Terminal won't make bootable usb?

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Level 1

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Terminal won't make bootable usb?

I followed this guide https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201372 to create a bootable USB with Sierra. The USB is formatted as Mac OS Extended (Journaled). I didn't copy and paste the code they provide but I did this.

sudo (drag createinstallmedia in) --volume (drag usb in) --applicationpath (drag sierra install in) , I've put spaces in correct areas too.

The first time I ran this I was able to type the password in, type Y for confirmation and it made it. This however didn't work in the Mac I'm trying to install so I tried again with High Sierra.

Now whenever I try this process again with the USB formatted again, whether it be Sierra or High Sierra, after I type the code in the password question doesn't come up, and nothing appears in the terminal. Something seems to be happening though, as my computer will run very slowly and if I try to close terminal it will ask if I want to terminate the process 'createinstallmedia (number)', with the number going up if I don't terminate it and try again later.

I've let it run for about 30 minutes and it never got to the password stage.

Anyone know a fix for this? Any suggestions even a stab in the dark would be great, thanks

iMac Pro

Posted on Dec 11, 2019 6:04 AM

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Answer 1

Dec 11, 2019 7:28 AM in response to The Archies

The Archies wrote:

I followed this guide https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201372

to create a bootable USB with Sierra

to create a bootable USB with Sierra. The USB is formatted as Mac OS Extended (Journaled).

I didn't copy and paste the code ..

Copy and paste is hard to go wrong in this way.

dragging your USB to the terminal window is a good way to complete the path.

What bootable installer are you wanting to create, if you can run Sierra you can run High Sierra. A mid -2012 is the oldest MBP capable of running Catalina.

The full installer.app (some ~5-6 GB in size) needs to be in the default location of the Applications folder.

The instructions are clear in your reference, your drag & drop USB replaces "</Volumes/MyVolume>"

sudo /Applications/Install\ macOS\ High\ Sierra.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia --volume </Volumes/MyVolume>

`

I can say it can take quite some time for the command to complete—and will look like it is doing nothing, until it does.

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Answer 2

Dec 11, 2019 6:08 PM in response to The Archies

The Archies wrote:

pasted the code from Apples website into terminal

I then pasted the code into my chrome url, pasted it into terminal and it worked?

Honestly the codes are exactly the same, no extra spaces, nothing, as it was copy and pasted and changed the exact same way.

I would be willing to bet there was a difference; remember the old computer saying when compiling code: "garbage in garbage out."

I am glad this solved your problem—maybe others can proffer from your antidote.

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Answer 3

The Archies Author

Level 1

7 points

Dec 11, 2019 8:26 AM in response to leroydouglas

I tried again with High Sierra, this copy and pasted the code from Apples website into terminal, changed the volume/USB name and got the same problem. I then pasted the code into my chrome url, then changed the volume/USB again, then pasted it into terminal and it worked?

Honestly the codes are exactly the same, no extra spaces, nothing, as it was copy and pasted and changed the exact same way.

I remember in another thread someone had some issues when they pasted Apples code. Someone replied to the thread and made the exact code the OP copied red, then OP copied that code and it worked?

Here's the thread https://discussions.apple.com/thread/8390761

Very odd inconsistencies, but thanks for the reply

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Answer 4

Dec 11, 2019 8:41 AM in response to The Archies

The Archies wrote:

I tried again with High Sierra

... pasted it into terminal and it worked?

Honestly the codes are exactly the same, no extra spaces, nothing, as it was copy and pasted and changed the exact same way.

Very odd inconsistencies, but thanks for the reply

Good computing The Archies !

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Answer 5

The Archies Author

Level 1

7 points

Dec 12, 2019 1:21 AM in response to leroydouglas

Honestly if I were anyone reading this, I would say the same as you, but I can genuinely say they were EXACTLY the same.

Even got my work colleagues to look and check if I was going mad, and they're pretty good at looking over pages of code let alone 2 lines, as I work in an IT support office.

I want to try this again at some point and confirm if the same thing happens, or even try on a different Mac.

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Answer 6

macjack

Level 10

111,242 points

Dec 11, 2019 8:23 AM in response to The Archies

Try it this way:

https://diskmakerx.com

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Terminal won't make bootable usb?

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