problem using M2 created external startup disk

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Level 1

4 points

problem using M2 created external startup disk

I created a Ventura startup disk on an external ssd using a Macbook Air M2. The external drive name is correct (VenturaOS) when selecting it from Startup Options, and boots/works on the M2 Macbook. But when I try the same external drive on an Intel Macbook Pro, the external drive name is EFI Boot (which is the first partition on the drive) and it will not boot, it will only restart.

I am troubleshooting the Intel Macbook Pro, it may be the problem, but I want to know if the external drive created using the Macbook Air M2 should be able to boot on the Intel Macbook, or if I need to created the external drive using an Intel Macbook.

MacBook Pro

Posted on Dec 14, 2022 1:21 PM

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Answer 1

Best reply

James Brickley

Level 5

4,636 points

Dec 14, 2022 5:42 PM in response to little_tommy

That's not going to work. The Intel and Apple Silicon M1 / M2 processors are not compatible. Intel processors run x86_64 compiled binaries while Apple Silicon processors run arm64 binaries. It's a totally different machine language.

You'll need another Intel Mac to create the bootable drive to boot the broken Intel Mac. Or you can get a friend with a working Intel Mac to create a bootable USB flash drive macOS installer. Boot the broken Mac from the flash drive while the external drive is attached, erase the external drive and install macOS on the external drive. Then reboot from the external drive. That should work.

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Answer 2

little_tommy Author

Level 1

4 points

Dec 14, 2022 8:15 PM in response to James Brickley

Thanks James, I thought that might be the case. I'll see if I can find someone with an Intel Mac that will let me create a new install on the external drive. Am I right in that there is only one Ventura installer for either system, the one from the App Store?

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Answer 3

little_tommy Author

Level 1

4 points

Dec 14, 2022 11:29 PM in response to little_tommy

Answering my own post, I expect that there are two installers, one for each architecture, and the correct one is downloaded from the App Store depending on the computer used to download.

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Answer 4

Dec 15, 2022 4:46 AM in response to little_tommy

You are correct.

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problem using M2 created external startup disk

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