Create a Bootable USB SSD with Monterey 12.7.2 on it from Sonoma 14.1.2 - Can't downgrade error...

[qwerter18]

Hi again,

I am on MacBook Pro 2021 M1 Pro 14". MacOS Sonoma 14.1.2.

I m trying to create a bootable USB-SSD with Monterey 12.7.2 on it.
I downloaded the "macOS Monterey installieren.app".
When I try to start it, it says: "„macOS Monterey installieren“ kann nicht von einer neueren Version von macOS geöffnet werden. Weitere Informationen erhältst du unter https://support.apple.com/HT201372."
Which would be ok...
But I am not trying to downgrade my existing system, but install it to an external drive.

I tried copying the instll.app to the USB, but with the same result.

Is there a way to make a bootable USB Device and working from there?
Not touching my existing internal Harddrive...

Thank you

 

[Fishrrman]

There's a new, free utility out there that might be of use to you:

GitHub - ninxsoft/Mist: A Mac utility that automatically downloads macOS Firmwares / Installers.

A Mac utility that automatically downloads macOS Firmwares / Installers. - ninxsoft/Mist

github.com

Direct download link:
Mist.0.9.1.dmg

You can use this to automatically download the correct installer AND create a bootable installer flashdrive -- in one click.

If you try it, could you come back here and let us know how it went?

 

[qwerter18]

Ok. I know how to create a bootable install drive.
BUT:
Will I be able to install the Monterey on the very same install drive, I just booted the install from???

I have bootable installer disk (A) with monterey on it.
I boot into recovery and select this install drive (A) and start installation of Monterey from it.

1. Will I be asked, to select the destination drive?
2. Can I choose the exact same drive (A) to install Monterey to?

I think the bootable disk would have to be Mac Extended Journaled first (for the install drive)
And the partition to install it to would have to be APFS...

Sounds I end up in a boot circle with that approach... if even allowed to do so.

 

[Fishrrman]

"Will I be able to install the Monterey on the very same install drive, I just booted the install from??"

I don't think so. Your bootable installer should be a 32gb USB3 flash drive.

You want to install Monterey on an EXTERNAL SSD.
DON'T use a platter-based HDD.

For a cheap external boot drive, I'd recommend:
a. A 2.5" SATA SSD, either 128gb or 256gb (VERY cheap)
and
b. An external USB3.1 gen2 enclosure for the drive.

Put the drive into the enclosure and format it to APFS.
Then use the bootable installer to install onto it.

Also remember to boot to recovery and go to the startup security and select "lower" security so that you can boot from an external drive.

 

[qwerter18]

Yeah damn... I just tried it.
I need 2 devices for it to work...
1 USB install drive and
1 USB SSD to install it to.

I dont have a big enough USB drive

I thought it would be possible to install Monterey to the external SSD from a running MacOS Sonoma (or any other).

Oh, and I tried the Mist.app!
Looks promising but didnt work for me, in the last step, some kind of test, it shuts down with different kind of error messages. But if it worked, very handy and super easy to use. But it is still v0.9... Maybe later versions will work.

 

[MarkZe]

What no one says here that when you run the install pkg that it will install the full software. The best place to do it is in the application folder.

 

[MarkZe]

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