Having trouble updating to El Capitan! Early 2008 iMac

[Geronimo]

Dear fellow Mac Users,

I am having a tricky time with what I believe is an iMac 8.1 - early 2008.
I have found the original OS X system CD which I have tried to reinstall
with a connected mouse and windows keyboard (using ALT) key to start
from disc.
First installation unsuccesful claiming ’unbalt to install MAC OS X on disc, suggest thorough cleaning of HD’
Tried to restart again from recovery disc but no luck. Wonder if it has a newer virus than older OS
versions can handle? Anyone recommend a good anti-viral cleaner or is it toast?
shame because it’s a real design classic

Thanks for any help in advance!

G

 

[Geronimo]

Well praise be! I managed to start up from the MAC OS X disc using wired keyboard and mouse.
Then managed to upgrade to Snow Leopard 10.6.3 from CD but now tells me I need update 10.6.6
to install Lion!

Please can someone provide link?

Thanks peeps

 

[Lufbrarunner]

From Snow Leopard you should be able to go to Yosemite or El Capitan
Link to old OS's

For the El Capitan install on my early 2008 imac I used a USB installer.

 

[Geronimo]

From Snow Leopard you should be able to go to Yosemite or El Capitan
Link to old OS's

For the El Capitan install on my early 2008 imac I used a USB installer.

Thanks man! I actually have purchased Lion on USB in hope of downloading an
upgrade of El Capitan. Will strive on!

 

[Lufbrarunner]

No problem, I hope you are up and running soon. Let us know how it goes.

 

[Geronimo]

Thanks dude. How long did it take to download from the usb btw? Heard horror stories of
it taking like 10 hours from the website!

 

[Lufbrarunner]

It was a few minutes.

 

[Geronimo]

Ok so I went back to basics. Reformatted with MAC OS X Leopard CD. Installed MAC OS 10.6.3 then updated to 10.6.8. Tried this with El Capitan but would not work. Since downloaded Yosemite but it is taking an age to install. Hoping Yosemite might include a component in update to enable running of El Capitan.

 

[Lufbrarunner]

I have just remembered that I had to change the date on the mac before I could install El Capitan, due to an expired certificate,

Details here