El Capitan Public Beta Installation Failing

App & System Services Core OS Beta macOS

Created Jul ’15

Replies 99

Boosts 0

Views 18k

Participants 6

I am trying to install the Public Beta version of El Capitan and after about 10-15 mins of trying to install, a message pops up that says "no packages were eligible for install" and the installation fails. Here's what I've tried so far:

Rebooting with CMD + R:

I do not have a Time Machine backup.
Disk Utility: I have my internal Mac HD listed, "Apple disk image" with "OS X Base System", and then about 10 or so "untitled" disk images. I ran First Aid and everything checks out.
Reinstall OS X: my only option here is to proceed with the installation of El Capitan. When I try from this screen a message pops up saying it needs to verify my computer's eligibility. When I click Continue an error occurs: "An error occurred while preparing the installation. Try running this application again."

I'm on a mid (or late) 2009 MacBook Pro 15". I don't think Internet Recovery is available in my model—CMD + ALT + R brings up the same OS X Disk Utilities app that CMD + R brings up.

Here's what I'm thinking:

Is there a correlation between the "no packages were eligible for install" error and the error that occurs when it's trying to verify my computer's eligibility? If so, is this something on Apple's end that could be fixed?
If the above is a 'no' and there's no way to move forward with the El Capitan install...
1. Could I insert an OS install disk that comes with Macs and install that OS and still keep all of my files? (Or will this be a clean install?)
2. If not, is there a way to revert back to Yosemite while still keeping my files?
3. If not, is there a way to backup my files to an external HD from Terminal, then do a clean install of an OS?

Thanks in advance for your help.

Boost

Max108 OP

Jul ’15

Wow, you've hit almost every obstacle in the revert-to-Yosemite book huh?

But you've navigated them all admirably.

Good to hear you're almost there... 🙂

christhomp OP

Jul ’15

And we're up and running! Thanks again for all your help. 😁

Max108 OP

Jul ’15

::thumbs up::

Whew! 🙂

ronaldomenezes OP

Aug ’15

Hi Max108. I see you have a lot of experience here. Can you please help me with an installation issue. I've tried to install El Capitan over Yosemite and I'm stuck on the instalation process. It stops with 31 minutes to go... and it has been like this forever. I've done hard reboots and tried recovery mode but it doesn't work. I'm just freaking out because there are a few things I didn't back up. Is there any chance I could recover the files using the Bootable USB option.

Would you mind giving me a few pointers here?

Max108 OP

Aug ’15

Hi Ronald,

I'm happy to try to help, but could you start your own thread as this one has different underlying issues and is already very long and convoluted.

Start your question from here: OS X 10.11 beta

Max.

Domes OP

Aug ’15

hi there,

great tutorial! Your real experts I see..

hope then hen you can help me resolve my issue:

the El Capitan Beta 4 stuck installing and I can only enter the Recovery mode.

TIme Machine: forgotten the password..sorry... Can't access.

Reinstall OSX: it says I have to contact Apple Care...

Utility Disk: tried to run some repair but no way...

I dont have another Mac for download OS X and make a bootable usb, only have a windows at job.

I am frustrated....

Is there any chnace...?

I have iMac middle 2011

thank you in advance!

Max108 OP

Aug ’15

Hi Domes,

I'm happy to try to help, but you'll need to start your own thread as this one is already very long and convoluted. Also it seems to me as though your issue has a different cause.

Start your question from here: OS X 10.11 beta

Max.

nerdrelius OP

Aug ’15

I have the same problem... I made a OS X 10.11 beta USB bootable drive. I installed it on my 13" MacBook Pro with a clean install. No problem.

I have a 15" MacBook Pro and tried to do the same thing but it says "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." I formated the hard drive a few times, reset PRAM and still no go - same error.

Max108 OP

Aug ’15

Hi Nerdrelius,

You have an unusual issue, but it is certainly not the same as Chris's. I'm happy to try to help, but would ask that you post your own question, perhaps under the heading: "El Capitan won't install on freshly formatted drive" or similar. Start your question from here: OS X 10.11 beta

Max.