PhotoBug3L75

Q: I'm having trouble with the terminal command window

I'm trying to make a bootable drive. I paste in the sudo command and can't seem to go any farther. When I'm prompted for my password it's as if my keyboard is unplugged. In comparing what I'm experiencing to YouTube videos I've noticed I'm seeing things a little bit differently and maybe that's the key and I'm open for suggestions. This is what I see after the command and click return:

 

Last login: Thu Aug 11 17:20:16 on ttys000

********:~ ********* sudo /Applications/Install\ OS\ X\ El\ Capitan.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia --volume /Volumes/ElCapInstaller --applicationpath /Applications/Install\ OS\ X\ El\ Capitan.app --nointeraction

 

WARNING: Improper use of the sudo command could lead to data loss

or the deletion of important system files. Please double-check your

typing when using sudo. Type "man sudo" for more information.

 

To proceed, enter your password, or type Ctrl-C to abort.

 

Password:

 

  After password: is a small logo, a rectangle with a key in it. At this point I am unable to enter anything, the return key still works but I'm unable to type anything afterwards. What am I doing wrong or not understanding? I'm new to this.

Mac mini, OS X El Capitan (10.11.6)

Posted on Aug 11, 2016 3:56 PM

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Q: I'm having trouble with the terminal command window

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  • by theratter,

    theratter theratter Aug 11, 2016 4:03 PM in response to PhotoBug3L75
    Level 4 (3,907 points)
    Desktops
    Aug 11, 2016 4:03 PM in response to PhotoBug3L75

    The password entry is not echoed. Looks like nothing is entered, but whatever you type is received. Type your password then hit Return. You should then receive a short prompt asking to enter 'y' or 'n'. The former will proceed. The latter aborts.

  • by PhotoBug3L75,

    PhotoBug3L75 PhotoBug3L75 Aug 11, 2016 4:06 PM in response to theratter
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Mac OS X
    Aug 11, 2016 4:06 PM in response to theratter

    That's where the problem is. When I tried to type in my password nothing happens. It's as if the keyboard is unplugged. It won't allow me to enter text after I hit return.

  • by PhotoBug3L75,

    PhotoBug3L75 PhotoBug3L75 Aug 11, 2016 4:11 PM in response to theratter
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Mac OS X
    Aug 11, 2016 4:11 PM in response to theratter

    Forgive me for not understanding. It's been a long night.

  • by theratter,Solvedanswer

    theratter theratter Aug 11, 2016 4:52 PM in response to PhotoBug3L75
    Level 4 (3,907 points)
    Desktops
    Aug 11, 2016 4:52 PM in response to PhotoBug3L75

    Yes, it does. But you won't see anything. It only looks as if the keyboard is unplugged. At the password prompt type your password. You won't see anything. Once you enter the password press Return. Trust me, it works. I've been doing this for years. The password is not displayed for security reasons.

  • by PhotoBug3L75,

    PhotoBug3L75 PhotoBug3L75 Aug 11, 2016 4:36 PM in response to theratter
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Mac OS X
    Aug 11, 2016 4:36 PM in response to theratter

    theratter,

     

    Man.... thanks for your help and patients, I'm practically brain-dead. I did as you said and terminal said media not found. I reformatted the flash drive and made sure that it was formatted correctly. It gave me this:

     

    media: command not found

    ***********i:~ ***************

    -bash: ************: No such file or directory

     

    any idea what I'm doing wrong? I erased the drive and reformatted again just to make sure (GUID/ extended journaled)

  • by PhotoBug3L75,

    PhotoBug3L75 PhotoBug3L75 Aug 11, 2016 4:52 PM in response to PhotoBug3L75
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Mac OS X
    Aug 11, 2016 4:52 PM in response to PhotoBug3L75

    I'm getting this:

     

    sudo: /Applications/Install OS X El Capitan.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia: command not found

    *****-Mac-mini:~ ********

  • by PhotoBug3L75,

    PhotoBug3L75 PhotoBug3L75 Aug 11, 2016 4:55 PM in response to PhotoBug3L75
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Mac OS X
    Aug 11, 2016 4:55 PM in response to PhotoBug3L75

    I just figured it out! What a monumental blunder

     

    Thank you theratter

  • by rccharles,

    rccharles rccharles Aug 13, 2016 9:48 AM in response to PhotoBug3L75
    Level 6 (8,459 points)
    Classic Mac OS
    Aug 13, 2016 9:48 AM in response to PhotoBug3L75

    Glad to hear that.

     

    You need to quote anything with spaces in it.

    "/Applications/Install OS X El Capitan.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia"

     

    ................................................................................ ...............

    Here is an overview of the terminal commands.  Lets assume that your account has a short user name of mac.
    Macintosh-HD -> Applications -> Utilities -> Terminal
    #What is my short user name?  Type the whoami command.
    mac $ whoami
    mac
    mac $
    #How to list all of your disks.
    # The ls command is for list
    mac $ ls /Volumes/
    Audio CD       Macintosh-HD   Spotless       Tiger-ext
    mac $
     
    # Let's say your flash drive is named Spotless

     

    # cd is change directory
    mac $ cd /Volumes/Spotless
    # pwd is Print Working Directory. A directory is the Unix name for a folder.  You are always in a directory.
    mac $ pwd
    /Volumes/Spotless
    mac $
     
    # The ls command is for list
    # l is long
    # F is type of file where / is directory.  For directories, the slash is pasted to the end of the name. 
    mac $ ls -lF
    total 134704
    -rw-r--r--     1 mac  staff     64560 Mar  3  2009 A-picture-of-Youpi-key.png
    drwxr-xr-x    83 mac  staff      2822 Nov  7 14:52 Applescript files/
    drwxrwxrwx    12 mac  staff       408 Dec 13  2008 Christmas Cards/
    drwxr-xr-x     9 mac  staff       306 Dec 21 17:39 Christmas Cards 2009/
    ... trimmed ...
    What does all this mean?

    drwxrwxrwx

    d = directory
    r = read
    w = write
    x = executeable program

    drwxrwxrwx
    || &nbsp|&nbsp |
    ||  |   all other users not in first two types
    ||  | 
    ||  group
    ||
    |owner

    What type of entry is this? d = directory, - = file, etc. 

     

    Every Unix resource: files, folders, etc has an owner, group, other 
    A Unix resource has one owner.
    A Unix resource has one group.  A group contains a list of users.

     

    To gain access to a file, you can be the owner, in the group, or not the owner and not in the group hence you end up as other. The owner, group, or other  has read, write, or execute permissions.

     


    # l is long
    # a is all to show hidden files & folders
    mac $ ls -lFa
    total 134736
    drwxr-xr-x    41 mac   staff      1496 Dec 22 17:11 .
    drwxrwxrwt     8 root  admin       272 Dec 24 13:55 ..
    -rwxrwxrwx     1 mac   staff     15364 Dec 23 12:52 .DS_Store*
    drwx------     4 mac   staff       136 Jan 22  2009 .Spotlight-V100
    drwxrwxrwt     5 mac   staff       170 Sep 14 16:36 .TemporaryItems
    d-wx-wx-wx     4 mac   staff       136 Dec 31  1969 .Trashes
    -rw-r--r--     1 mac  staff     64560 Mar  3  2009 A-picture-of-Youpi-key.png
    drwxr-xr-x    83 mac   staff      2822 Nov  7 14:52 Applescript files
    drwxrwxrwx    12 mac   staff       408 Dec 13  2008 Christmas Cards
    drwxr-xr-x     9 mac   staff       306 Dec 21 17:39 Christmas Cards 2009

    ... trimmed ...
    # mv is move or rename
    mv -i the-name the-new-name

     

     

     

    # You can just rename the file back to what it was with mv command.
    mv -i old-name new-name

     

    Here is what these commands mean:
    cd is change directory
    pwd is a print working directory
    ls is list
    sudo is Super user do
    mv is move or rename

     

    For cryptic comments, you can always uses the manual command which is man. For example:
    man mv

     

    # Type the letter q to quit.
    In case you have spaces in your filenames or directories, you need to escape them. See examples:

    mac $ ls -l ~/"see it"
    -rw-r--r-- 1 mac staff 3171 Oct 26 23:38 /Users/mac/see it
    mac $
    mac $ cd /Users/mac/Desktop/ttt\ html\ copy/

     

    Do you know about tabbing? Type in a few letters of a name then press the tab key. The computer will type out the rest of the name if it is unique.

     

    Press the up arrow key to see the previous command(s).

     

    To edit a command, use the left arrow key to more left and the right arrow key to move right.  Use the delete key to delete the key to the left.  Type a letter to insert.

     

    history to see many previous commands.

     

    mac $ history

        1  pwd

        2  man ls

        3  history

    You may copy then paste from this list.

     

    ----------------------

     

    http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=2692161&tstart=0 

     

    Robert

  • by rccharles,

    rccharles rccharles Aug 13, 2016 10:47 AM in response to rccharles
    Level 6 (8,459 points)
    Classic Mac OS
    Aug 13, 2016 10:47 AM in response to rccharles

    I tried to improve the formatting of the above post, but no workie.

     

    R

  • by PhotoBug3L75,

    PhotoBug3L75 PhotoBug3L75 Aug 14, 2016 12:10 AM in response to rccharles
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Mac OS X
    Aug 14, 2016 12:10 AM in response to rccharles

    rccharles,

     

    Greatly appreciate the help you and theratter provided! When Apple dropped the PowerPC, or IBM, I always assumed  the terminal was a place I should never go. While trying to do housekeeping because of odd behavior, I around across some folders that seem to have no ownership and oddly named like "cinchonism". I came here and thanks to etresoft, I found out that I had a disaster on my hands ( piles of Malware and such). I'm still not sure if I should cancel my credit cards and replace them.

     

    no doubt about, it if you have a problem with your Mac this is the place to go

    thanks guys

  • by rccharles,

    rccharles rccharles Aug 14, 2016 9:09 AM in response to rccharles
    Level 6 (8,459 points)
    Classic Mac OS
    Aug 14, 2016 9:09 AM in response to rccharles

    I'm jinxed.  Another try at reformatting terminal commands, but not luck.

     

    R