You can make a difference in the Apple Support Community!

When you sign up with your Apple Account, you can provide valuable feedback to other community members by upvoting helpful replies and User Tips.

Looks like no one’s replied in a while. To start the conversation again, simply ask a new question.

User profile for user: Frankosa
Frankosa Author
User level: Level 1
8 points

Problems downloading MacOS X Mountain Lion with Safari

Hello!


I've recently bought MacOS X Mountain Lion to create a bootable usb stick with it and put it on a old 2009 MacBook Pro with a new hard drive. I have and use a MacBook Pro 2019.


The problem is : the first time I clicked on the "InstallMacOSX.dmg.download", Safari started to download, well, the file, but not really. It keeps saying "Interrupted" and each time I tried to make it resume, it did nothing.


When I erased the download section of Safari and open the file/link on the Finder, it just wont open, at all, saying that the file is not a valid file for download.


The MacOSX isn't in my Purchase section of the Mac AppStore.


What can I do about all that?


Thanks a lot!

MacBook Pro 13″, macOS 10.15

Posted on Aug 25, 2020 9:50 AM

Reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply
User profile for user: Kappy
Kappy
User level: Level 10
361,849 points

Posted on Aug 25, 2020 1:19 PM

OK. You cannot run the installer until after the download is finished. In order to continue you need to re-download Mountain Lion from Apple. You also need to delete the bad file you now have before trying to re-download Mountain Lion. This time you need to wait until the file is fully downloaded. Do not try to run the installer on your current system because it will not work. Here is how you make the bootable installer.


Make A Bootable Lion or Mountain Lion USB Installer


A. Get a USB flash drive that is at least 8 GBs. Prep this flash drive as follows:


  1. Open Disk Utility in your Utilities' folder.
  2. After DU loads select your flash drive (this is the out-dented entry with the mfgr.'s ID and size) from the left side list. Click on the Partition tab in the DU main window.
  3. Under the Volume Scheme heading set the number of partitions from the drop down menu to one. Set the format type to Mac OS Extended (Journaled.) Click on the Options button, set the partition scheme to GUID then click on the OK button. Click on the Partition button and wait until the process has completed.
  4. Select the volume you just created (this is the indented entry under the drive entry) from the left side list. Click on the Erase tab in the DU main window.
  5. Set the format type to Mac OS Extended (Journaled.) Click on the Options button, check the button for Zero Data and click the OK button to return to the Erase window.
  6. Click on the Erase button. The format process can take up to an hour depending upon the flash drive size.


B. Insert the Lion DVD into the computer's optical drive. 

C. Plug in your freshly prepared USB flash drive. You are going to clone the content of the InstallESD.dmg disk image to the flash drive as follows:


  1. Double-click on the InstallESD.dmg file to mount it on your Desktop.
  2. Open Disk Utility.
  3. Select the USB flash drive from the left side list.
  4. Click on the Restore tab in the Disk Utility main window.
  5. Select the USB flash drive volume from the left side list and drag it to the Destination entry field.
  6. Drag the mounted disc icon from the Desktop into the Source entry field.
  7. Double-check you got it right, then click on the Restore button.


When the clone is completed you have a fully bootable installer that you can use without having to re-download Mountain/Lion.

View in context
11 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply
User profile for user: Kappy
Kappy
User level: Level 10
361,849 points

Aug 25, 2020 1:19 PM in response to Frankosa

OK. You cannot run the installer until after the download is finished. In order to continue you need to re-download Mountain Lion from Apple. You also need to delete the bad file you now have before trying to re-download Mountain Lion. This time you need to wait until the file is fully downloaded. Do not try to run the installer on your current system because it will not work. Here is how you make the bootable installer.


Make A Bootable Lion or Mountain Lion USB Installer


A. Get a USB flash drive that is at least 8 GBs. Prep this flash drive as follows:


  1. Open Disk Utility in your Utilities' folder.
  2. After DU loads select your flash drive (this is the out-dented entry with the mfgr.'s ID and size) from the left side list. Click on the Partition tab in the DU main window.
  3. Under the Volume Scheme heading set the number of partitions from the drop down menu to one. Set the format type to Mac OS Extended (Journaled.) Click on the Options button, set the partition scheme to GUID then click on the OK button. Click on the Partition button and wait until the process has completed.
  4. Select the volume you just created (this is the indented entry under the drive entry) from the left side list. Click on the Erase tab in the DU main window.
  5. Set the format type to Mac OS Extended (Journaled.) Click on the Options button, check the button for Zero Data and click the OK button to return to the Erase window.
  6. Click on the Erase button. The format process can take up to an hour depending upon the flash drive size.


B. Insert the Lion DVD into the computer's optical drive. 

C. Plug in your freshly prepared USB flash drive. You are going to clone the content of the InstallESD.dmg disk image to the flash drive as follows:


  1. Double-click on the InstallESD.dmg file to mount it on your Desktop.
  2. Open Disk Utility.
  3. Select the USB flash drive from the left side list.
  4. Click on the Restore tab in the Disk Utility main window.
  5. Select the USB flash drive volume from the left side list and drag it to the Destination entry field.
  6. Drag the mounted disc icon from the Desktop into the Source entry field.
  7. Double-check you got it right, then click on the Restore button.


When the clone is completed you have a fully bootable installer that you can use without having to re-download Mountain/Lion.

Reply
User profile for user: Kappy
Kappy
User level: Level 10
361,849 points

Aug 25, 2020 11:27 AM in response to Frankosa

Is this the page from which you obtained Mountain Lion: OS X Mountain Lion. You may have a bad download resulting from a bad server or a slow Internet connection. If you use Wi-Fi, then try using Ethernet, instead. If you do not have wide broadband Internet service, then you need to try finding a fast connection to use.


If your local Apple shops are open, then see if they can provide a copy of Mountain Lion on your USB stick.


Reply
User profile for user: Frankosa
Frankosa Author
User level: Level 1
8 points

Aug 25, 2020 12:04 PM in response to Kappy

Hello! Thanks for answering.


The problem is that the version I have is from the AppStore. I bought the entire OS X Mountain Lion in the intention to put it in a new Hard Drive (it never had MacOS in it before so Command+r doesn’t works).


My plan was to create a bootable USB Stick from my MacBook Pro 2019 with the OSInstaller and after put the installer in the old Macbook.

Reply
User profile for user: Kappy
Kappy
User level: Level 10
361,849 points

Aug 25, 2020 12:46 PM in response to Frankosa

Well, in order to accomplish your plan, you need a working, bootable installer. For that you need a solid download of the installer file which is around 5-6GBs, I think. Fast Internet is essential when using Wi-Fi because of transfer glitches. For slower Internet connections you should use Ethernet for its reliability.


How about the local library or school library, if they have Internet connections? Do you know how to make a bootable USB stick installer from the disk image file you will download?


Reply
User profile for user: Frankosa
Frankosa Author
User level: Level 1
8 points

Aug 25, 2020 1:01 PM in response to Kappy

My internet connection is good, this isn't the problem. The main problem is that Safari won't let me download the Files that come with the link they gave me when I claimed the OS X on the AppStore (a .dmg.download file).


The first time I tried to install the Installer, Safari interrupted the download even before it could begin and won't let me resume it. As soon as I click on the resume button, it stopped. Now, when I click on the .dmg.download file, it just won't download at all, saying that it isn't a valid file.


So, that's my main problem.


For the bootable USB stick, well, I looked around the internet and Apple and everyone says similar, but different things, so the answer is no, I don't really know how to make one.a


Thanks for helping me with that!


Take care.

Reply
User profile for user: Kappy
Kappy
User level: Level 10
361,849 points

Aug 25, 2020 1:42 PM in response to Frankosa

Well, I'm not sure what to say about that. I suppose you can request another download code. I'm surprised it hasn't shown up in your purchases in the App Store. I guess you have to call Apple and ask about it. I don't have an answer.


Here is a site from which you can freely download Mountain Lion: Mac OS X Mountain Lion 10.8.5 Free Download - All Mac Worldallmacworld.com › OS. It will be the .dmg file used by Apple.

Reply
User profile for user: Kappy
Kappy
User level: Level 10
361,849 points

Aug 25, 2020 7:52 PM in response to Frankosa

My lazy fingers. Should have been Mountain Lion. It's a step you should just skip. I forgot those instructions were for use with a DVD back in the day when you purchased the software on an optical disk.


Mount your downloaded .dmg Mountain Lion installer file by double-clicking on it. It will mount onto the Desktop like an ordinary drive. If a window doesn't open then double-click on the icon for it. This will reveal the contents. Follow the instructions given for the DVD to locate and mount the InstallESD.dmg file that you will use for the rest of the process.


Yes, that is what those instructions help you do.


Reply

Problems downloading MacOS X Mountain Lion with Safari

Welcome to Apple Support Community
A forum where Apple customers help each other with their products. Get started with your Apple Account.
Learn more Sign up