[REQUEST] What to do with expired iMac hardware

[sapphirescales]

@MisterT For the sake of your clients, I recommend you learn more about Macs before claiming you can fix them. I'm the biggest Apple hater there is but I have an understanding of how Mac OS actually works so I'm able to fix problems that my clients have with older hardware and software. The certificate issue you're describing is easily remedied by changing the date in the terminal before you try to go through the upgrade/install process.

I find it hard to believe that the person you spoke to at Apple was unfamiliar with this, as this is one of the most basic, well-known issues when it comes to installing an older OS (and by "older" I mean anything no longer supported by Apple). When it comes to the app store, it's your responsibility to have older versions of popular software available for your clients. Some developers offer older versions through the app store, but like a phone, if you don't have the most recent version, developers aren't going to support the app on your device anymore. Live with it.

It's the same thing when it comes to all software, including printer drivers. Go on. Go find a printer in Target or Walmart that supports Windows 7. They don't exist because Windows 7 is no longer supported. Want to use Adobe CC? Too bad. Heck, they won't even support Windows 10 versions older than 1909. The problem isn't the app store, it's your ancient software that's no longer supported. Want to use a printer and Photoshop in Windows 7? Fine. I hope you kept a copy of CS6 and have an old printer lying around, because that's the only way you're going to get those things in 2021.

Live moves on. If you want to still use ancient hardware/software then that's your right, but don't expect developers to continue supporting your ancient software. If you want the latest and greatest, then you need to upgrade. It's very generous of Google to continue supporting Mac OS 10.11 but most developers abandoned 10.11 years ago. It's a 6 year old OS that Apple dropped support for 2 years ago.

 

[MisterT]

That issue has a fix, El Capitan does have that issue but if you turn on the mac and press cmd + R you go to the menu in where you can, among other things, open terminal and set the date and time, you can set to jan 1st 2016 (I think that will work) and then it will install, or you can download macOS High Sierra installer and put it on a usb stick boot the mac and press “options” select the install disc and just install high sierra on top of El Capitan, you won’t delete anything and it will install with no issues, do that conected to the internet for firmware update process, after you can update to Catalina (downloading the installer from apple ) the same way you did with high sierra feel free to pm me if you need some more pointers

Yes, that was the process I found... but this case was extra special. I don't remember why it didn't work but if I still had that thing on my desk I'd definitely go over it with you.

 

[MisterT]

@MisterT For the sake of your clients, I recommend you learn more about Macs before claiming you can fix them.

I'm sorry I gave the impression I was claiming to be able to fix them. I warn every client with an apple device that I'm not very familiar with them and they should look elsewhere first. The trouble is that all the shops in the area that used to help people with apple stuff have either closed their doors to the public or went out of business. I think there is a shop in Helena and a shop in Missoula. After that, I'll tell people I'll look at software problems as long as they understand that I'm teaching myself as we go.

A lot of my apple clients stick around to work with me because they need it done today, not next week. They can't afford to send it off to a shop in another town. I don't often find problems I can't figure out.