Software to create a bootable disk image????

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Software to create a bootable disk image????

Hi,

I need to create a bootable image. I have a ISO file, and need to create a bootable image to install software onto one of my servers. Is there software out there for a Mac that will allow me to create a bootable image?
Thanks for any input,

Nigel

Macbook Pro 17", Mac OS X (10.5.6)

Posted on Apr 24, 2009 3:20 AM

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Answer 1

nigelivy Author

Level 1

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Apr 24, 2009 3:47 AM in response to nigelivy

I have managed to create a bootable disk image using the ISO image I had, onto a CD and DVD using Disk Utility. Is there a way to create a bootable disk image using the same ISO image onto a USB Flash Drive? Will Disk Utility do this? If not, is there other software out there that will?

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Answer 2

Apr 24, 2009 5:18 AM in response to nigelivy

Disk Utility doesn't make for bootable images. However, the command-line utility 'hdiutil' does (use it via Terminal.app. I've made bootable Linux DVD images before that way, but never a bootable Mac image.

I'm guessing that a bootable Mac image would involve making a disk image file, copying the necessary system files, blessing the image (in Terminal.app, type 'man bless' for more info), and then converting it to a regular ISO image.

Similarly, I think that all you need to make a bootable USB key/drive is to partition it GPT, copy the system files, and bless it. That said, you can probably use the OS X install media to install the OS on the USB key (it certainly works for USB hard drives) directly. You could even do that, then take an image of the drive (using dd) and convert it to an ISO with hdiutil.

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Answer 3

iVmichael

Level 6

13,740 points

Apr 24, 2009 5:28 AM in response to nigelivy

Check out BootCD from here: http://www.charlessoft.com/

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Answer 4

Apr 24, 2009 6:15 AM in response to iVmichael

BootCD only worked up until OS X 10.3

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