Cannot create bootable El Capitan USB media using "createinstallmedia" or Diskmaker X

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Level 1

28 points

Cannot create bootable El Capitan USB media using "createinstallmedia" or Diskmaker X

Hello all,

So far (knock on wood) El Capitan has been fantastic on my 2011 MBP 13" i7, and has actually improved everything, especially performance. Some minor glitches here and there but I was expecting it.

However, one BIG thing I've come across is this... Whenever I go to try and create a bootable USB installer using either the embedded "createinstallmedia" command found within the El Capitan package, or using Diskmaker X v5.0, both methods successfully create the USB installer, but neither method generates a USB device that I can select as a Source Disk in System Preferences, nor will it recognize as a bootable device when I hold down the Option key starting my Mac.

I've tried using 4 different, reputable brands of USB sticks, ranging in size from 8GB USB 2.0's to 32GB USB 3.0's, no effect, and I've tried them on 4 different models of Mac's, all on the certified El Capitan compatibility list. Each machine won't recognize it as a bootable source.

My first attempts at making the USB's were actually while the Mac was still on Yosemite, so I don't think this is a El Capitan bug. It almost seems like the image created from the package doesn't contain the boot components.

Has anyone else here experienced this issue, or possibly found a way to fix this and make it work? I have three Mac's with blank drives I'd like to put onto El Capitan, but can't until I manage to create a bootable USB.

Thanks in advance!

MacBook Pro, OS X Mavericks (10.9.2), 16GB RAM / Samsung 840 Pro SSD

Posted on Oct 2, 2015 11:00 AM

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Answer 1

Jul 28, 2017 3:59 AM in response to EdisonW

I can't able to create bootable Sierra MacOS USB.

I was getting this error.

I was using this command to execute:

sudo /Applications/InstallmacOSSeirraBeta.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia -volume /Volumes/seirraOS –applicationpath /Applications/InstallmacOSSeirraBeta.app
–nointeraction

Please give some suggestion into this.

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Answer 2

Jul 28, 2017 4:06 AM in response to Siddharth3322

I did this, as on link. It was all free, painless and easy:deadspin-quote-carrot-aligned-w-bgr-2')}.f_branding_on.blog-group-deadspin .editor-inner.post-content .pullquote:before,…

Was straight forward and fuss free.

Good luck

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Answer 3

babowa

Level 9

78,103 points

Jul 28, 2017 8:19 AM in response to Siddharth3322

I have not tried this command, but what caught my attention is the fact that these portions of it:

OSSeirraBeta.

1. appear to include the fact that you are installing a beta version which may or may not work and which cannot be discussed here, and

2. "Seirra" is obviously spelled wrong (three times in that command).

As I said, I am not familiar with this command, but it seems to me the OS name should be spelled correctly for it to work.

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Answer 4

Kappy

Level 10

361,741 points

Oct 2, 2015 11:05 AM in response to EdisonW

DiskMaker has been updated to fix this problem, so download it and try again. Or you can try the command line tool again being sure you used it correctly.

Make your own El Capitan flash drive installer using the El Capitan tool:

You can create a El Capitan flash drive installer via the Terminal. El Capitan has its own built-in installer maker you use via the Terminal:

You will need a freshly partitioned and formatted USB flash drive with at least 8GBs. Leave the name of the flash drive at the system default, "Untitled." Do not change this name. Wait for the process to complete which will take quite some time.

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\ El\ Capitan.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia --volume /Volumes/Untitled --applicationpath /Applcations/Install\ OS\ X\ El\ Capitan.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.

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Answer 5

EdisonW Author

Level 1

28 points

Oct 2, 2015 11:11 AM in response to Kappy

I've just downloaded the new Diskmaker X 5.0.1 and am making a fresh copy, will report back on how that goes.

Also, the terminal command you posted is exactly what I've been using, and it hasn't yielded a bootable USB device yet.

Cheers

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Answer 6

EdisonW Author

Level 1

28 points

Oct 2, 2015 11:52 AM in response to Kappy

Just finished creating the USB media with Diskmaker X 5.0.1, still the same result; the device cannot be recognized as a bootable source volume by the Mac's either in System Preferences, or when holding down Option during boot up.

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Answer 7

Oct 2, 2015 11:57 AM in response to EdisonW

Given the trouble you're having, why not simply install El Capitan on a USB Flash drive so that you can boot from it, then put the El Capitan installer in the Flash drive's Application folder and run it from there against the target of your choice?

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Answer 8

Oct 3, 2015 12:20 PM in response to EdisonW

Try this command line (note: the name of the USB drive

sudo /Applications/Install\ OS\ X\ El\ Capitan.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia --volume /Volumes/ElCapInstaller --applicationpath /Applications/Install\ OS\ X\ El\ Capitan.app --nointeraction

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Answer 9

Oct 3, 2015 9:01 PM in response to EdisonW

I used the "createmediainstaller" command and have the exact same issue.

I have used the same drive that was used to create a Yosemite installer, so I know it's not the drive. The command line reports a successful install for El Capitan, but System Preferences does not show it as a Startup Disk.

The USB drive for Yosemite created the same way immediately shows up as a startup disk option in System Preferences.

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Answer 10

Oct 4, 2015 8:47 AM in response to EdisonW

I have the same problem. I can run the "createmediainstaller" app no problem and can create bootable install images for Mavericks & Yosemite on two seperate USB flash drives.

But El Capitan doesn't work. It doesn't throw any error messages, but the drive is not bootable after.

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Answer 11

Kappy

Level 10

361,741 points

Oct 4, 2015 9:23 AM in response to EdisonW

Give this a try. I've tried it and it works.

Make your own El Capitan flash drive installer using the El Capitan tool:

You can create a El Capitan flash drive installer via the Terminal. El Capitan has its own built-in installer maker you use via the Terminal:

You will need a freshly partitioned and formatted USB flash drive with at least 8GBs. Leave the name of the flash drive at the system default, "Untitled." Do not change this name. Wait for the process to complete which will take quite some time.

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\ El\ Capitan.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia --volume /Volumes/Untitled --applicationpath "/Applications/Install OS X El Capitan.app"

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.

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Answer 12

Oct 4, 2015 9:27 AM in response to Kappy

Hey Kappy - I don't want to upset you, but you should read the thread more carefully. We are discussing what happens when the method you describe doesn't create a bootable drive.

It would be helpful if you edited or deleted your response.

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Answer 13

Oct 4, 2015 9:31 AM in response to Dave Lang (the other one)

I second Dave on this. Please dont take it personal. Thank you for trying to help, but your doing it wrong...

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Answer 14

Kappy

Level 10

361,741 points

Oct 4, 2015 9:41 AM in response to Dave Lang (the other one)

Insofar as this topic belongs to another user and you have threadjacked it doesn't offend me. Furthermore, I responded originally to this topic with a command that wasn't working. I addressed my reply to the OP in the hope it would help him. Frankly, I don't care what you two think. You don't even belong here.

i''m not going to edit or remove my reply. But I will report yours to the mods.

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Answer 15

Oct 4, 2015 9:45 AM in response to EdisonW

I just ran: diskutil list

/dev/disk0 (internal, physical):

#: TYPE NAME SIZE IDENTIFIER

0: GUID_partition_scheme *500.1 GB disk0

1: EFI EFI 209.7 MB disk0s1

2: Apple_CoreStorage Macintosh HD 499.2 GB disk0s2

3: Apple_Boot Recovery HD 650.0 MB disk0s3

/dev/disk1 (internal, virtual):

#: TYPE NAME SIZE IDENTIFIER

0: Apple_HFS Macintosh HD +498.9 GB disk1

Logical Volume on disk0s2

445E0E9F-C461-4940-870C-07FF309A1CDD

Unencrypted

/dev/disk2 (internal, physical):

#: TYPE NAME SIZE IDENTIFIER

0: GUID_partition_scheme *8.0 GB disk2

1: EFI EFI 209.7 MB disk2s1

2: Apple_HFS Install OS X El Capitan 7.7 GB disk2s2

Seeing the EFI 209.7MB is this telling me the installer is bootable?

Is there a way of verifying in terminal if it is bootable with having to resstart my computer??

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