Is there a way to create a bootable USB?

Maclver · Dec 25, 2013

Is there a way to create a bootable USB drive to do a clean install of Mavericks on a Retina Macbook Pro (Late 2013)?

Just got one and want to do a clean install without do the recovery drive thing!

McGiord · Dec 25, 2013

I guess you first have to create the image, and to do so you might need to have it installed first…
Maybe create a new partition and do the install in that partition first?
I am still running Lion so don't pay much attention to my suggestion, I will upgrade sometime soon, curious to know about it

EDIT: found this
Mavericks clean install

Maclver · Dec 25, 2013

McGiord said:
I guess you first have to create the image, and to do so you might need to have it installed first
Maybe create a new partition and do the install in that partition first?
I am still running Lion so don't pay much attention to my suggestion, I will upgrade sometime soon, curious to know about it

EDIT: found this
Mavericks clean install

The problem is with the rMBP you can't download Mavericks from the App store.

Qaanol · Dec 25, 2013

Maclver said:
The problem is with the rMBP you can't download Mavericks from the App store.

File a bug report.

Apple counts how many people file reports for the same bug, and uses that to prioritize what gets fixed first. So if everyone who has this problem reports it, it should get more attention.

AirThis · Dec 26, 2013

Maclver said:
The problem is with the rMBP you can't download Mavericks from the App store.

Yes, you can. I just did that. These are Apple's instructions to create a bootable usb drive:

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT5856

Edit: once you've downloaded your Mavericks Installer into Applications, you need to open a shell and run "createinstallmedia". The important thing here is to get your path right for the "--volume" parameter, otherwise you might erase something you don't want to erase (but you will be prompted). You also need to remember that spaces are escaped with the backslash. In the example below, I installed onto my USB stick called /Volumes/Mavericks Bootable, but it is named as "Volumes/Mavericks\ Bootable" in the second command given below.

First you cd into the proper resources directory:

Code:

>cd /Applications/Install\ OS\ X\ Mavericks.app/Contents/Resources/

Then you run the actual command:

Code:

>sudo ./createinstallmedia --volume /Volumes/Mavericks\ Bootable --applicationpath /Applications/Install\ OS\ X\ Mavericks.app
Ready to start.
To continue we need to erase the disk at /Volumes/Mavericks Bootable.
If you wish to continue type (Y) then press return: Y
Erasing Disk: 0%... 10%... 20%... 30%...100%...
Copying installer files to disk...

ooans · Dec 26, 2013

AirThis said:
Yes, you can. I just did that. These are Apple's instructions to create a bootable usb drive:

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT5856

The thing is that you cant download Mavericks with the latest rMBP (without using recovery mode apparently). Nor can you boot from a USB with Mavericks created by another mac.

This is probably due to the new rMBP still having a custom build.

AirThis · Dec 26, 2013

ooans said:
The thing is that you cant download Mavericks with the latest rMBP (without using recovery mode apparently). Nor can you boot from a USB with Mavericks created by another mac.

This is probably due to the new rMBP still having a custom build.

This is how I did it:

http://osxdaily.com/2013/11/01/re-download-os-x-mavericks-installer-mac-app-store/

I think it should work for the latest rmbps as well. Give it a try.

ooans · Dec 26, 2013

AirThis said:
This is how I did it:

http://osxdaily.com/2013/11/01/re-download-os-x-mavericks-installer-mac-app-store/

I think it should work for the latest rmbps as well. Give it a try.

Does not work on the newest rMBP. When trying to click download I get this error message (see attached pic.)

AirThis · Dec 26, 2013

ooans said:
Does not work on the newest rMBP. When trying to click download I get this error message (see attached pic.)

Yes, I see what you mean. Well, all I can say, is that you are not alone:

https://discussions.apple.com/message/24156215#24156215

Edit: It's being discussed here as well:

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/1688086/

Seems someone has come up with a suggestion on how to extract the installer files which are downloaded by the recovery partition, based on a former Lion experiment found here:

http://hints.macworld.com/article.php?story=20110831105634716

AirThis · Dec 26, 2013

I think we have an answer for you. I followed the MacWorlds tips above and I was able to mount the recovery HD and grab the installer. You should be able to do that as well, obtaining the one which is specific to your rmbp. Of course, you will need to adapt for your system, but basically what I did can be seen below. After you've attached the BaseSystem.dmg, you will see a folder pop up on your desktop in which you should see a nice icon labeled "Install OS X Mavericks". Afterwards, you just need to follow the instructions I gave earlier in this thread to make a bootable installer. In theory, it should work...

Code:

$ diskutil mount readOnly /dev/disk0s3
Volume Recovery HD on /dev/disk0s3 mounted
$ hdiutil attach "/Volumes/Recovery HD/com.apple.recovery.boot/BaseSystem.dmg" 
Checksumming Driver Descriptor Map (DDM : 0)
     Driver Descriptor Map (DDM : 0): verified   CRC32 $01CEE39B
Checksumming  (Apple_Free : 1)
                    (Apple_Free : 1): verified   CRC32 $00000000
Checksumming Apple (Apple_partition_map : 2)
     Apple (Apple_partition_map : 2): verified   CRC32 $4F771A3A
Checksumming disk image (Apple_HFS : 3)
..................................................................................................................................
          disk image (Apple_HFS : 3): verified   CRC32 $69310D69
Checksumming  (Apple_Free : 4)
                    (Apple_Free : 4): verified   CRC32 $00000000
verified   CRC32 $65D61011
/dev/disk4          	Apple_partition_scheme         	
/dev/disk4s1        	Apple_partition_map            	
/dev/disk4s2        	Apple_HFS                      	/Volumes/OS X Base System

dirtnnasty · Dec 26, 2013

I'm new at Mac...

... and so I never did a recovery. I thought in case of a problem, I need to boot to the recovery partition and then I can recover?!?!

Actually I am living at a palace with weak internet connection, so if it is necessary/better to make this (create a boot stick), I would do this...

Baunkjaer · Dec 26, 2013

I tried with Diskmaker, but it failed.
I made the disk on the same MBP, then replaced the original HDD, and installed the SSD.... No go.
Had to clone the old drive

Ai-apple · Dec 26, 2013

ooans said:
Does not work on the newest rMBP. When trying to click download I get this error message (see attached pic.)

Try pressing <OPTION> key on the keyboard and click <Purchases> on App Store next to <Updates>.

dirtnnasty · Dec 27, 2013

Ai-apple said:
Try pressing <OPTION> key on the keyboard and click <Purchases> on App Store next to <Updates>.

This does work... I Can see Mavericks in my rMBP 2013 but cannot download it. App Store quits it with the above mentioned message...

ooans · Dec 27, 2013

Ai-apple said:
Try pressing <OPTION> key on the keyboard and click <Purchases> on App Store next to <Updates>.

Even if it would download it, it would be in vain, because you cannot install that version of Mavericks on a new rMBP. Currently, as far as I know, the only way to get ahold of the special version of Mavericks is via Recovery Mode.

niteflyr · Dec 27, 2013

This is an older article but this process should work for Mavericks too:

http://www.macworld.com/article/1165337/create_a_bootable_lion_install_drive_for_newer_macs.html

dirtnnasty · Dec 28, 2013

it's me again...

I downloaded Mavericks as ISO because I cannot download it in the Macstore (because I already have a rMBP2013 and the store didn't allow me to download it) and because I have a weak internet connection at the moment...

I tried to "put" this ISO onto a Flashdrive(see pic) but when I reboot with ALT and I select the flash drive, it shows me an error...

How can I make my flash drive bootable?

ooans · Dec 28, 2013

dirtnnasty said:
it's me again...

I downloaded Mavericks as ISO because I cannot download it in the Macstore (because I already have a rMBP2013 and the store didn't allow me to download it) and because I have a weak internet connection at the moment...

I tried to "put" this ISO onto a Flashdrive(see pic) but when I reboot with ALT and I select the flash drive, it shows me an error...

How can I make my flash drive bootable?

If you have a Late 2013 rMBP then the ISO you downloaded is probably not compatible with your laptop. Late 2013 macs seem use a special version of Mavericks that can be only downloaded via Recovery partition. As far as I know no one has been able to create a USB stick out of the special Mavericks version.

dirtnnasty · Dec 28, 2013

Ah ok that explains everything !!!!

EDIT: Can somebody share the installation files downloaded in Recovery for the rMBP late 2013 ?
For example on a filsharing hoster?

Is there a way to create a bootable USB?

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