error code 110 while creating bootable installer

I've been trying to create a bootable installer for over a week now without success. I have a mid-2011 iMac from the neighbor that I'm trying to fix up for the kids. After reformatting, the iMac automatically goes to Recovery mode, the installed MacOS Mavericks won't complete install, and Internet Recovery fails as well.

I'm attempting to create a bootable installer from my Intel-based Macbook Pro running Ventura. I've tried 3 different USB drives, including a brand new drive with USB-C & USB-A ends integrated running USB 3.1. USB storage sizes ranged from 16gb to 32gb with the larger one also being the USB 3.1 drive. I also tried this on a 1TB external HDD with USB 3.0. The create installer process ends in the same error (code 110) every time.

I've done the following process steps successfully with Sierra, El Capitan, and Yosemite.

downloaded the dmg file
expanded the pkg file
updated the Distribution file so that it recognizes my macbook as authorized to run the installer
flattened the expanded pkg file to a single file
ran the new pkg file (OS's earlier than Yosemite fail at this step for me)
extracted the .app file to the Applications folder
Ran the createinstaller process in Terminal.

At this point, the createinstaller process runs for 5-10 minutes and I'm left with the following error. It is the same with every OS (Yosemite through Sierra). I can't try High Sierra because there doesn't seem to be a way to bypass the App store mac/OS model check, though High Sierra is the max OS that I can do on this iMac.

Couldn't mount dmg /Volumes/Install macOS Sierra/Install macOS Sierra.app/Contents/SharedSupport/InstallESD.dmg (error code 110)Mount of outer dmg failed.

I'm just about to throw in the towel. It kills me because I rarely give up. This issue has me stumped. Any thoughts?

MacBook Pro 13″, macOS 10.15

Posted on Sep 16, 2023 8:03 PM

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MrHoffman

Level 10

158,695 points

Posted on Sep 16, 2023 8:28 PM

Reset SMC and NVRAM to clear out any saved Wi-Fi knowledge, and then try booting Recovery with Option-Command-R chord. See if that lets you get to macOS 10.13.

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MrHoffman

Level 10

158,695 points

Sep 16, 2023 8:28 PM in response to midjag

Reset SMC and NVRAM to clear out any saved Wi-Fi knowledge, and then try booting Recovery with Option-Command-R chord. See if that lets you get to macOS 10.13.

Sep 17, 2023 12:58 PM in response to midjag

I don't think the steps you have tried to modify the installers will work. I'm not quite sure I follow what you have tried to do at steps 4 & 5, but it doesn't quite seem right. Apple has made a lot of changes to those older installers so instructions you may have found online may no longer apply to the current versions of those .dmg installers.

You can try using MDS to see if you can create a bootable macOS 10.13 USB installer. I've never personally used this app, but saw another respected forum contributor suggest it. If this does not work on your Ventura system, then you will need access to another Mac generally from 2008 to 2018 in order to create a bootable macOS 10.11 or 10.13 USB installer.

For 10.11, you generally need a Mac from 2008 to 2015, while for 10.13 you need one from Late-2009 to 2018. You can use the information in the following article to confirm which other Macs are compatible with macOS 10.11 or 10.13:

https://eshop.macsales.com/guides/Mac_OS_X_Compatibility

When trying to use Internet Recovery Mode, try using Command + Option + R which theoretically should access the online macOS 10.13 installer. Unfortunately some Macs will only boot to the online installer for the OS which originally shipped with the Mac from the factory regardless of the keys used for booting.

Is/Was Mavericks the OS installed when you got this iMac?

What version of macOS did you access when booting into Recovery Mode or Internet Recovery Mode?

Was macOS 10.12.6 or 10.13 ever previously installed on this iMac? If not, then you will not be able to access the macOS 10.13 online installer.

What type of apps or use do you hope to provide for the kids when you get this iMac set up?

BDAqua

Level 10

251,389 points

Sep 17, 2023 3:47 PM in response to midjag

For what ever reason, Apple makes it so you cannot create a bootable USB stick on a Mac that cannot run the OS you're trying to create it for, in your instance can your MBP run Mavericks?

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error code 110 while creating bootable installer