How to create bootable DVD for already installed mac os x lion

ds store wrote:

You can't even use a Lion boot DVD made on another Mac, because the Lion AppStore download is tailored to each machine with specific hardware drivers.

The App Store download is NOT machine specific if the installation

device is created from the InstallESD.dmg. I have used it to install

Lion on 3 Macs and one virtual machine from a USB stick!

This IS true if you are creating a copy of the RecoveryHD from a Mac

but NOT for the full installer.

Thanks Linc, going to give this a go when I get home tonight. The OP should have given you the correct answer for this thread.

woodmeister50 wrote:

The App Store download is NOT machine specific if the installation

device is created from the InstallESD.dmg. I have used it to install

Lion on 3 Macs and one virtual machine from a USB stick!

Ok, I was going by this post which I didn't catch up with.

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/3417802

They appear to be the same for now as Apple currently is doing everything in their power to promote the acceptance of Lion on Snow Leopard machines.

So I gave it a try tonight and it's not working for me. I get an error message saying I should reinstall OS X.

Anyone successful yet?

azdawg99 wrote:

So I gave it a try tonight and it's not working for me. I get an error message saying I should reinstall OS X.

What did you do?

Did you follow these steps?

Step 1

Here's what to do:

1. Boot the hardware you need an image for from the Recovery HD by holding Command-r at power on time.
2. Plug in a JHFS+ formatted external disk.
3. Select the Re-install OS X Lion option and target the external disk.
4. Once the Installer finishes downloading, simply shutdown and unplug the disk.

Now when you mount that external disk you will find a directory named Mac OS X Install Data on the root. Inside of this folder is the elusive, hardware-specific, InstallerESD.dmg image

Step 2

1. find the “InstallESD.dmg.” This is the Lion boot disc image we have all been waiting for.
2. Copy “InstallESD.dmg” to another folder like the Desktop.
3. Launch Disk Utility and click the burn button.
4. Select the copied “InstallESD.dmg” as the image to burn, insert a standard sized 4.7 GB DVD, and wait for your new Lion Boot Disc to come out toasty hot.

And the boot Lion DVD wouldn't "hold c" boot? Or what?

You need to give more detail.

I did all of step 1 to download for my 2011 Mini. I then used disk utility and chose restore, directing the InstallESD.dmg to a 500GB USB drive. I booted from that drive. It booted into the installation, but then gave me the message that "OS X failed, please reinstall your operating system". It's the same message I get if using the App Store downloaded version and try to install to my mini. I'll be curious to see if anyone has any success.

Sometimes you have to reset the PRAM/NVRAM to install Lion.

Resetting your Mac's PRAM and NVRAM

Thanks Linc, that did it. Once I reset the PRAM/NVRAM no more error and the install proceeds.

The Lion Recovery Partition is the only way to download a fresh copy of Lion from Apple's servers, the other method is to buy a $69 Lion USB Thumb drive.

I'm reading a lot of reports from MacBook Air owners who are saying the USB Thumb drive isn't working for the new MacBook Air models. I can't even buy one as the US / Australian online stores won't ship to Thailand, Thai Apple land-based stores are refusing to carry them, they're available online ostensibily....hmm.

This is some dark creepy stuff, imo. It seems to me Apple is almost maniacally (?) - definitely aggressively - sequestering total control over our ability to reset corrupted systems. I've spent the week getting incredibly inventive with all kinds of external media and...nothing doing. They've thought of everything, it's just amazing how intensely they - don't - want us having a backed up OS readily available.

I literally wouldn't even have a problem with it. It's just that...my nearest Apple server, is staffed by criminals. And I can't use the corrupted images they beam over. Well I can *use* them. For a day or two. Then everything crashes, Time Machine is a ridiculous joke and an insult, my on again off again Recovery partition is more off than on, and it's another three hour 'reimaging' of my Lion Server (oh, I haven't bought the Server extension; but Apple are imaging me with server images. Go figure. I think I have the vaguest idea, in regards to motive. But Windows did all this criminal crap years ago with Windows 7 SERVER)

This is a ghastly abortion. Apple, what is wrong with you.

goscuter1 wrote:

This is some dark creepy stuff, imo. It seems to me Apple is almost maniacally (?) - definitely aggressively - sequestering total control over our ability to reset corrupted systems. I've spent the week getting incredibly inventive with all kinds of external media and...nothing doing. They've thought of everything, it's just amazing how intensely they - don't - want us having a backed up OS readily available.

It seems to me the #1 issue with corrupted OS X issues is magnetic media failing on hard drives.

Apple has likely had a lot of stability success with SSD drives on iPads, iPhones and iPod Touches and now only waiting for SSD prices to come down enough so all their Mac's can have them.

Once that occurs, they reason there will be less reason for people to need to reinstall their OS, and the minority who do, can do so via Internet connection.

Of course I think a better solution would have been to keep a copy of OS X Lion in the Lion Recovery Partition, updated and encrypted when OS X gets updated.

This way if someone has a issue, they also don't have to fight bandwidth issues and data caps as well.

Problem is with SSD's they can't be securely erased and easily read.

http://hardware.slashdot.org/story/11/02/17/1911217/Confidential-Data-Not-Safe-O n-Solid-State-Disks

http://www.thenewspaper.com/news/34/3458.asp

If one has very private data, they will need to keep it off the computer entirely, either on a external self-encrytped drive with it's own keypad/lock or something smaller like a IronKey. Turn on the encrpyted swap file option in system preferences.

ds store wrote:

Of course I think a better solution would have been to keep a copy of OS X Lion in the Lion Recovery Partition, updated and encrypted when OS X gets updated.

Exactly!

It's almost mind-blowing / unfathomable that OEMs - don't - configure encrypted recovery partitions shipped with their new systems. As it's such an obvious omittal, one can only assume the reasons are sinister rather than universal 'oversight'.