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Create bootable USB with Yosemite

Oy!


Both I and may daughter are running El Capitan on our Macs. However, she wants to play Sims3 on her laptop. Regretfully, the developers of the game have failed to make it work under El Capitan and later. And their option to download updated versions also fails.


So I thought I'd create a bootable USB stick with Yosemite, as the game worked just fine for her when she used that OS version. And I've hit a brick wall.


I have duly downloaded the "Install OS X Yosemite.app" from App store. When trying to launch it, I get error message that it's too old to be opened on my OS X version (El Capitan). Fair enough.


So I have tried every method I have found online: the Terminal, the Disc Utility and Disk Drill.app. In all cases, all required files seems to be copied over to the flash drive (16 Gb, USB 3).


But neither the disk utility nor booting with options key down shows the disc. It's invisible.


Can someone shed some light on this?


Thanks in advance,

Dab

Mac Pro, OS X El Capitan (10.11.3)

Posted on Apr 20, 2018 9:13 AM

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User profile for user: Kappy
Kappy
User level: Level 10
361,741 points

Posted on Apr 20, 2018 1:04 PM

Bootable USB Installers for OS X Mavericks, Yosemite, El Capitan, and Sierra


First, review this introductory article: Create a bootable installer for macOS. Second, see this How To outline for creating a bootable El Capitan installer. Simply replace the Terminal command with the one from the preceding article by copying it into the Terminal window. You will need an 8GB or larger USB flash drive that has been partitioned and formatted for use with OS X.


Drive Partition and Format

  1. Open Disk Utility in the Utilities' folder.
  2. After Disk Utility loads select the drive (out-dented entry with the mfg.'s ID and size) from the side list.
  3. Click on the Erase tab in the Disk Utility toolbar. Name the drive, "MyVolume". <---- IMPORTANT!
  4. In the drop down panel set the partition scheme to GUID. Set the Format type to Mac OS Extended (Journaled.)
  5. Click on the Apply button and wait for the Done button to activate. When it does click on it.
  6. Quit Disk Utility.


Create Installer

Open the Terminal in the Utilities' folder. Choose the appropriate command line (in red) depending upon what OS X installer you want. Paste that entire command line from below at the Terminal's prompt:


Command for macOS High Sierra:

sudo /Applications/Install\ macOS\ High\ Sierra.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia --volume /Volumes/MyVolume --applicationpath /Applications/Install\ macOS\ High\ Sierra.app

Command for macOS Sierra:

sudo /Applications/Install\ macOS\ Sierra.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia --volume /Volumes/MyVolume --applicationpath /Applications/Install\ macOS\ Sierra.app

Command for El Capitan:

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

Command for Yosemite:

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

Command for Mavericks:

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


Press RETURN. You will be asked for your admin password. It will not echo to the Terminal window. Then press RETURN again. Wait for the return of the Terminal prompt signifying the process has completed. It takes quite some time to finish. Be patient.

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User profile for user: Kappy
Kappy
User level: Level 10
361,741 points

Apr 20, 2018 1:04 PM in response to Community User

Bootable USB Installers for OS X Mavericks, Yosemite, El Capitan, and Sierra


First, review this introductory article: Create a bootable installer for macOS. Second, see this How To outline for creating a bootable El Capitan installer. Simply replace the Terminal command with the one from the preceding article by copying it into the Terminal window. You will need an 8GB or larger USB flash drive that has been partitioned and formatted for use with OS X.


Drive Partition and Format

  1. Open Disk Utility in the Utilities' folder.
  2. After Disk Utility loads select the drive (out-dented entry with the mfg.'s ID and size) from the side list.
  3. Click on the Erase tab in the Disk Utility toolbar. Name the drive, "MyVolume". <---- IMPORTANT!
  4. In the drop down panel set the partition scheme to GUID. Set the Format type to Mac OS Extended (Journaled.)
  5. Click on the Apply button and wait for the Done button to activate. When it does click on it.
  6. Quit Disk Utility.


Create Installer

Open the Terminal in the Utilities' folder. Choose the appropriate command line (in red) depending upon what OS X installer you want. Paste that entire command line from below at the Terminal's prompt:


Command for macOS High Sierra:

sudo /Applications/Install\ macOS\ High\ Sierra.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia --volume /Volumes/MyVolume --applicationpath /Applications/Install\ macOS\ High\ Sierra.app

Command for macOS Sierra:

sudo /Applications/Install\ macOS\ Sierra.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia --volume /Volumes/MyVolume --applicationpath /Applications/Install\ macOS\ Sierra.app

Command for El Capitan:

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

Command for Yosemite:

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

Command for Mavericks:

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


Press RETURN. You will be asked for your admin password. It will not echo to the Terminal window. Then press RETURN again. Wait for the return of the Terminal prompt signifying the process has completed. It takes quite some time to finish. Be patient.

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User profile for user: Community User
Community User Author

Apr 20, 2018 10:38 AM in response to Eric Root

Thanks, but no go.
As with previous efforts, all files transfers to the USB stick.
But when rebooting and keeping the option key down, the stick/drive doesn't show. Neither in Preferences/Boot disc. But it shows i Disk Utility.

Worth mentioning: The USB stick is new, 16 Gb and formatted as OS Extended and this GIUT (or whatever it's called).

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User profile for user: Community User
Community User Author

Apr 21, 2018 1:42 AM in response to Kappy

Sorry, I didn't have time to write more yesterday.I have also done this before. Not "hundreds" of times, but a couple of dozens.


So far, the disk on the flash drive shows as it should at the desktop, in disk utility, as a startup disk, etc. When trying to boot from it, the Apple logo shows up and stays there for 2-3 minutes. No loadbar shows, just the logo.


Then the screen goes white, stays like that for 10-15 minutes and finally everything goes black as if the computer shuts down and it remains like that.


As far as I understand and can see, all relevant files are installed on the drive. It's formatted as Mac OS Extended. I have run disk utility's First Aid and checked permissions. Also ran DiskWarrior.


I'm far from an expert on stuff like this, but it's as if the flash drive itself is causing the problems. Are there any other precausions I should have done before installing the OS on it?

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User profile for user: Eau Rouge
Eau Rouge
User level: Level 8
42,554 points

Apr 21, 2018 3:51 AM in response to Community User

So I have just booted to my El Capitan disk and tried the createinstallmedia commands to create a boot USB with Yosemite on it. I know you have tried this many times, but I got it working on my first attempt. You mentioned that it is a new USB stick, so have you tried other USB sticks to make sure there isn't a problem with the one you bought.

Firstly I took my stick which is years old and been used as a bootable installer for El Capitan, Sierra and High Sierra plug it into the mac and open Disk Utility, select the stick from the Sidebar and click Erase, name it MyVolume, Format as Mac OS Extended (Journaled) and under Scheme choose GUID Partition Map click Erase, then Done.


Make sure your Install Mac OS X Yosemite.app is in your Applications folder.

Open Terminal and now copy and paste this command into the Terminal window.


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


press Return

enter your Password, your entry won't be echoed press Return

you should then be asked to enter Y if you want to continue, do so and press Return

the disk will now be erased again and given the name Install OS X Yosemite

you should now see in Terminal

Copying Installer files to disk...

this can take some time for me about 15 minutes

Terminal will give confirmation when the process is complete.

Quit Terminal.

I too notice that the disk does not show up in my Startup Disk preferences in System Preferences.

But it does show up in the Startup Manager when you restart the mac holding down the option/ alt key, and is selectable and will boot.


So can you try agin, I know its a bore but maybe this time with a different USB stick.

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User profile for user: Community User
Community User Author

Apr 21, 2018 10:50 AM in response to Eau Rouge

Happy ending. After repeating the install umpteen times, the same way every time, it finally worked out well. I'm stumped but relieved. Have no idea where all this problems came from.


Thanks a milion to all of you that took your time to help. I hope I'll be able to repay your kindness and efforts some day.


Cheers!
Dan

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User profile for user: Community User
Community User Author

Apr 21, 2018 1:46 AM in response to Community User

...or is it that El Capitan (which I run the Mac on) has placed some files in the boot gizmo (or whatever it's called) that prevents older OS from booting?

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Create bootable USB with Yosemite

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