How can I re-acquire InstallESD.dmg?

Unfortunately, your only option at this point is to re-download Lion from the App Store. Making a copy of InstallESD.dmg must be done before running the Lion installer, which deletes itself after installation. Here's a link to clear instructions on how to save the Lion installer file and burn it to disc.

When you go to the App Store you will find that you cannot re-download because the store tells you it is already downloaded.

Don't wory use the Option key and select the 'Downloaded' button and you can download again.

alansky1 wrote:

...Making a copy of InstallESD.dmg must be done before running the Lion installer, which deletes itself after installation. Here's a link to clear instructions on how to save the Lion installer file and burn it to disc.

Great link, thanks, alansky1.

Before doing same, is it possible to click the installer as it sits in the app folder, duplicate the installer and move this second copy elsewhere - say into the downloads folder - for safe keeping?

I've already copied the installer to 2 backup external HDs as part of my backup ritual (and given it its own partition on one HD). I don't plan on installing it anytime soon - but just want to have it for when I'm ready.

Mrs H

PS FYI - I got my installer free as part of the up-to-date program with my recent purchase of an iMac. I don't need to, but AppleCare told me, it was a one time only download as part of that program - so perhaps your re-download directions wouldn't work for me if I had to do it.

Well, my Mac came with Lion pre-installed so I can't re-download it from the app store because i thinks I am buying it for the first time, but I had to use the option trick to find that out because it says "installed" so how do I get the InstallESD.dmg file if I can't re-download Lion?

So are you saying that option-clicking on OS X Lion doesn't give you the option to re-download the software? If this is the case, I think your next move is to call AppleCare. If you Mac came with Lion preinstalled, it must be brand new. Good luck!

I had the same problem on a macbook air 11" 2011

I was able to initiate a "Internet Recovery" with a 16GB (!!) usb stick inserted. The stick has to be formatted with DIsk Utility with a GUID Partition Scheme and MacOS Extended Format with Journaling on

An 8GB stick was not enough!

After the download which takes a good while, teh computer will restart and start the installer on the stick. Here you have to brutally interrupt all this. On the usb stick you'll find the image InstallESD.dmg

Have fun

Just read though this post and was able to re-download as well on my 2008 MacBook. Upgraded from SnowLep about a month ago.

Went to the App Store, clicked on 'Purchases', option clicked on OSX Lion, and the 29.99 button flashed for a moment then turned into 'Install'

Downloaded fine!

I had the same message when I tried too.

Here's how you do it:

Open the App Store app, and here's the key, hold down the Option key and click on Purchases.

The Installed icon wil change to Install and you'll be able to download it again.

Good luck!

My mac came with lion installed. Now if I go to the app store either it says installed or if I press the option key it asks me to Buy. I have tried all the suggestions in this discussion. How can I re-download lion?

sree292 wrote:

My mac came with lion installed. Now if I go to the app store either it says installed or if I press the option key it asks me to Buy. I have tried all the suggestions in this discussion. How can I re-download lion?

Yeah I tried the 'trick' and the same thing happened, they charged my credit card. I can't be bothered chasing it up. I got that $69 flash drive, I'm just not sure what it's supposed to be used for.

I mean, I'm literally stumped and clueless about what people are using it for? I think I need to buy the OS before Snow Leapord, install it, then buy Leapord install it, then I can use my USB Lion flash drive? Because I bought Snow Leapord and that won't install on any of my computers either.

A kid in the Apple store was telling me this plan above, and I was laughing cause he was a funny kid. He was deadpan the entire time. He wasn't doing comedy was he?

It's a great company, this one. We'll be doing a lot of business moving forward.

Is this doable? (I can't seem to be able to 'trick' an Internet Recovery...)

You need to create your bootable USB before you install Lion on your Mac. You would have to redownload Lion onto another Mac or partition that is running Snow Leopard. As long as you log into the App store under your name, you can redownload Lion. It won't let you download it onto a Mac already running Lion.

Sorry! 😟

Go to the AppStore > Purchases and download again.

But when you've installed it, it says 'Installed' not 'already downloaded'.

My mistake - however the tip should work....