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Primus84

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Jul 21, 2005
383
25
UK
What size is the dmg file for Lion - need to know if my 4gb USB pen drive is big enough!
 
Should fit onto a 4GB external drive:

From my external 8GB CF Card ...
3.8 GB on disk (3,803,148,288 bytes)

John
 
I tried a 4GB flash drive and it was not enough space. The when formatting the drive, you're left with just barely not enough space. You need to go with an 8GB.
 
You absolutely need at least an 8GB drive - other users have posted failure stories while trying to use 4GB drives.
 
Would it be possible to share installation with USb

Like making a Boot menu on the USB example a 32

With Linux Mac and Windows on it
 
Every single guide about Lion installation off a USB or DVD is leaving out serious details like:

- 4GB key's don't generally work.
- Make the bootable media BEFORE you install Lion as it disappears afterwards (as it turns out, to the Lost+Found folder).

Are these fools just copying each others guides without doing too much research themselves.

Edit: As it turns out, when you format the key as Mac OS Extended the usable size drops to 3.64GB hence too small for Lion.
 
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- Make the bootable media BEFORE you install Lion as it disappears afterwards (as it turns out, to the Lost+Found folder).

You can actually force a re-download of Lion from the Mac App Store within Lion.

"To redownload the installer on a computer running OS X Lion, press and hold the Option key while you click the Purchases tab." Source
 
You can actually force a re-download of Lion from the Mac App Store within Lion.

"To redownload the installer on a computer running OS X Lion, press and hold the Option key while you click the Purchases tab." Source

Oh absolutely, I've heard that one too but my point is about the common mistakes you'll make when doing this and how they're not documented in these articles. Most of us are excited to get our copy and install it before all else (on top of that, when the download finishes it automatically starts giving the impression you have to do it "NOW", theres no exit or cancel).

When we kick off our installs we assume the Lion installer might be sitting in Applications when we get back in, but alas there's nothing there and everything seems to suggest re-downloading or worse, wiping, putting on Snow Leopard and upgrading AGAIN.

Maybe none of the tech journals experienced this problem and hence wrote up their articles from that point of view, but it's highly doubtful bearing in mind they had to get Lion installed, tested and reviewed quickly.
 
:pI got one of these handy-dandy laying around just in case my HDD fails on me. Love these tiny USBs
317qYTKKGYL.-SL500-AA300-.jpg
 
You can actually force a re-download of Lion from the Mac App Store within Lion.

"To redownload the installer on a computer running OS X Lion, press and hold the Option key while you click the Purchases tab." Source

This doesn't work for me. Holding the Option key and clicking the "Installed" button from the App Store does nothing. I have a new 2011 Mini that came with Lion.
 
This doesn't work for me. Holding the Option key and clicking the "Installed" button from the App Store does nothing. I have a new 2011 Mini that came with Lion.

I think that's because you've never had to actually "buy" Lion from the App Store, therefore it wouldn't be listed in your Purchased tab in MAS.

What documentation came with the new mac minis? Seeing as it doesn't have a SuperDrive, did it come with a USB key with OS X Lion like the MacBook Airs?
 
I think that's because you've never had to actually "buy" Lion from the App Store, therefore it wouldn't be listed in your Purchased tab in MAS.

What documentation came with the new mac minis? Seeing as it doesn't have a SuperDrive, did it come with a USB key with OS X Lion like the MacBook Airs?

No it came with no media. I guess the rationale is if I have to do a restore it'll have to be done via the Internet. In my case I just want a copy of the install so I can do it from a USB key if I ever have to restore.
 

That thread is filled with responses saying it does not work. Seriously; it only costs $3 more to buy an 8Gb USB drive instead of a 4Gb one. (I know; I exchanged my 4Gb drive bought for Lion after finding 10.7 didn't fit.) You're going to attempt a dodgy kludge to save $3?

If you must use a 4Gb drive, just use CCC to not copy the languages in the installer. Lion will install but only if you have a good internet connection, because the installer sees it's missing the languages and downloads them from Apple. But it works. But I have to advise against wasting your time hacking the USB drive's filesystem. Little good can come from that.
 
That thread is filled with responses saying it does not work. Seriously; it only costs $3 more to buy an 8Gb USB drive instead of a 4Gb one. (I know; I exchanged my 4Gb drive bought for Lion after finding 10.7 didn't fit.) You're going to attempt a dodgy kludge to save $3?

If you must use a 4Gb drive, just use CCC to not copy the languages in the installer. Lion will install but only if you have a good internet connection, because the installer sees it's missing the languages and downloads them from Apple. But it works. But I have to advise against wasting your time hacking the USB drive's filesystem. Little good can come from that.

Right if u want buy a USB key of 8gGB to install 3.8GB of data.

i think u dont understand the french cos he don t say to remove the languages. if u do that u will can not install Lion,

We don't care about what u say ,Primus84 asks what size USB drive needed for Lion so?
 
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Just saw this app today called Lion DeskMaker that automates the process and says it will work with a 4GB USB key. Have not tried the app myself.
 
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