How can I create a bootable usb for OS X on macOS Catalina

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How can I create a bootable usb for OS X on macOS Catalina

Hello,

I've got a new macbook pro from this year running catalina 10.15.6. I've also got a 2008 or older mac tower I'm trying to wipe and recover. I can't login to the mac, no one remembers the password and for some reason I can't get it to boot into recovery, so I'm left with creating a bootable usb.

I know it won't support a newer Mac OS, I remember it being unable to update around Snow Leopard which is probably around the last time we had it booted up.

I can't find directions anywhere on how to create a bootable usb version of OS X Snow Leopard, etc...when using a modern mac catalina system to create it.

Any guidance or pointing to resources would be appreciated.

Posted on Jul 29, 2020 10:37 AM

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Answer 1

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HWTech

Level 9

56,138 points

Jul 29, 2020 8:29 PM in response to kimjay14

You should use the OSX restore DVD(s) which either shipped with your Mac or the retail version of OSX 10.6 Snow Leopard DVD (black label) which you may have bought to upgrade the OS on this computer.

Unfortunately in order to create a bootable macOS 10.11 USB installer requires another Mac which can actually run 10.11. I have been unable to find a alternative reliable way to manually create a working bootable macOS 10.11 USB installer.

You can try resetting the user account password using these instructions:

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT202860

https://www.macworld.co.uk/how-to/mac/forgotten-mac-password-3594395

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Answer 2

Jul 29, 2020 11:58 AM in response to kimjay14

How to create a bootable installer for macOS - Apple Support

You also may have a Recovery_HD partition on the drive that is in that computer, or on its Time machine backup. Recovery_HD is the predecessor of Internet recovery, which that Mac does not have in its ROM.

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How can I create a bootable usb for OS X on macOS Catalina

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