On a '10 MBP 16/1 with last Mavs. Downloaded the most recent installer* El Cap install from Apple which I believe someone here led me to a few weeks ago...it is about 5.8gb package but during install, it tells me it will be a 7mb install. I ran the first one, took about a minute or less, my OS obviously didn't change. What gives? Is this an incremental update package?

*NOTE I have an installer saved from 2016. Wonder if I should just try that one as maybe this new one doesn't work? Does the old installer require that weird sh9te about setting the computer clock back before 2014 or whatever?

Carefully look at step 6 in the directions.

That first install you did just created the real installer application in your applications folder, you now need to run that real installer.

I just unpacked a NEW Mac Mini 2012 with Mavericks and I used this link to updated to El Cap, first, then High Sierra and later Mavericks. Somewhere along the way it did change the format from HFS+ to APFS, and I think it also did some firmware updates along the way.

[support.apple.com]

I used those links 2 days ago. Worked for me.

Now need to take the spinner our and put an SSD

Dang rrrreading comprehension. I should try that! Thanks.

just my 2¢, I would not use ElCap. Sierra or High Sierra would be my choice.
Neither should be a problem on a 2010 MBP.

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Quote
space-time
I just unpacked a NEW Mac Mini 2012 with Mavericks and I used this link to updated to El Cap, first, then High Sierra and later Mavericks. Somewhere along the way it did change the format from HFS+ to APFS, and I think it also did some firmware updates along the way.

[support.apple.com]

I used those links 2 days ago. Worked for me.

Now need to take the spinner our and put an SSD

Thanks, gonna try the reading comprehension route first. Ha.

Quote
GGD
Carefully look at step 6 in the directions.

That first install you did just created the real installer application in your applications folder, you now need to run that real installer.

yes, I think that is the problem. I recall that is how it works on the Mac, but funny, I just tried from the work laptop (Windows 10) and here it downloads the 5.8 GB directly

Installing High Sierra is where/when one's internal SSD (or HD?) gets the partition map changed to APFS.

I forgot this and upgraded my MB to High Sierra.

For me, the downside of that move means no more directory repair via DiskWarrior.

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Installing High Sierra is where/when one's internal SSD (or HD?) gets the partition map changed to APFS.

Not required. I have HS installs on a cMP 5,1 & MBP 2012. Both GUID/HFS+.
I'm posting from a cMP 5,1 using Mojave on a PCIe NVMe SSD, it too is GUID/HFS+.

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39°36'17"N 75°44'43"W

DuckDuckGo
The search engine that doesn't track you.

DemComm Records 2021 Greatest Hits
includes:
Taxman by Joe & Nancy's Rich Ice Cream Band
The Humpty Dance by The Harris-Brown Hookup
Lets Spend The Night Together by The Fang-Swalwell Gang
Díaz-Canel Is A Friend of Ours by The AOC Squad
My Old Kentucky Retirement Home by MitchMcC & The Soggy Boxer Boys
Burning Down The House by Merrick & The Goons
Back In the USSR by Bernie's Red Square Trio

I believe there are tricks to keep HFS+, but by default the format will be changed to APFS

And I thought that applies only to SSD, but I learned that even hard drives get converted to APFS

what Mr No said. High Sierra or Sierra. Not El Cap.

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