul
 
Thank you for your quick responses.
After the SMC reset, the computer starts, the Apple logo appears, as does the progress bar... After 3, 4 minutes a colored bar appears above the Apple logo, then a white screen. Then, the Mac shuts down, and 2 minutes later it restarts with the Apple logo, progress bar, and white screen. This cycle repeats several times.
The hardware test leads to the spinning globe and the tab that asks to choose a network.
???
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Anonymous user
 
The hardware test leads to the spinning globe and the tab that asks to choose a network.


The hardware test can potentially be done via Apple's servers, but for that, the Mac must be connected to the internet, in this case, via a wired connection to the internet box. So, through an Ethernet cable.
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Fredul
 
Okay, I note this possibility.

Just in case, I ordered, according to what you wrote, a hard drive (HDD) cable to the motherboard, it won't break the bank.
I have another idea: could I not put the HDD from the 2009 Mac into an external case (which I already have) and try to start the MacBook Pro that way?
Thanks again for your help.
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Anonymous user
 
Hello,

couldn't I put the Mac's 2009 hard drive into an external enclosure (which I already have) and try to boot the MacBook Pro that way?


Yes, of course, that's possible. I often boot my Mac from various external drives connected via USB, under different operating systems, especially to test things before responding to questions here on the forum ;)
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Fredul
 
Hello,
On one hand, based on your advice, I performed a hardware test and it came back with no issues.

On the other hand, I just tried to connect an external hard drive via USB that has a backup of the 2009 Mac's hard drive WITHOUT a hard drive in the MacBook Pro... without success.
Still the Apple logo, the progress bar, then a white screen.

Do I need to do a special procedure?
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Anonymous user
 
I just tried to connect an external hard drive via USB that contains a backup of the 2009 Mac's hard drive.


Is there a bootable system on this external drive? Does it allow the 2009 Mac to start up?

=> To start from an external drive, you need to hold the Option key during the startup phase to have the option to choose the external drive.
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Fredul
 
Is there a bootable system on this external drive? Does it allow the 2009 Mac to start?

Uh, what is a bootable system? On the drive, there are two folders:

- OS X Install Data
- Prvate
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Anonymous user
 
A bootable disk is a disk on which an OS (Operating System) has been properly installed. On a Mac, for example, one can see that if the system has been correctly installed on a disk, the following folders should be visible:



If this external disk only contains the following elements:

- OS X Install Data
- Prvate


It cannot serve as a boot drive since no boot system is present on it.

I therefore suggest putting the "right disk" back into the 2009 Mac and launching the installation of El Capitan from this working 2009 Mac, but to perform this installation on the external disk. And this should be done after formatting the latter as Mac OS Extended Journaled with a GUID scheme.
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Fredul
 
Thank you for these clarifications.

I will do that.
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Fredul
 
Indeed, I was able to create an external "SSD Mac" disk on which the 4 folders you mentioned appear.
I boot while holding the option key, I choose this hard drive, and the Apple progress bar moves!

When the progress bar reaches halfway: ...everything shuts down!
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Fredul
 
For now, I'm struggling with the Time Machine restoration, but I'm not giving up!
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Fredul
 
Good evening,

Well, on one hand I replaced the cable from the motherboard to the hard drive with a new one. I can hear the hard drive spinning, that's something, but I notice that the infrared light isn't working? (the one at the bottom right of the computer). On the other hand, I managed to create a disk that boots the good Mac but doesn't start the "problematic Mac." When I boot with the alt key, I choose that startup disk, the progress bar goes all the way, then nothing happens.
Any idea?
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