Cannot mount iso image in macOS Big Sur

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enclle Author

Level 1

4 points

Cannot mount iso image in macOS Big Sur

Hello,

I'm trying to mount a Linux ISO, linuxmint-21-cinnamon-64bit.iso, but no success.

When double clicking, It shows an error saying that it is not "mountable".

If I do in command line

hdiutil attach -noverify -nomount linuxmint-21-cinnamon-64bit.iso

It creates 3 /dev nodes:

/dev/disk3 GUID_partition_scheme

/dev/disk3s1 Microsoft Basic Data

/dev/disk3s2 EFI

If I try to mount the partitions somewhere, it fails with error 71:

sudo mkdir /Volumes/Disk3s2

sudo mount -tmsdos /dev/disk3s2 /Volumes/Disk3s2

mount_msdos: /dev/disk3s2 on /Volumes/Disk3s2: Permission denied

mount: /Volumes/Disk3S2 failed with 71

What is wrong?

MacBook Pro 15″

Posted on Jan 10, 2023 7:11 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

enclle Author

Level 1

4 points

Jan 10, 2023 1:02 PM in response to enclle

Just to clarify:

I mounted the ISO as independent disk devices with:

hdiutil attach -noverify -nomount linuxmint-21-cinnamon-64bit.iso

/dev/disk3 GUID_partition_scheme

/dev/disk3s1 Microsoft Basic Data

/dev/disk3s2 EFI

Then I tried to mount the 3rd (EFI), so I could copy files from there:

mkdir /Volumes/disk3s2

sudo mount -t msdos /dev/disk3s2 /Volumes/disk3s2

but it gave the error:

mount_msdos: /dev/disk3s2 on /Volumes/Disk3s2: Permission denied

mount: /Volumes/Disk3S2 failed with 71

This was why I wrote this message asking for help.

Why I cannot have permission to mount an image/disk?

But now I know (and you, when reading this message), that you have to mount with the "readonly" option:

sudo mount -t msdos -r /dev/disk3s2 /Volumes/disk3s2

Thank you.

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Answer 2

dialabrain

Level 10

136,199 points

Jan 10, 2023 1:11 PM in response to enclle

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Answer 3

enclle Author

Level 1

4 points

Jan 10, 2023 12:57 PM in response to dialabrain

I just tested some options, it appears that they want to force you to do things:

If I mount with "-r" option (readonly) it mounts ok:

sudo mount -t msdos -r /dev/disk3s2 /Volumes/Disk3S2

[Edited by Moderator]

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Answer 4

dialabrain

Level 10

136,199 points

Jan 10, 2023 1:08 PM in response to enclle

Had you mentioned you just wanted to copy some files from the .iso, I would have suggested AnyToISO which could do so.

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Answer 5

dialabrain

Level 10

136,199 points

Jan 10, 2023 7:31 AM in response to enclle

FWIW, you don't mention whether you are trying to dual boot macOS & Linux or if you are trying to replace macOS. Personally I would install Linux as a VM using Parallels Desktop, VMWare Fusion, UTM or VirtualBox.

Here's a decent article on how to dual boot or replace macOS with Linux. The article uses Ubuntu but the same methods would work for Linux Mint.

https://www.makeuseof.com/tag/install-linux-macbook-pro/

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Answer 6

enclle Author

Level 1

4 points

Jan 10, 2023 11:35 AM in response to dialabrain

No, friend. Please, read again what I wrote.

I'm just trying to MOUNT the ISO image downloaded from the Linux Mint's site 🙂.

The OS have some dumb security that is preventing me from mounting it and I don't know what to do.

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Answer 7

enclle Author

Level 1

4 points

Jan 10, 2023 11:52 AM in response to dialabrain

Sorry. I think I have to rephrase:

I cannot mount some devices or images inside my MacBook Pro running macOS Big Sur "because the OS have some dumb security not allowing me to do it".

I use Mac for +8 years and I'm a programmer/developer for +20 years.

I know how to mount an image in macOS, Windows and Linux.

The problem is that the system IS NOT ALLOWING ME to mount it (see it in bold below):

mount_msdos: /dev/disk3s2 on /Volumes/Disk3s2: Permission denied

mount: /Volumes/Disk3S2 failed with 71

Mount is telling me that I "don't have permission to mount", so I need to change something in the OS to allow me to mount it. Do you understand? They changed something in the OS that I need to revert/change.

Thank you.

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