HT201372: Create a bootable installer for OS X

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Jun Kbyu

Q: Can I use createinstallmedia in Mavericks to make a Yosemite Install USB?

Hello, the last line of Apple's support page on this topic says createinstallmedia "is only intended to be used with the version of the OS X Installer app it came with," but this MacWorld article implies that I can use Lion, ML, Mavericks, or Yosemite to make a Yosemite Install USB.

 

I have a MBP with Retina Display running Mavericks and can download the (Yosemite) Install OS X.app.  Can I use the createinstallmedia command on Mavericks with the Yosemite installer to make a bootable Yosemite install USB or must I upgrade first?

 

Has anyone used createinstallmedia in Mavericks to make a (working) Yosemite Install USB?

 

Thank you.

Posted on Jan 13, 2015 7:04 PM

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Q: Can I use createinstallmedia in Mavericks to make a Yosemite Install USB?

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  • by Kappy,

    Kappy Kappy Jan 13, 2015 7:10 PM in response to Jun Kbyu
    Level 10 (271,052 points)
    Desktops
    Jan 13, 2015 7:10 PM in response to Jun Kbyu

    No, but there is one for Yosemite.

     

    Open the Terminal in the Utilities folder. Copy and paste the following command line in its entirety into the Terminal window.

     

    sudo /Applications/Install\ OS\ X\ Yosemite\ Developer\ Preview.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia --volume /Volumes/Untitled --applicationpath /Applications/Install\ OS\ X\ Yosemite\ Developer\ Preview.app --nointeraction

     

    Press RETURN, enter admin password (will not echo to the window) then press RETURN again.

     

    You need to have the installer in your Applications folder or change the paths in the above command line.

  • by Jun Kbyu,

    Jun Kbyu Jun Kbyu Jan 13, 2015 8:55 PM in response to Kappy
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 13, 2015 8:55 PM in response to Kappy

    Hello,

     

    Thank you for your quick reply.  From http://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201372 , I believe the current (non-developer) code I would use is:

     

    sudo /Applications/Install\ OS\ X\ Yosemite.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia --volume /Volumes/MyVolume --applicationpath /Applications/Install\ OS\ X\ Yosemite.app

    (where MyVolume is the name of the USB disc/partition I'm using)


    However, that was not my question.  My question is:  Can I use this code and the "Install OS X Yosemite.app" file on a computer that is running Mavericks to make a bootable Yosemite Install USB?  Has anyone done so and used it to successfully install Yosemite later?

     

    Thank you again.

  • by Eric Root,

    Eric Root Eric Root Jan 14, 2015 8:59 AM in response to Jun Kbyu
    Level 9 (71,284 points)
    iTunes
    Jan 14, 2015 8:59 AM in response to Jun Kbyu

    You can make a bootable USB stick to install using this free program. It does all the work for you.

     

     

    Bootable USB Flash Drive – Diskmaker X

  • by keg55,Helpful

    keg55 keg55 Jan 14, 2015 9:04 AM in response to Jun Kbyu
    Level 6 (8,407 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jan 14, 2015 9:04 AM in response to Jun Kbyu

    Jun Kbyu wrote:

     

    Hello,

     

    Thank you for your quick reply.  From http://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201372 , I believe the current (non-developer) code I would use is:

     

    sudo /Applications/Install\ OS\ X\ Yosemite.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia --volume /Volumes/MyVolume --applicationpath /Applications/Install\ OS\ X\ Yosemite.app

    (where MyVolume is the name of the USB disc/partition I'm using)


    However, that was not my question.  My question is:  Can I use this code and the "Install OS X Yosemite.app" file on a computer that is running Mavericks to make a bootable Yosemite Install USB?  Has anyone done so and used it to successfully install Yosemite later?

     

    Thank you again.

    Yes you can because you're using the Yosemite install app to run that command. Just make sure you have the Yosemite install app in /Applications.

     

    Run it with your USB thumb drive, restart your Mac using that thumb drive and check the Reinstall OS X option from OS X Utilities Menu. You should see the Yosemite logo.

  • by Jun Kbyu,

    Jun Kbyu Jun Kbyu Jan 14, 2015 1:03 PM in response to keg55
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 14, 2015 1:03 PM in response to keg55

    Thank you for your replies.  I just wasn't sure because the last bullet of the support doc said:

    • createinstallmedia is an advanced option for system administrators and as such, requires some knowledge of the command line in order to be used properly. It is only intended to be used with the version of the OS X Installer app it came with.

     

    Ok, so my plan now is to get a 32GB USB stick, make four 8GB partitions on it, and make install volumes for Yosemite, Mavericks, Mountain Lion, and Snow Leopard (for legacy machines) on each.  For Yosemite and Mavericks, I will use createinstallmedia, and for Snow Leopard, I will restore the DVD to the USB in Disk Utility.  How about for Mountain Lion -- createinstallmedia or restore the ML InstallESD.dmg via Disk Utility?

     

    Thank you.

  • by Kappy,

    Kappy Kappy Jan 14, 2015 1:13 PM in response to Jun Kbyu
    Level 10 (271,052 points)
    Desktops
    Jan 14, 2015 1:13 PM in response to Jun Kbyu

    Of course you can. I would have said so otherwise. Read answers before declaring them wrong.

  • by keg55,Solvedanswer

    keg55 keg55 Jan 14, 2015 1:41 PM in response to Jun Kbyu
    Level 6 (8,407 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jan 14, 2015 1:41 PM in response to Jun Kbyu

    Jun Kbyu wrote:

     

    Ok, so my plan now is to get a 32GB USB stick, make four 8GB partitions on it, and make install volumes for Yosemite, Mavericks, Mountain Lion, and Snow Leopard (for legacy machines) on each.  For Yosemite and Mavericks, I will use createinstallmedia, and for Snow Leopard, I will restore the DVD to the USB in Disk Utility.  How about for Mountain Lion -- createinstallmedia or restore the ML InstallESD.dmg via Disk Utility?

     

    Thank you.

    What you're suggesting to do is what I have done with a 32GB thumb drive but only for ML, Mavericks and Yosemite. I don't have any Macs that can run SL. And I'm not interested in running Lion for any reason even though I have a Mac that can run Lion.

     

    I always use the InstallESD.dmg and Disk Utility/Restore for OS X Mountain Lion and Lion. I use the createinstallmedia with Mavericks and Yosemite only. I don't even know if it's even in the Install OS X Mountain Lion.app file. I doubt it.

     

    Also, I just ran that createinstallmedia within Mountain Lion against the Yosemite install app and it created a USB thumb drive installer for Yosemite.

  • by Jun Kbyu,

    Jun Kbyu Jun Kbyu Jan 14, 2015 2:15 PM in response to keg55
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 14, 2015 2:15 PM in response to keg55

    Hi, thanks so much for replying and for going the extra mile to test it out in Mountain Lion.  Ah, I think I understand now:  the createinstallfile command is "within" the Mavericks or Yosemite install app, not OS you're currently running.

     

    Do the partitions need to be 8GB, or can they be smaller; here it seems they are using smaller partitions.

     

    I have the Snow Leopard DVD and install files for Mavericks and Yosemite from the App Store.  Now I'm trying to get the install file for Mountain Lion.  My early 2013 MBPwRD came with Mountain Lion installed, but I don't have the install file (never downloaded on my older Macs--stuck with Snow Leopard for those).  I am on hold with Apple Care now, but they're saying I have to buy Mountain Lion online; I told them I have seen people online saying they've gotten redemption codes, but they're saying they don't do that; on hold for SrAdv now.  Recommendations?

  • by keg55,

    keg55 keg55 Jan 14, 2015 2:40 PM in response to Jun Kbyu
    Level 6 (8,407 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jan 14, 2015 2:40 PM in response to Jun Kbyu

    Jun Kbyu wrote:

     

    Do the partitions need to be 8GB, or can they be smaller; here it seems they are using smaller partitions.

     

    I have the Snow Leopard DVD and install files for Mavericks and Yosemite from the App Store.  Now I'm trying to get the install file for Mountain Lion.  My early 2013 MBPwRD came with Mountain Lion installed, but I don't have the install file (never downloaded on my older Macs--stuck with Snow Leopard for those).  I am on hold with Apple Care now, but they're saying I have to buy Mountain Lion online; I told them I have seen people online saying they've gotten redemption codes, but they're saying they don't do that; on hold for SrAdv now.  Recommendations?    

    I always use 8GB for my installers. These OS's tend to grow and why bother with trying to calculate the size since 8GB USB thumb drives are inexpensive.

     

    If you never purchased Mountain Lion for any of your Macs, other than the early-2013 you said came preinstalled with Mountain Lion, then you need to purchase Mountain Lion from Apple and get the redemption code so you can download it from the App Store. You can not use Mountain Lion from your early-2013 Mac to put on other Macs. It won't work because it's specific to that year/model. The link I provided is for the US store.