Can I use createinstallmedia in Mavericks to make a Yosemite Install USB?

No, but there is one for Yosemite.

Open the Terminal in the Utilities folder. Copy and paste the following command line in its entirety into the Terminal window.

sudo /Applications/Install\ OS\ X\ Yosemite\ Developer\ Preview.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia --volume /Volumes/Untitled --applicationpath /Applications/Install\ OS\ X\ Yosemite\ Developer\ Preview.app --nointeraction

Press RETURN, enter admin password (will not echo to the window) then press RETURN again.

You need to have the installer in your Applications folder or change the paths in the above command line.

You can make a bootable USB stick to install using this free program. It does all the work for you.

Bootable USB Flash Drive – Diskmaker X

Jun Kbyu wrote:

Hello,

Thank you for your quick reply. From http://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201372 , I believe the current (non-developer) code I would use is:

sudo /Applications/Install\ OS\ X\ Yosemite.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia --volume /Volumes/MyVolume --applicationpath /Applications/Install\ OS\ X\ Yosemite.app

(where MyVolume is the name of the USB disc/partition I'm using)

However, that was not my question. My question is: Can I use this code and the "Install OS X Yosemite.app" file on a computer that is running Mavericks to make a bootable Yosemite Install USB? Has anyone done so and used it to successfully install Yosemite later?

Thank you again.

Yes you can because you're using the Yosemite install app to run that command. Just make sure you have the Yosemite install app in /Applications.

Run it with your USB thumb drive, restart your Mac using that thumb drive and check the Reinstall OS X option from OS X Utilities Menu. You should see the Yosemite logo.

Of course you can. I would have said so otherwise. Read answers before declaring them wrong.

Jun Kbyu wrote:

Ok, so my plan now is to get a 32GB USB stick, make four 8GB partitions on it, and make install volumes for Yosemite, Mavericks, Mountain Lion, and Snow Leopard (for legacy machines) on each. For Yosemite and Mavericks, I will use createinstallmedia, and for Snow Leopard, I will restore the DVD to the USB in Disk Utility. How about for Mountain Lion -- createinstallmedia or restore the ML InstallESD.dmg via Disk Utility?

Thank you.

What you're suggesting to do is what I have done with a 32GB thumb drive but only for ML, Mavericks and Yosemite. I don't have any Macs that can run SL. And I'm not interested in running Lion for any reason even though I have a Mac that can run Lion.

I always use the InstallESD.dmg and Disk Utility/Restore for OS X Mountain Lion and Lion. I use the createinstallmedia with Mavericks and Yosemite only. I don't even know if it's even in the Install OS X Mountain Lion.app file. I doubt it.

Also, I just ran that createinstallmedia within Mountain Lion against the Yosemite install app and it created a USB thumb drive installer for Yosemite.

Jun Kbyu wrote:

Do the partitions need to be 8GB, or can they be smaller; here it seems they are using smaller partitions.

I have the Snow Leopard DVD and install files for Mavericks and Yosemite from the App Store. Now I'm trying to get the install file for Mountain Lion. My early 2013 MBPwRD came with Mountain Lion installed, but I don't have the install file (never downloaded on my older Macs--stuck with Snow Leopard for those). I am on hold with Apple Care now, but they're saying I have to buy Mountain Lion online; I told them I have seen people online saying they've gotten redemption codes, but they're saying they don't do that; on hold for SrAdv now. Recommendations?

I always use 8GB for my installers. These OS's tend to grow and why bother with trying to calculate the size since 8GB USB thumb drives are inexpensive.

If you never purchased Mountain Lion for any of your Macs, other than the early-2013 you said came preinstalled with Mountain Lion, then you need to purchase Mountain Lion from Apple and get the redemption code so you can download it from the App Store. You can not use Mountain Lion from your early-2013 Mac to put on other Macs. It won't work because it's specific to that year/model. The link I provided is for the US store.