Pre-reqs for all OS X versions

In all cases you need a 8GiB+ usb storage and you will need to erase it with Disk Utility (and be very careful not to erase the wrong one!).

SD Cards: If you use an SD Card with a USB adapter, it probably WILL NOT WORK as a bootable USB mass storage device. I'd recommend you stop by walmart real quick to pick up a 32GB USB 3.0 flash drive for $12.99.

• Disk Utility
• 7.95 GB Mass Storage / Card Reader
• Partition
• Partition Layout: 1 Partition
• Name: Install OS X <<whatever>>
• Format: Mac OS Extended (Journaled)
• Options
  • GUID Partition
• Erase

Once you've created the installation drive, you'll reboot the computer and hold down the option (alt) key until you see the list of options (generally including your hard drive, time machine, the default recovery partition, and your disk).

Yosemite 10.10

This creates a bootable usb / sd card which shows up as Recovery OS X 10.10 and will still require WiFi to complete the installation (maybe just for verification, maybe it downloads the whole thing... again, I don't know).

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

Mavericks 10.9

Same as Yosemite. Requires WiFi during installation.

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

Mountain Lion 10.8

NOTE: Many people recommend (Lion) DiskMaker X for Mountain Lion, but it didn't work for me.

Alternate Method

open /Volumes/Data/Install\ OS\ X\ Mountain\ Lion.app/Contents/SharedSupport/InstallESD.dmg
open /Volumes/Mac\ OS\ X\ Install\ ESD/BaseSystem.dmg

Now in Disk Utility:

1. Click on 'Mac OS X Base System' in the bottom pane under 'BaseSystem.dmg'
2. Click 'Restore'
3. Drag 'Install OS X Mountain Lion' (the partition on the drive, not the top-level drive) as 'Destination'
4. Click 'Restore'
5. Wait about 10 minutes
6. unmount 'Mac OS X Base System' and eject 'BaseSystem.dmg'

rm -f /Volumes/Mac\ OS\ X\ Base\ System*/System/Installation/Packages
mkdir -p /Volumes/Mac\ OS\ X\ Base\ System\ 1/System/Installation/Packages/
rsync -avhHP /Volumes/Mac\ OS\ X\ Install\ ESD/Packages/ /Volumes/Mac\ OS\ X\ Base\ System*/System/Installation/Packages/

Lion 10.7

NOTE: Many people recommend (Lion DiskMaker for Lion, but it didn't work for me.

open /Volumes/Data/Install\ OS\ X\ Lion.app/Contents/SharedSupport/InstallESD.dmg
open /Volumes/Mac\ OS\ X\ Install\ ESD/BaseSystem.dmg

Now in Disk Utility:

1. Click on 'Mac OS X Base System' in the bottom pane under 'BaseSystem.dmg'
2. Click 'Restore'
3. Drag 'Install OS X Lion' (the partition on the drive, not the top-level drive) as 'Destination'
4. Click 'Restore'
5. Wait about 10 minutes

rm -f /Volumes/Mac\ OS\ X\ Base\ System\ 1/System/Installation/Packages
mkdir -p /Volumes/Mac\ OS\ X\ Base\ System\ 1/System/Installation/Packages/
rsync -avhHP /Volumes/Mac\ OS\ X\ Install\ ESD/Packages/ /Volumes/Mac\ OS\ X\ Base\ System\ 1/System/Installation/Packages/

m5dsums

I couldn't find my install download and it's no longer available on the App Store, so I torrented a copy that matched retail md5sums.

• eec8b65b0a8213c526f7cad2d5e8b462 Mac OS X Lion.dmg
• b5d3753c62bfb69866e94dca9336a44a Install OS X Lion.app/Contents/SharedSupport/InstallESD.dmg
• 304d377f4eb83232c6d7f580119d2db2 Mac OS X Install ESD/BaseSystem.dmg

Torrent Search: "Mac OS X 10.7 Lion (Final Retail)"

Snow Leopard 10.6

I think you mount the DVD image and restore it to your prepared flash drive... not sure about this one.

m5dsums

I couldn't find my install download and it's no longer available on the App Store, so I torrented a copy. Not sure if this is tampered with or not since I can't validate the md5.

• ea7fe76fbd3918f57ad66a46ecad22fa Mac OS X Install DVD Snow Leopard RETAIL.dmg

Torrent Search: "Mac OS X Install DVD Snow Leopard RETAIL.dmg"

By AJ ONeal


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