Building a bootable external HD for an old iMac (using Sierra)

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Building a bootable external HD for an old iMac (using Sierra)

I have an old iMac 24 (2011) that used to run on Sierra but now the HD is not booting from it. I have a backup that can use FirstAid from (booting in minimal OS). I tried erasing the HD and reinstalling the OS using the spare bkup disk and Internet access install to no avail. I want to install a full system on a spare drive (I have a few) but the issue I need a similar Mac to do that (I have an even older iMac that came with Lion). Could I use this one to format a start-up disk for the somewhat newer iMac 24?

Posted on May 15, 2023 6:00 AM

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Answer 1

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D.I. Johnson

Level 8

37,921 points

May 15, 2023 6:14 AM in response to minardi

minardi wrote:

... the issue I need a similar Mac to do that (I have an even older iMac that came with Lion). Could I use this one to format a start-up disk for the somewhat newer iMac 24?

Yes, the older iMac that shipped with 10.7 Lion qualifies to run macOS 10.12 Sierra and should be able to create a bootable disk for that OS that you could use to resurrect the 2011 iMac.

Please see: Create a bootable installer for macOS - Apple Support

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Answer 2

May 15, 2023 9:28 AM in response to minardi

Try booting into Internet Recovery Mode using Command + Option + R to see if you can access the online macOS 10.13 installer.

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Answer 3

ku4hx

Level 7

23,746 points

May 15, 2023 12:35 PM in response to minardi

You don't really want to use an external HDD, that will get you essentially nothing. Go with a decent brand of SSD.

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Building a bootable external HD for an old iMac (using Sierra)

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