*Note: Install DVD must be the original DVD from Apple and not a Restore DVD that came with earlier model Apple computers & laptops. User account with Administrative access.The process is nearly identical, with a few alternate items to complete the process: ( Figure G) Creating a USB Installer for Apple OS X 10.5-10.6 The process may indicate in excess of one hour, but in my experience the process takes significantly less time to complete. Upon verifying that the fields are correct, click the Restore button and select Erase from the application, if prompted to do so. For Destination, drag & drop the partition created on the USB drive onto the textbox. In the Source textbox, click the Image button and select the InstallESD.dmg file on your Desktop. Go back to Disk Utility and click on the newly formatted USB Drive in the menu, then click on the Restore tab.ġ0. Navigate the file structure Contents | Shared Support and drag the InstallESD.dmg file to the desktop. Right-click the file and select Show Package Contents. Upon completion of the USB formatting, locate Install Mac OS X Mountain Lion.app (downloaded in step #1 to the Applications folder, by default). Click on the Options button and select the radio button for GUID Partition Table and click OK. Select Mac OS Extended (Journaled) for the format-type from the drop-down menu. Click the drop-down menu, selecting 1 partition.ĥ. Click on the USB drive from the left-hand menu and select the Partition tab.Ĥ. Insert the USB drive into the Mac and launch Disk Utility.ģ. Using a Mac with at least OS X 10.6.8 installed, access the Mac App Store and download the Lion (10.7) or Mountain Lion (10.8) app installer.Ģ. User Account with Administrative privilegesġ.Apple computer with Mac App Store (OS X 10.6.8+).Install OS X Mountain Lion.app (installer downloaded from Mac App Store).Creating a USB Installer for Apple OS X 10.7-10.8īefore proceeding, we’ll need the following items to complete the process: Luckily, Macs have a couple of options, specifically USB booting, and since most have an SD card slot, we can use those as well. Not so easy anymore is it? Even downloading the OS from the Mac App Store wouldn’t do when the hard drive needs replacing or the Recovery Partition is corrupt. Installing OS X has never really been a particularly difficult task, but try doing that on a MacBook Air or a system with a broken optical drive. With the advances in technology, faster data access (SSD), and slimming hardware footprints, legacy technologies are typically the first cuts made to get these devices thinner and lighter while making them more powerful and efficient. Jesus Vigo goes over the steps to create a bootable USB to install OS X 10.7-10.8 and OS X 10.5-10.6, as well as how to put multiple versions on the same USB.

How to create a bootable USB to install OS X

Mac os x recovery usb