macOS Sierra - Won't install

[chscag]

If it's the computer listed in your profile, it is not eligible for Sierra. This LINK shows which computers Sierra can be installed on. Having said that, do some googling as there are several work arounds which you may or may not decide to try which will allow Sierra to be installed on your machine.

 

[dtravis7]

At least you have the installer. I can't even download it from the store. Anyone know why? App store simply says "This version of macOS 10.12 cannot be installed on this computer."

Mac Hardware Requirements
For details about your Mac model, click the Apple icon at the top left of your screen, choose About This Mac, then choose More Info. These Mac models are compatible with macOS Sierra:

MacBook (Late 2009 or newer)
MacBook Pro (Mid 2010 or newer)
MacBook Air (Late 2010 or newer)
Mac mini (Mid 2010 or newer)
iMac (Late 2009 or newer)
Mac Pro (Mid 2010 or newer)

 

[harryb2448]

Maybe sailor updating the firmware to 5.1 may help.


http://create.pro/blog/macos-sierra-tested-working-200920102012-mac-pro-51-good-go-apples-latest-os/

 

[pm-r]

At least you have the installer. I can't even download it from the store. Anyone know why? App store simply says "This version of macOS 10.12 cannot be installed on this computer."

According to this, the Mac Pro 4,1 doesn't qualify:
http://www.everymac.com/ultimate-mac-lookup/?search_keywords=MacPro4,1
http://tinyurl.com/h3z8lf9

Unless harry's post suggestion above might work.

 

[milomak]

Now show us what you see when you "Get Info" on the same drive

what will Get Info provide?

 

[milomak]

I'm just wondering if your Operating System is on "Other" rather than Macintosh HD where it should normally be. Will the installer allow you to install on "other" ?
ferrarr asked about Get Info for Macintosh HD that would be interesting to see.
If you open Disk Utility and just highlight each drive you will get info for each one. Ensure "Owners" are enabled for each one.

nope it's on Macintosh HD

I am able to install new software save for Sierra

 

[ferrarr]

what will Get Info provide?

Post the screenshot for comparison.

 

[milomak]

Now show us what you see when you "Get Info" on the same drive

 

[ferrarr]

Well, what do you have installed on the partition? Are you trying to upgrade or clean install? You need to erase the drive to use it for a clean install, and if you want to upgrade, you need to use the"Install mac OS Sierra" installer in your Applications folder.

 

[milomak]

Well, what do you have installed on the partition? Are you trying to upgrade or clean install? You need to erase the drive to use it for a clean install, and if you want to upgrade, you need to use the"Install mac OS Sierra" installer in your Applications folder.

that's the problem. the installer s not giving the option to upgrade when i run the app

 

[milomak]

So I decided to do a clean install.

Created a macOS USB installer and booted into it. I deleted the Bootcamp partition so that the whole Fusion Drive was one El Capitan partition.

Ran First Aid on the disk, erased the partition (tried Journaled and Case sensitive,Journaled) and then tried to install.

The MacintoshHD is still greyed out and gives the same "This disk cannot be used to start up your computer"

 

[ferrarr]

How did you remove the Boot Camp partition? If you only used Disk Utility, you have created a new issue. You are going to need to boot up from the USB installer again. Go into Disk Utility, select the drive, not the partition, then select Erase, to erase the drive. You may also have to Partition the drive, to make sure the drive is one single partition.

 

[ferrarr]

that's the problem. the installer s not giving the option to upgrade when i run the app

In order to "upgrade", you need to be booted into the current OS, then start the installer. This is the process to upgrade the current OS, when you start up from he USB, you need to erase the drive and perform a clean install.

 

[milomak]

In the end I figured the issue may have to do with the Fusion Drive. So following this guide, I first disabled the Fusion Drive and then re-enabled it again.

It then allowed a clean install to go ahead.

 

[milomak]

How did you remove the Boot Camp partition? If you only used Disk Utility, you have created a new issue. You are going to need to boot up from the USB installer again. Go into Disk Utility, select the drive, not the partition, then select Erase, to erase the drive. You may also have to Partition the drive, to make sure the drive is one single partition.

I had removed the Boot Camp partition using Boot Camp Assistant

In order to "upgrade", you need to be booted into the current OS, then start the installer. This is the process to upgrade the current OS, when you start up from he USB, you need to erase the drive and perform a clean install.

The initial problem was because the installer would not work from within El Capitan. Hence why I ended up doing a fresh install as above (which also was proving to be problematic until I re-did the Fusion Drive).

 

[ferrarr]

Excellent work getting it sorted out.