MacOS Boot USB

[LookToWindward]

Hi,

It is possible to create a bootable MacOS (Monterey) USB stick that isn't an Installer?

I'd like to be able to boot into the finder and be able to run OCLP. I remember I did have a USB like this years ago (in the 10.4 era), that booted something that allowed you to run DiskWarrior to repair a boot volume.

Make a lot
Dave

 

[Fishrrman]

Probably impossible on a USB flash drive (due to problems with the controller board, etc.).

Might be possible on a USB external platter-based hard drive. But the latest versions of the OS seem to have problems installing/booting from HDDs.

What WILL work:
Get a small portable SSD (such as the Crucial x9).
Alternative: get an nvme blade SSD, and a USB3.1 gen2 enclosure3.
Erase it to APFS and then install onto that.
This works.

I like the x9 because it's both small and fast.

 

[LookToWindward]

But you can build an installer onto a USB stick and it runs a few utilities like DiskUtility and the Installer itself?

I can use an HDD or SDD USB if need be, I just wondered if it were possible with other apps like OCLP.

I basically want an Installer Boot USB without the Installer but with OCLP! I suppose I could just copy OCLP into it alongside the Installer file, but how to launch it?

You basically do then when you install OpenCore/Monterey (or whatever OS). The USB Stick has the OpenCore boot loader on it

 

[LookToWindward]

Any kind of search for brings back how to make an installer boot drive. I just want to make a plain boot drive with one App on it (or maybe 2), not an installer

 

[Fishrrman]

I'm going to say it again:
You're probably not going to be successful getting Monterey to install and boot (to the finder) on a USB flash drive.

Try it and get back to us, ok...?

 

[LookToWindward]

I'm going to say it again:
You're probably not going to be successful getting Monterey to install and boot (to the finder) on a USB flash drive.

Try it and get back to us, ok...?

It doesn't have to boot to the finder, I just want the ability to load an App not necessarily the Finder. I've seen boot usb's that contain tools like Disk Utility, Terminal etc. I have tried it, but it didn't work just putting OCLP on the drive, I need some sort of shell to load it. I agree it may not be possible but I'd like to explore as many avenues as possible before giving up.

 

[gilby101]

It is possible to create a bootable MacOS (Monterey) USB stick that isn't an Installer?

Yes. What have you tried? Or should I say, what is your problem?

I just download the installer, erase the external disk (formatted APFS), run the installer and install to the external. Installing to a USB stick is not the best, but it works - make sure it is 64GB or more.

I just wondered if it were possible with other apps like OCLP.

Now you are adding a complication. Does your Mac support Monterey? If not, I suspect you need to
1) Create a bootable OCLP USB stick.
2) Boot it and install OCLPyfied macOS to another USB stick.

But really you should be searching the OCLP threads.

And final result will be pretty slow on a USB stick (flash drive).

 

[LookToWindward]

Hi,

I can boot Native High Sierra or Mojave on this machine (Mac Pro 5,1). I run OC/Monterey from a separate SSD. Don't get hung up on the USB Stick, I can use a large USB HDD or SSD if I need to. The reason I said a stick is that it is smaller, I don't really want to install the whole OS on it, just a simplified App loader and an App.

An installer USB Stick loads a simplified shell that contains enough code to access the MacOS volumes and file systems and can copy files from the USB stick to the hard drive. That's all I want.

You make an USB Installer using createinstallmedia. I was wondering what makes the Installer USB "Special" so it it can be 1, Booted, and, 2, the Installer file can be located/loaded.

What I'd like is a bootable USB stick with the ability to load OCLP instead of the installer. I remember you used to be able to create a Utilities boot USB with DiskUtilitiy and other tools on it so as it be able to repair the Boot drive. Maybe Apple have removed this feature since recovery came along.

If I take an existing OC/Monterey installer USB and copy OCLP to it alongside the Installer file, this works ok, BUT I can't launch OCLP, it boots into the Installer.

This really isn't an OpenCore issue, I just want to make a boot USB that can load something other than an Installer. Instead of OCLP make it DiskUtilitiy, so I want to make a BootUSB with just DiskUtility on it, is this possible?

Cheers
Dave