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Released October 24, 2011 / 2.2, 2.4, or 2.5 GHz Quad-core Intel Core i7 Processor

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Can't install macOS Sierra - error

Hi all,

I am trying to install the newest version of Sierra on my MBP. I created a bootable drive using Install Disk Creator. I already did this a few times on this machine with the same software, but than it had succes. It does not work anymore. I downloaded the OS from the Store, but I got everytime the same error.

Error Sierra:

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Error El Capitan:

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How can I fix this error? Thanks!

Answered! View the answer I have this problem too

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9 Comments

Did you download El Capitan on it first? https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201475

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@captainsnowball I also get the same error when I try to install El Capitan...

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What version is currently on your MacBook?

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Lets stop here and regroup!!

First what is your exact system! Go here EveryMac - Lookup Plug in your systems S/N and then tell us what you got. Some systems can't run the newer OS's or your systems firmware need updating first.

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MBP late 2011. See post for the El Capitan error.

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Chosen Solution

Apple is being very sneaky!! To help push people to the newer OS's they have a time bomb in the OS installer. So if you try installing an older OS release when a newer one is out you need to back wind the date to the year the OS was introduced

You'll need to check your date setting within Prefs. Are you using Apples Time server or manually setting it? You'll get the error like this if the date is incorrect (month & year). Here we want the year for Sierra to be last year (2016). Manually set it and then reboot your system. Double check the date is now manually set (make a new folder and check its creation date)

In the case of El Capitan you need to manually back wind the year to 2013 as the installer has an end date which will give this error.

You also may want to replace the HD SATA cable as this series had issues with it. This is important if you've upgraded the drive to a SSD. Here is the IFIXIT guide you'll need to follow: MacBook Pro 15" Unibody Late 2011 Hard Drive/IR Sensor Cable Replacement and you'll want this newer version of the part: MacBook Pro 15" Unibody (Mid 2012) Hard Drive Cable - Apple P/N 923-0084. Yes! This is the part you want! The older part is not as well engineered.

Two more points you'll want to place some electrical tape on the upper case where the cable crosses as the cable tends to abrade against the rough aluminum. You also want to make sure the black plastic bottom cover clip as seen here marked in Blue is not damaged, if it is you'll need to move the other one over:

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MacBook Pro 15" Unibody (Mid 2012) Hard Drive Cable Image

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MacBook Pro 15" Unibody (Mid 2012) Hard Drive Cable

$19.99

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Thanks for your comment. I changed the time in the install menu using Terminal to 2013, (date 0318125013). But it still does not work for me. I get the same error for El Capitan.

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UPDATE: Changed the date/time using Terminal to the date of today, and right not Sierra High is installing.

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Am confused here?? Are you able to get the installer to work? I would rather you set the clock to manual setting via the pref setting than using terminal. Don’t forget the OS polls the time server so you might get hijacked! Then the clock is reset correctly before the installer does it’s date check.

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Setting the date back to 2013 did not work for El Capitan. When I after tried to install Sierra, I set the time back to today via Terminal and it worked.

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Whew ;-} you had me worried!

You should still look at replacing the HD SATA cable as that could still be an issue here.

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Most Helpful Answer

Hello Uas!

Just the other day I was fighting with this same problem... I installed Sierra fine on 2 computers before, but then it just stopped working with this error.

It ended up being the installer was corrupt some how after downloading and installing a few times...

I plugged my MBP into a lan for good internet, deleted my existing Sierra installer and downloaded a new copy.

Remade my installer thumbdrive and it worked perfectly after that!

Give that a try (again) and let us know if that worked for you!

Good luck!

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I tried to make a bootable drive on different devices and with different OS.

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Did you download High Sierra / Sierra from the App Store or a 3rd party site? It's always best from the app store. Also, you might want to try building your install bootable drive using another program like Diskmaker X

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Yes, I downloaded it from the App Store and also tries another program to make the bootable drive.

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Follow all of the steps in this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LRPiynS1...

It worked for me.

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Oh, sorry, didn't see the answers above this. Still, see if it works.

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