Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

EXTREME PROBLEM: MacOS High Sierra Is No Longer Available To Download???

As I said before --
  1. Go to the TwoCanoes site
  2. Download MDS
  3. Install MDS
  4. Run MDS
  5. Select Download macOS
  6. Select and download whatever version of High Sierra, Mojave, Catalina, Big Sur or Monterey that you want
This will give you a .DMG file that you can then either --
  • Write to a DVD
  • Use the option in MDS to create a bootable USB stick, or
  • Open the .DMG file and use the Install macOS application to install the OS.
Using MDS is the only option that works at the moment to download macOS from High Sierra onwards.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Mr_Brightside_@
EDIT: My bad for rushing, not reading all the replies first.

BeautifulWoman_1984 said:
do you know an official Apple source I can download MacOS High Sierra?
Click to expand...
Apple said:

Use Safari to download macOS on your Mac​

Safari uses these links to find the old installers in the App Store. After you download the installer from the App Store, the installer opens automatically.
  • macOS Big Sur can upgrade Catalina, Mojave, High Sierra, Sierra, El Capitan, Yosemite, Mavericks
  • macOS Catalina can upgrade Mojave, High Sierra, Sierra, El Capitan, Yosemite, Mavericks
  • macOS Mojave can upgrade High Sierra, Sierra, El Capitan, Yosemite, Mavericks, Mountain Lion
  • macOS High Sierra can upgrade Sierra, El Capitan, Yosemite, Mavericks, Mountain Lion
Click to expand...

How to download and install macOS - Apple Support

Download and install current or previous versions of the Mac operating system on compatible Mac computers.
support.apple.com support.apple.com

Using that link, it does show up in the Mac App Store for me (but, of course, I cannot download it on an M1 Mac).
 
Anyone got an update for this?

I actually have the High Sierra dmg, but opening it and double clicking the installer just gives a "This version of Install (etc) is damaged..." - and still does even when I change the system date to 2017 to get around a possible 'expired certificate' problem.

I've downloaded two more dmg's and each had the installer in them .. but double clicking brings up a "Verifying..." box which stays for hours doing nothing** and can only be dismissed by Force Ejecting the dmg.
**eventually - after letting it sit there overnight in sleep mode - I got a message which said (from memory): "Install MacOS High Sierra could not be opened as the identity of the developer could not be verified" ... which is odd, because it does look to all intents and purposes like the valid package.

I can't use the App Store as it's not there, and my 'damaged' copy never came from there originally (can't remember where from now) so looking in 'Purchased' is no go.

The "Download old versions of Mac OS" link doesn't work either. The 10.13 page does open in Safari but there is no download option and following from there to the App Store is just a vicious circle.

Is 10.13 permanently unavailable? I only want it to create a VM and use some software which requires 10.13 as a minimum. .
 
Last edited:
bogdanw said:
The High Sierra dmgs are definitely not from Apple and I wouldn’t use them.
If everything else fails, there is always gibMacOS https://github.com/corpnewt/gibMacOS
How to use it https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...led-on-me-several-times.2215873/post-28073346
Click to expand...
I had a look there but can't see what I should be downloading?

Screen Shot 2022-01-12 at 11.35.25.png
.
 
Last edited:
bogdanw said:
Press Code and Download ZIP.
Here's a direct link https://github.com/corpnewt/gibMacOS/archive/refs/heads/master.zip
If it doesn’t open by itself, unarchive the zip, open Terminal and, presuming it’s in your Downloads folder, run these commands:

Code: 
cd ~/Downloads/gibMacOS-master

Code: 
./gibMacOS.command
Click to expand...
I've tried that, and got this traceback message in Terminal:

Traceback (most recent call last):
File "./gibMacOS.command", line 553, in <module>
g = gibMacOS()
File "./gibMacOS.command", line 7, in __init__
self.d = downloader.Downloader()
File "/Users/kran/Downloads/gibMacOS-master/Scripts/downloader.py", line 18, in __init__
cafile = ssl.get_default_verify_paths().openssl_cafile
AttributeError: 'module' object has no attribute 'get_default_verify_paths'
 
bogdanw said:
I don’t know why it gives that error.
You can also try with the MDS app suggested above.
Click to expand...
I tried MDS but couldn't install it: "digital signature invalid" error. It may be (guessing here) that it doesn't work as far back as Mavericks?.
 
You can download the High Sierra installer app from the link I posted in #27.
You can then use MDS from TwoCanoes to create an installable USB.
Or, you can use MDS to download High Sierra (which comes from the Apple Servers) and it will create a .dmg file automatically.
All you need is that one app, you don't need to download via git and put it together.
 
DaveFromCampbelltown said:
You can download the High Sierra installer app from the link I posted in #27.
You can then use MDS from TwoCanoes to create an installable USB.
Or, you can use MDS to download High Sierra (which comes from the Apple Servers) and it will create a .dmg file automatically.
All you need is that one app, you don't need to download via git and put it together.
Click to expand...
See my previous post - I can't install MDS
 
What about following the links on this page to download the installer app.

Specifically --
macOS High Sierra can upgrade Sierra, El Capitan, Yosemite, Mavericks or Mountain Lion
Click on that link and it will take you to the Apple Store to download the installer app.
 
MacBiter said:
The "Download old versions of Mac OS" link doesn't work either. The 10.13 page does open in Safari but there is no download option and following from there to the App Store is just a vicious circle.
Click to expand...
What exactly happens during this “vicious circle”? After clicking View in Mac App Store does the App Store launch and bring you to the macOS High Sierra page?
(As @DaveFromCampbelltown reminded earlier, use Safari to load the page. Some Web browsers, such as Firefox, do work, but will require authorization first to open/redirect macappstore links.)
macOS-High-Sierra_Safari.png
Mac-App-Store_macOS-High-Sierra.png
If you reach the product page, what happens after clicking GET?
 
Last edited:
DaveFromCampbelltown said:
What about following the links on this page to download the installer app.

Specifically --
macOS High Sierra can upgrade Sierra, El Capitan, Yosemite, Mavericks or Mountain Lion
Click on that link and it will take you to the Apple Store to download the installer app.
Click to expand...

MacCheetah3 said:
What exactly happens during this “vicious circle”? After clicking View in Mac App Store does the App Store launch and bring you to the macOS High Sierra page?
(As @DaveFromCampbelltown reminded earlier, use Safari to load the page. Some Web browsers, such as Firefox, do work, but will require authorization first to open/redirect macappstore links.)
View attachment 1943205
View attachment 1943204
If you reach the product page, what happens after clicking GET?
Click to expand...

When I used Safari (as advised) it just showed me the page as it would appear on the App Store but no way to get there or download the OS.

However using Firefox was different: I got a little window saying an app was required and offering the App Store as the first suggestion. So I clicked that, and there's good news and bad news...

Good news: I got taken to the High Sierra page on the App Store!
Bad news: instead of 'Get', it said 'Installed' ... which it isn't.
 
MacBiter said:
Bad news: instead of 'Get', it said 'Installed' ... which it isn't.
Click to expand...
From what I recall, “Installed” simply indicates it exists in the Applications folder. So, check there for Install Mac OS X or Install macOS High Sierra — I cannot remember the exact name of the installer app. If it exists, move it to the trash and attempt to download a fresh version.
 
Last edited:
Yes, the name of the High Sierra installer is, in fact, Install macOS High Sierra.

If you still struggle with getting that downloaded, I did just try to download High Sierra, using an app "macOS High Sierra Patcher", which you can download from dosdude1 web site.
I just ran that from a Mavericks system, chose Download macOS High Sierra... under the Tools menu, and it downloaded the High Sierra installer with no problems.
 
MacCheetah3 said:
From what I recall, “Installed” simply indicates it exists in the Applications folder. So, check there for Install Mac OS X or Install macOS High Sierra — I cannot remember the exact name of the installer app. If it exists, move it to the trash and attempt to download a fresh version.
Click to expand...

I've got both "Install OS X Mavericks" and" Install MacOS Sierra" in Applications, but not High Sierra.

DeltaMac said:
Yes, the name of the High Sierra installer is, in fact, Install macOS High Sierra.

If you still struggle with getting that downloaded, I did just try to download High Sierra, using an app "macOS High Sierra Patcher", which you can download from dosdude1 web site.
I just ran that from a Mavericks system, chose Download macOS High Sierra... under the Tools menu, and it downloaded the High Sierra installer with no problems.
Click to expand...
...currently downloading High Sierra - will report back!.
 
DeltaMac said:
Do you need any help with using that installer app to make a bootable USB installer?
Click to expand...
It's done. Good news, bad news, question, not so good news!

Good news: the job successfully completed, and I have an 8GB USB with a patched High Sierra on it
Bad news: Parallels does not recognise either the H.S. download or the USB patch as a valid OS
question: can I use the downloaded H.S. dmg to upgrade my own OS at some future date?
not so good news: I've not been able to test the USB patch as Option / Restart doesn't work; is it because I've got backtrace turned on?.
 
Yes, you can use that High Sierra installer on anything that it will boot.
Will your USB installer boot your iMac? You are just testing to see if it will boot a Mac that it SHOULD boot.

I would suggest that you make a "non-patched" bootable USB installer, so you don't have to be concerned about any of the "patch" interfering with installing on a Mac that doesn't need the patched version. And, the patched version might not be useful to you, unless you are installing on another computer that won't install the normal unpatched version.
The installer app that you downloaded should work fine to make an unpatched bootable USB installer.
'tis easy to make through the terminal. If you need the steps, I can post them here...
 
DeltaMac said:
Yes, you can use that High Sierra installer on anything that it will boot.
Will your USB installer boot your iMac? You are just testing to see if it will boot a Mac that it SHOULD boot.

I would suggest that you make a "non-patched" bootable USB installer, so you don't have to be concerned about any of the "patch" interfering with installing on a Mac that doesn't need the patched version. And, the patched version might not be useful to you, unless you are installing on another computer that won't install the normal unpatched version.
The installer app that you downloaded should work fine to make an unpatched bootable USB installer.
'tis easy to make through the terminal. If you need the steps, I can post them here...
Click to expand...
Sure, that would be a help thank you. And maybe a non-patched USB bootable installer might be recognised by Parallels?.
 
I don't know about Parallels accepting a macOS system install. I don't use Parallels, but I have always heard that the only Mac system that is supported by Parallels is Snow Leopard Server. I'm probably wrong on that, I just have no recent knowledge...
** make the bootable USB installer.
Insert your USB flash drive (use a 16GB flash drive for this). Erase that thumb drive, using your Disk Utility. Make sure it is formatted Mac OS Extended (journaled), and the partition Map is "GUID"

The High Sierra installer app (Install macOS High Sierra) should be in your Applications folder (or where you found it)

Right click on that installer app, and choose "Show Package Contents". Open the Library, then open the "Resources" folder. Leave that alone for a moment...

Launch your Terminal app, then type sudo, and add a single space.

From the Resources folder that you left open, drag the file "createinstallmedia" and drop it on your terminal window. You will see the full path to that file appear next to sudo.

Next, type --volume, and add one space to that. (notice there are TWO dashes, not just one)

Now, find the icon for your flash drive (the one you just erased. Should be on your desktop somewhere). Drag that icon into the terminal window. You will see that disk, with its path, added to the line you have been typing.

AND, press enter. You will be asked to enter your admin password. Do that, you will NOT see what you type (it's a security feature, just type your password, then press enter. It will work.

Finally, the terminal will ask you to press "y" to start the command that you just typed, so type Y, and press enter to continue.

Then, you will see some text appear, showing the progress of the command. Some flash drives will be slow, the job can take maybe 30 minutes. It will get to 100%, then do a few last items to complete the installer and make it bootable. And, it's ready to go!
Click to expand...
I use the same steps multiple time a day, I know it works, and I even did one when I was typing this in to make sure the steps are in the right sequence...:cool:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back