Unable to create bootable USB Drive using ML InstallESD.dmg. Keep getting the Disk Utility when I boot from the USB on my mac air.

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Unable to create bootable USB Drive using ML InstallESD.dmg. Keep getting the Disk Utility when I boot from the USB on my mac air.

I've followed the instructions on partitioning/formating a USB Drive (32 GB) as Mac OS Extended (Journaled). I then mount the InstallESD.dmg from the Install OS X Mountain Lion.app and set it as the source for the restore with the USB Drive as the destination. The restore appears to work fine, but when I restart my computer and select the usb drive to boot from, I keep getting the Disk Utility.

Thanks

jc

MacBook Air, OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.3)

Posted on Mar 30, 2013 2:02 PM

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Answer 1

arthur

Level 5

5,242 points

Mar 30, 2013 2:27 PM in response to cloryj

I don't know what directions you are using, so it's hard to comment-

but you can make a bootable ML install USB drive with Lion DiskMaker

Worked for me.

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Answer 2

cloryj Author

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Mar 30, 2013 2:58 PM in response to arthur

Thanks, but I have also tried this...still results in the Disk Utility coming up. I haven't install ML on my machine yet. Could this be part of the problem?

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Answer 3

arthur

Level 5

5,242 points

Mar 30, 2013 4:12 PM in response to cloryj

From what you are saying, it sounds like it does indeed boot from the USB, and opens Disk Utility. Is that correct?

If it is, you should be able to quit Disk Utility, and then you should see a menu, and one of the options should be to install OSX.

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Answer 4

cloryj Author

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Mar 30, 2013 6:24 PM in response to cloryj

No, it just reboots and displays the disk utility. I could have done the same thing using the recovery assistant.

Here are the steps I followed:

1. Partitioned 32 GB USB disk with GUID Partition Table option and formatted as Mac OS Extended (journaled).

2. Selected the USB drive (not the partition) as the target and InstallESD.dmg under SharedSupport in the Install OS X Mountain Lion.app

3. Click Restore, which takes about 20 minutes.

jc

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Answer 5

macantos

Level 1

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Apr 2, 2013 6:57 AM in response to cloryj

I also tried to make a bootable usb key with InstallESD.dmg version for 10.8.3 and I have the same problem.

In past with 10.8.1 I made an usb key witout problem, I thing Apple, in the 10.8.3 installESD.dmg has removed something useful for the boot.

I have also tried with Lion DiskMaker but doesn't works with this version of ML.

If someone have same solution I will be happy to read him,

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Answer 6

Shootist007

Level 6

16,703 points

Apr 2, 2013 7:31 AM in response to macantos

I have used LionDiscMaker to create a USB and DVD of 10.8.3 and it works perfectly. Do not point LDM to the InstallESD.DMG file, just let it find it on its own.

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Answer 7

cloryj Author

Level 1

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Apr 2, 2013 4:24 PM in response to macantos

When the disk utility came up, I tried the install OS option, thinking that it would try the internet install. Instead it installed the OS off of my flash drive. Go figure. :-)

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