How to Instal Mac OS from 1 machine to another

[cosmichobo]

G'day,

I'm just so incredibly frustrated by Apple right now, for not the first time of late.

I've just installed a new SSD into a 2012 Mac mini.

I want to now instal Mac OS Mojave. That's a couple steps ahead of what I'm running on my Mac Pro.

So I download the installer from Apple, and - it wont run under Sierra.

I can't even open it, in order to tell it what disk I want to perform the installation.

This was the same issue I had a few months ago when I was putting SSDs in some other Macs.

So - how do I do it?

I am instead running the internet restore (as of course, there's no restore partition on this drive - it's brand new / blank), which I have no idea what version of OS it will instal... and then I'll try to change the OS from there. But that's so wasteful. If I was on limited/slow bandwidth I'd be screaming.

What is Apple trying to achieve by not just creating installers that would let you choose where you were installing the OS? What's their goal here? To frustrate the hell out of people?

Cheers

cosmic

 

[cosmichobo]

Now I am ready to scream.

So the internet restore option wants to instal Catalina. Ok.

I format the SSD as per what I can see online - AFPS / GUID.

Run the Catalina installer. Choose the SSD, and it tells me that the firmware needs to be updated - please choose a non-SSD disk. What use is an OS installer that can't upgrade firmware???

I've been using Macs since 1991, and have always loved how it "just works" - but this is NOT working. This is incredibly frustrating.

 

[DeltaMac]

Use your downloaded copy of the Mojave installer app to make a bootable USB installer.
You can do that through your Terminal. Here's some steps that absolutely will work. I use same steps several times per week, and it will successfully make a bootable installer.
Make installer bootable on flash drive:

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 Mojave installer app (Install macOS Mojave) should be in your Applications folder.

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.

Then, you will see some numbers appear, showing the progress of the command. Some flash drives will be slow, maybe 30 minutes. It will get to 100%, then do a few final items to complete the installer and make it bootable. And, it's ready to go!
Insert the flash drive in the Mac that needs the Mojave installed, and choose that USB installer from the Option-boot select screen. When you get to the menu screen, choose "Reinstall macOS), and use the internal drive as the destination for the install -- and there you go!

 

[The Clark]

You can actually choose which version of MacOS will be installed via internet recovery by selecting certain shortcuts.

For instance:

• Command-R: Start up from the built-in macOS Recovery System. Use this key combination to reinstall the latest macOS that was installed on your system, or to use the other apps in macOS Recovery.
• Option-Command-R: Start up from macOS Recovery over the internet. Use this key combination to reinstall macOS and upgrade to the latest version of macOS that’s compatible with your Mac.
• Option-Shift-Command-R: Start up from macOS Recovery over the internet. Use this key combination to reinstall the version of macOS that came with your Mac or the closest version that’s still available.

Try using any one of those shortcuts. I'm not sure what you mean by not knowing where to install MacOS. Why not just format the drive via disk utility (while in recovery mode) and it should give you a blank slate to install MacOS?

I was Mac Technician for a year and Apple makes it pretty easy to get up and going again in regards to OS installs.

 

[Fishrrman]

Here's how to get Mojave and make a bootable USB installer.
PRINT OUT these instructions and follow in correct order.

JOB 1:
Get a copy of the Mojave OS installer.

First, download this app:

https://cloudflare-ipfs.com/ipfs/Qmds4TpDcAXszxMMACdBYK7XA8ih2kBoiuV2ZWejebgzgY/macOS%20Mojave%20Patcher.dmg

It's dosdude1's "Mojave patcher", which is designed to install Mojave on certain unsupported Macs.
WHY YOU NEED THIS TOOL:
For only one reason -- to get a copy of Mojave without the b.s. that Apple requires you to go through in order to download it.

WHAT TO DO:
Launch the Mojave patcher tool.
If you get an alert that you "are on a supported Mac", just dismiss it. Get by it.
Now, go to the "tools" menu.
There's only one choice -- download the Mojave installer.
So... do it.
Then quit the Mojave Patcher, that's all you needed it for.

JOB 2:
Get a 3rd party tool that will create the USB installer.
You should download BOTH of these:
a. DiskMaker X 8.0.3:

http://diskmakerx.com/downloads/DiskMaker_X_803.dmg

b. Install Disk Creator:

https://macdaddy.io/InstallDiskCreator.zip

WHY YOU NEED BOTH:
If one doesn't seem to be working, just try the other one.
Don't give up if only one doesn't work for you!

JOB 3:
Have a USB flashdrive 8gb or larger.
Try either DiskMaker or Install Disk Creator -- doesn't matter which.

Does this get the flashdrive created?
If so, great.

Now, do this:
Make sure the Mini is powered off.
Insert the flash drive installer into a USB3 port.
Press the power on button and IMMEDIATELY hold down the option key and KEEP HOLDING IT DOWN until the startup manager appears.
Select the flash drive and hit return.
Do you get a boot to the installer?

OK, then do this:
DO NOT run the OS installer yet.
Instead, open disk utillty.
VERY IMPORTANT -- go to the view menu and choose "show all devices".
Now, look at "the list on the left" -- you should be able to see the physical SSD as "the top line".
Click on the SSD, and then click "erase".
Erase to "APFS, GUID partition format".
When done, quit disk utility.

NOW open the OS installer and start "clicking through".
The Mac will reboot one or more times, and the screen may go dark one or more times, for a minute or more, with no other indication of activity.
BE PATIENT.

When the install is done, you should see the initial setup screen (choose your language).
Start clicking through.
During this process, setup assistant will ask if you wish to migrate from another Mac or drive.
This is when you connect your backup and let setup assistant "digest it".
Then setup assistant will provide you with a list of stuff to migrate.
I suggest you just accept the defaults (everything) and "let it go".
When done, you should see your old login screen, just as before...

Remember -- PRINT THIS OUT!
Good luck!

 

[cosmichobo]

Thanks - should have added - I have 2 x 16GB USB sticks - except my wife/and/or kids have stolen them! Biggest I can find is 8GB.. which I gather wont cut it.

My work around for now... I have dug out my USB Sata dock, and put the HDD that I pulled out of the Mini into it, and booted the mini using it. (Thank god Intel Macs boot from USB) Then I thought I could just copy the Mojave installer over and instal onto the SSD - but no... because the HDD only has Mavericks, it can't format the SSD with APFS (or whatever the initials are).

So - I am installing Mojave on the HDD, which will let me format the drive, and hopefully also resolve the firmware issue... and then instal Mojave on the SSD...

It's been sitting on the instal screen for over half an hour... wasn't moving... then started moving... now stalled again... not wanting to turn the computer off and end up with another PROBLEM... (Though I do have another HDD pulled from my other 2012 mini that I THINK has an OS on it....)

 

[Fishrrman]

OP:

If what you're doing now doesn't work...

...try the instructions I posted for you.
Use either Diskmaker X or Install Disk Creator.
USE THE 8gb FLASH DRIVE YOU HAVE.
It should work.

 

[DeltaMac]

Thought I should point out that max ram in a 2012 mini is 2 x 8GB = 16GB. Won't recognize a 16GB stick, so, won't work with 2x16GB, and you will be great with 2x8GB.

 

[cosmichobo]

Thought I should point out that max ram in a 2012 mini is 2 x 8GB = 16GB. Won't recognize a 16GB stick, so, won't work with 2x16GB, and you will be great with 2x8GB.

Thanks. I meant - I have 2 x 16GB usb sticks somewhere... but the kids/wife have nicked them. So couldn't use them to create an instal usb drive. The mini itself does have 2 x 8GB of RAM, and is an i7 2.3Ghz, so whilst I didn't get the 2.6ghz model, hopefully it's still going to be - in some ways - better than the Mac Pro... and a good starting step at least whilst I decide if I can live in this kind of footprint...

So far, I have Mojave installed on the 5400rpm drive... that took AGES, probably because it was running at USB2 speeds via the external dock. Hopefully tonight after work I'll get a chance to try to now instal Mojave onto the SSD... and wont have the firmware issue that Catalina gave me.

 

[cosmichobo]

Mojave appears to have installed successfully on the SSD now.

Just running a time machine data transfer.

I appreciate the replies above, and think I'll have to invest in a few new USB sticks to have some instal drives handy, because I've not enjoyed this process...