Make a Full Mavericks Installer

Hi, I own a 2013 iMac which came with Mavericks so I never got to/needed to download Mavericks from the App Store. Because of that I can't download the installer. I was able to get the "Mac OS X install Data" folder by booting in Internet Recovery and unplugging the external hard drive I was using right before it restarted and started installing Mavericks. This folder includes all of the necessary files needed for the installer. Is it somehow possible to make it a full installer. The reason I say full installer is because it has the 23 mb installer app, and I want the full 5.3 gb installer. I think this is possible because people have done it with Mojave. https://osxdaily.com/2018/09/29/download-full-macos-mojave-installer/#comment-6477531 At the bottom of the webpage, they include an alternate method to manually build a full macOS Mojave Installer by just using terminal commands. So, what I am trying to say is if this is possible with Mojave, is it possible with Mavericks, and if so, can someone please tell me how to make the full installer. Thanks

iMac Line (2012 and Later)

Posted on May 19, 2020 6:56 PM

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May 19, 2020 9:10 PM in response to EJS2018

You can use a Terminal command to create a bootable USB flash drive installer but you need to real installer sitting in the Applications folder. From your post, I take it you don't have the full installer application.


If you have an Internet connection, preferably, Ethernet, then try this:


Internet/Network Recovery of El Capitan or Later on a Clean Disk


     If possible, back up your files before proceeding.


  1. Restart the computer. Immediately, at or before the chime, hold down the (Command-Option-Shift-R) keys until a globe appears.
  2. The Utility Menu will appear in from 5-20 minutes. Be patient.
  3. Select Disk Utility and click on the Continue button.
  4. When Disk Utility loads select the target drive (out-dented entry w/type and size) from the side list.
  5. Click on the Erase button in Disk Utility's toolbar. A panel will drop down.
  6. Set the partition scheme to GUID.
  7. Set the Format type to APFS (SSDs, only if installing Mojave or Catalina ) or Mac OS Extended, (Journaled.)
  8. Click on the Apply button, then click on the Done button when it activates.
  9. Quit Disk Utility and return to the Utility Menu.
  10. Select Install OS X and click on the Continue button.


This should install the version of OS X that came pre-installed from the factory.


May 20, 2020 10:43 AM in response to EJS2018

It is a regular installer but one that does not require a connection to Apple or an optical drive. However, it still may need to download a small number of support files needed to make the flash drive bootable. The flash drive installer can not be converted as-is to the regular installer application from which it was made.



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Make a Full Mavericks Installer

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