Cannot get os sierra install to work as a bootable usb disk

I've seen dozens of terminal commands that will allow High Sierra to put the mac os sierra installer on a USB disk but it won't work for me. Seems like something happened with the installer from 2018 to now. Has anyone found a fix?

Mac Pro, macOS 10.12

Posted on Nov 4, 2019 3:48 PM

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Posted on Nov 9, 2019 3:59 AM

The old installers certificate expired recently, so you need to download a newer version.

Click on this link, How to upgrade to macOS Sierra - Apple Support

The instructions are slightly different from before so read Section 4 to Section 7

carefully.

First you will download InstallOS.dmg, and from that you will make InstallOS.pkg

double-clicking on that will open an installer window. At this point the dialogue sounds like it

is about to install the OS, it is not, it is going to create Install macOS Sierra.app in your Applications

folder. It is from that you can create the bootable USB installer.


8 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Nov 9, 2019 3:59 AM in response to jerbearferrjerr

The old installers certificate expired recently, so you need to download a newer version.

Click on this link, How to upgrade to macOS Sierra - Apple Support

The instructions are slightly different from before so read Section 4 to Section 7

carefully.

First you will download InstallOS.dmg, and from that you will make InstallOS.pkg

double-clicking on that will open an installer window. At this point the dialogue sounds like it

is about to install the OS, it is not, it is going to create Install macOS Sierra.app in your Applications

folder. It is from that you can create the bootable USB installer.


Nov 11, 2019 1:27 PM in response to jerbearferrjerr

Before you open Terminal and try the createinstallmedia command open Disk Utility and reformat your USB Stick.

If you are on High Sierra click on View in the menubar and select Show All Devices.

Highlight the Disk in the left column, not the indented Volume. click Erase.

Name: MyVolume

Format Mac OS X Extended (Journaled)

Scheme: GUID Partition Map.


see screenshot below


Nov 8, 2019 5:58 PM in response to jerbearferrjerr

Hey there jerbearferrjerr,


Thanks for reaching out to Apple Support Communities. I understand you’re having issues creating a bootable installer for Mac OS X Sierra. I’ll be happy to help with this. 


Take a look at this article for the exact command you want to use for Mac OS X Sierra: 


How to create a bootable installer for macOS


If that’s not working, see if this works in safe boot or a new user account. This can also isolate and possibly resolve this issue:


Use safe mode to isolate issues with your Mac

How to test an issue in another user account on your Mac


Let me know if this allows you to create the installer.

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Cannot get os sierra install to work as a bootable usb disk

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