pscantron
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Q: deploying images on new iMac late 2012

Just in case you are Tech Director for a multimedia or computer lab in higher ed, here are some interesting tips for you!

 

The brand new iMac (late 2012) 21.5" base model will not boot from an external drive.

 

After many attempts, I found a work around. The attempts included starting with my original master image from the fall and updating from lion to mountain lion (10.8.2). Then imaging the new machine via target mode to an iMac 2011 running 10.8.2. The new computer will boot when you hold down option via the iMac 2011 but the new machine will not boot on its own... just the gery prohibited sign.

Another attempt was to erase the drive completely and reformat  the new machine and install 10.8.2 from our IT department which is the full version with all needed drivers. That resulted in the same boot to the grey prohibited sign. There is something going on here where the version of 10.8.2 shipped with the machine is not compatible with the full version of 10.8.2 that can be purchased as a volume license.

 

Here is what worked!

 

I booted an iMac 2011 in target mode to  the new iMac.

Ran the Migration Assistant to transfer all software, user accounts and other files to the new machine... much faster than rebuilding the image from scratch.

Then I had to redo the User Template so that all users that log into the machine via active directory get them same user settings.

Tested a new user to ensure all was good.

Then I booted the new iMac in target mode to the iMac 2011 and created a new image through Disk Utility.

Copied this image to my laptop (MacBook Pro late 2008 running snow leopard).

I have successfully imaged 2 of the 6 new machines by booting the new machine in target mode to my laptop and using disk utility to restore to the master image.The other 4 will be imaged tomorrow.

 

If you have any stories, tips, etc please feel free to post!

 

Hopefully 10.8.3 will allow you to boot from an external drive. And hopefully Apple will consider higher ed costumers in the future who rely heavily on disk images and multiple copies of the same software without creating 50 Apple IDs!!!

iMac, OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.2), disk images

Posted on Jan 16, 2013 6:38 PM

by Matt Clifton,Solvedanswer
Matt Clifton Matt Clifton
Level 7 (29,905 points)
A:

I'm not surprised at all. Those iMacs were released AFTER 10.8.2, so the drivers needed to boot the machine don't exist in the public 10.8.2 code. This has always been the case - you can't boot a machine from a system version earlier than its release.

 

You'll be able to boot from an external drive only if you clone your machine-specific system to that second drive.

 

Matt

Posted on Jan 16, 2013 7:43 PM

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Q: deploying images on new iMac late 2012

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  • by Matt Clifton,Solvedanswer

    Matt Clifton Matt Clifton Jan 16, 2013 7:43 PM in response to pscantron
    Level 7 (29,905 points)
    Jan 16, 2013 7:43 PM in response to pscantron

    I'm not surprised at all. Those iMacs were released AFTER 10.8.2, so the drivers needed to boot the machine don't exist in the public 10.8.2 code. This has always been the case - you can't boot a machine from a system version earlier than its release.

     

    You'll be able to boot from an external drive only if you clone your machine-specific system to that second drive.

     

    Matt

  • by pscantron,

    pscantron pscantron Jan 16, 2013 8:10 PM in response to Matt Clifton
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 16, 2013 8:10 PM in response to Matt Clifton

    Thank you so much Matt! This makes so much sense now. I've already backed up the external image drive so now I will clone this drive with the image made from the new iMac, copy all of the files back to it and I should be in business!

     

    This will definitely help me in the future!

  • by Matt Clifton,

    Matt Clifton Matt Clifton Jan 16, 2013 8:17 PM in response to pscantron
    Level 7 (29,905 points)
    Jan 16, 2013 8:17 PM in response to pscantron

    No problem! Keeping track of which machines can boot which versions of OS X has always been a bit of a "gotcha". There are many Macs released with versions of Snow Leopard later than 10.6.3 which can never be booted from a retail 10.6.3 disk, for example (Apple never released a full retail installer after that version).

     

    Matt

  • by The Heftster,

    The Heftster The Heftster Jan 17, 2013 12:21 AM in response to Matt Clifton
    Level 1 (35 points)
    Jan 17, 2013 12:21 AM in response to Matt Clifton

    I'll try this - Clone it with CCC.

  • by The Heftster,

    The Heftster The Heftster Jan 17, 2013 3:02 AM in response to The Heftster
    Level 1 (35 points)
    Jan 17, 2013 3:02 AM in response to The Heftster

    Well I'll be darned. Cloning the drive worked. Can't wait for someone to figure out exactly why.