how do I convert an obsolete .dmg using hdituil?

Question

how do I convert an obsolete .dmg using hdituil?

I tried to open a .dmg and got the following alert

The disk image format is obsolete. Please convert it to a new format using the command line tool 'hdiutil'

For some crazy reason I don't—off the top of my head—know how to convert an obsolete .dmg using the command line tool "hdiutil," as the alert seems to assume I would, silly me.

Anyone have any ideas as to how I might even start trying to figure this out?

I'm using Monterey 12.3.1 on an M1 MBP

MacBook Pro 15″, macOS 11.6

Posted on Jun 29, 2022 11:31 PM

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Answer 1

Jun 30, 2022 9:59 AM in response to Stephen Frost

Resolved!

Well, that was easy. I just fired up Disk Utility, File --> Open Disk Image... It asked for the password, as expected. It mounted no problem.

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Answer 2

Jun 30, 2022 9:40 AM in response to Stephen Frost

Stephen Frost wrote:

I tried to open a .dmg and got the following alert

The disk image format is obsolete. Please convert it to a new format using the command line tool 'hdiutil'

For some crazy reason I don't—off the top of my head—know how to convert an obsolete .dmg using the command line tool "hdiutil," as the alert seems to assume I would, silly me.

Anyone have any ideas as to how I might even start trying to figure this out?

I'm using Monterey 12.3.1 on an M1 MBP

and what .dmg is this...any insight or background...?

common uses of disk images blur the distinction between the disk image container and its content...

You can read more of course from the man page in your Terminal.app copy & paste:

man hdiutil | more

search for "convert"

Terminal User Guide for Mac - Apple Support

Convert a disk image to another format using Disk Utility on Mac

side note: The current stable release of Monterey including bug fixes, is macOS 12.4

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Answer 3

Jun 30, 2022 9:55 AM in response to leroydouglas

Hi @leroydouglas

Thanks for the quick reply.

It's a password protected .dmg I created with Disk Utility. I used it as a private journal, just threw Text Edit documents in there.

I looked at the hdiutil man page, the problem is I don't know exactly what I'm trying to do. The alert is thin on details. Convert to what? I'm also thrown off by the alert specifically mentioning the command line. Why not Disk Utility?

Mostly, I don't want to do something that irrevocably alters .dmg rending it unreadable.

I think I'll make a copy and try to "convert" the copy using Disk Utility.

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how do I convert an obsolete .dmg using hdituil?

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