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Getting a copy of macOS High Sierra
- Thread starter Ambrosia7177
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Heres a link from Apple's website. Let me know if you have any questions. This is a direct link to the App Store for the full download.
Get macOS High Sierra
Before I click on that link, let me explain my goal...
My current Retinas run Sierra, but I would like to get a full copy of High Sierra in case I want to upgrade.
I want something that I can legally retain indefinitely and that won't disappear on me. (Same goals as in this thread: Getting a copy of macOS Sierra)
Also, I do NOT want to upgrade my Retinas to High Sierra at the moment. I just want a full copy of High Sierra should I want to upgrade later on.
Make sense?
And what will clicking on that link do?
Will it allow me to simply downlaod a copy of High Sierra for later use, or is it going to try and upgrade my Retina from Sierra to High Sierra on the spot?
As far as I know, you should have the choice to download and just hold onto the file or download and install it. If you want to only download the software, then I would recommend doing so onto a usb drive. However, I cannot guarantee that the installation process won’t automatically begin. Therefore, if you have any hesitation, then just sit on it. That link will never expire. You can use it at your leisure. Let me know if you need to know anything else.
You can retain it all you like but you won’t own it. The Apple TOS is clear. They retain ownership of their software while”allowing” you to use it. They can “unsigned” the installer at any time.
In the past I have done exactly what you describe only to find out a few years down the road, while trying to install the OS, that Apple has disabled it. They can do this because at the beginning of the installation the computer “phones home” to Apple to verify that the installer is legit. If, in the future, Apple doesn’t think you should install that version of OS on that particular machine they will not authorize it and the installation will be shut down.
Which versions of macOS? I've worked around this by changing the date in Terminal prior to install.
I have 10.6->10.14 on USB, use them all regularly, and they all work nicely.
When I try to download a full version of macOS High Sierra I get stuck with a 22.7 MB installer file?!
How do I get the 5 GB version so I have the whole OS copy that I can then save on a usb drive??
How do I get the 5 GB version so I have the whole OS copy that I can then save on a usb drive??
I always use the python script for recent macOS downloads.
Search for installinstallmacos.py
That will take you to the support/download page to get that script.
The script gives you access to download either High Sierra, or Mojave, both are current versions of the installer.
It's easy to use from the terminal, and then you just wait for the download to complete.
You get a copy of a .dmg file. Double-click that to mount the image, where you will see the installer app. Copy the installer to wherever you want to keep it.
Search for installinstallmacos.py
That will take you to the support/download page to get that script.
The script gives you access to download either High Sierra, or Mojave, both are current versions of the installer.
It's easy to use from the terminal, and then you just wait for the download to complete.
You get a copy of a .dmg file. Double-click that to mount the image, where you will see the installer app. Copy the installer to wherever you want to keep it.
What exactly is that Python script doing that I can't do myself?
I get really paranoid when I download an OS because I don't want to be picking up malware/root-kits/etc.
And I would personally *never* download a copy of macOS from anyone other than Apple, regardless of how "trustworthy" the 3rd party source is.
So how does installmacos.py plan into all of that?
(Don't want to give Putin a backdoor to my Mac!)
[doublepost=1551120943][/doublepost]FWIW, I downloaded a full version of High Sierra in the past from the iTunes store.
Unfortunately, I had a back sector on my HDD, and it screwed up my copy of High Sierra, so I need to download it again.
It's an operating script that goes to the Apple download site, finds the current downloads, and shows you a list of those downloads that are currently available at that particular link.
"What will it do that you can't do yourself?", you may ask? It will download the full install, and not stop with the puny stub installer that you are apparently still getting. So, it gives you what you want. The download comes straight from Apple, so your concerns about the download should be relieved.
Follow the link that Mr_Brightside_@ just posted. That's where you go to get the script.
(It does nothing other than what it is programmed for, using the python interpreter that you already have (macOS includes Python software with the basic system install, used for a variety of terminal scripts. munki just provides that script (among others) as a convenience for Apple users.
"What will it do that you can't do yourself?", you may ask? It will download the full install, and not stop with the puny stub installer that you are apparently still getting. So, it gives you what you want. The download comes straight from Apple, so your concerns about the download should be relieved.
Follow the link that Mr_Brightside_@ just posted. That's where you go to get the script.
(It does nothing other than what it is programmed for, using the python interpreter that you already have (macOS includes Python software with the basic system install, used for a variety of terminal scripts. munki just provides that script (among others) as a convenience for Apple users.
So just out of curiosity, why do I get a tiny installer download and not the huge 5GB one?
[doublepost=1551123098][/doublepost]I read online that running this might fix the issue...
But it is asking me for root access, and I don't know how to do that or if I should?!
(Actually, that Python script seems to require Root access too.)
[doublepost=1551123098][/doublepost]I read online that running this might fix the issue...
Code:
sudo softwareupdate --clear-catalogBut it is asking me for root access, and I don't know how to do that or if I should?!
(Actually, that Python script seems to require Root access too.)
The sudo command requires you to enter your admin password.
There's nothing else you need to do, except enter your password.
The terminal will NOT show any characters when you enter your password, so just type it in when asked, and press enter to run the command.
The sudo DOES upgrade you to root, but it's really only for that one command. You WILL notice that for about the next 5 minutes, you don't need to enter a password to authenticate sudo. This permission does NOT extend outside of the terminal, and the sudo expires in five minutes. I THINK it also expires immediately if you quit terminal (although I am not sure about that, never tried it)
BTW, the "SUDO" is NOT asking you for root access. It's just asking for permission to upgrade to that level so you can run that command. It is completely normal for that temporary use. Remember that SUDO expires automatically after 5 minutes, so it's not like you can forget to downgrade.
You ALSO can't run that command, unless YOU allow it as an admin.
The other download command (that python script that I posted about) ALSO uses Sudo.
Remember, it's temporary user upgrade, just for the purposes of running a command that requires that user upgrade.
It's a completely normal need that you might occasionally encounter, and one of those times where you know you need to authenticate (that's how it all works!), and that it is both necessary, and normal.
There's nothing else you need to do, except enter your password.
The terminal will NOT show any characters when you enter your password, so just type it in when asked, and press enter to run the command.
The sudo DOES upgrade you to root, but it's really only for that one command. You WILL notice that for about the next 5 minutes, you don't need to enter a password to authenticate sudo. This permission does NOT extend outside of the terminal, and the sudo expires in five minutes. I THINK it also expires immediately if you quit terminal (although I am not sure about that, never tried it)
BTW, the "SUDO" is NOT asking you for root access. It's just asking for permission to upgrade to that level so you can run that command. It is completely normal for that temporary use. Remember that SUDO expires automatically after 5 minutes, so it's not like you can forget to downgrade.
You ALSO can't run that command, unless YOU allow it as an admin.
The other download command (that python script that I posted about) ALSO uses Sudo.
Remember, it's temporary user upgrade, just for the purposes of running a command that requires that user upgrade.
It's a completely normal need that you might occasionally encounter, and one of those times where you know you need to authenticate (that's how it all works!), and that it is both necessary, and normal.
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I don't know that there's a conclusive answer as to why you sometimes get the stub, and sometimes the full, multiple GB file, however:
Some required reading:
https://apple.stackexchange.com/questions/299731/macos-high-sierra-media-installer
https://www.jamf.com/jamf-nation/di...erra-10-13-0-where-to-download-full-installer
Some required reading:
https://apple.stackexchange.com/questions/299731/macos-high-sierra-media-installer
https://managingosx.wordpress.com/2017/09/26/some-stuff-about-install-macos-high-sierra-app/
https://www.jamf.com/jamf-nation/di...erra-10-13-0-where-to-download-full-installer
Follow these instructions from Apple for whatever OS you need:
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201372
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201372
What am I supposed to do with that link?
I see no way to download the code.
[doublepost=1551128296][/doublepost]I copied and pasted the code into TextWrangler and saved the file as installinstallmasoc.py
Then from Terminal I ran:
Code:
sudo /path/to/installinstallmacos.pyI got this error message:
Code:
Could not find a default catalog url for this OS version.I am running Sierra and *just* patched it a while ago.
WTF??
You have to run that script in python, such as:
And, easiest way to put the path in is to type - sudo python, then a single space, then drag the instalinstallmacos.py file into the terminal. Press enter, then type in your password, and press enter again. I have created a folder just for the download results. I keep in in my user folder. I run a
Again, just drag the destination folder into that line (so, just cd, then a single space, then drag in your destination folder. No sudo there, just run the command. Now immediately run the python script, and you should see several folders appear in your destination folder. That's also the same destination for the macOS installer app when it downloads.
Pretty kewl, eh?
Code:
sudo python /path/to/installinstalmacos.py
Code:
cd /path to macOS save folderPretty kewl, eh?
To be perfectly clear:
/path/to/
Requires you to input a path
It’s like
/yourfirstname/yourlastname/
Would become
/John/Smith/
/path/to/
Requires you to input a path
It’s like
/yourfirstname/yourlastname/
Would become
/John/Smith/
I don't think you guys are following me...
First off, I saw no way to download that file from GitHub, and I'm NOT creating an account there.
Second, I copied and pasted that Python code into BBEdit and saved the file as: "installinstallmacos.py"
I saved that file in my "+MYDOWNLOADS" folder.
Then, I opened up Terminal, typed:
...and in Finder I dragged my newly created file
into Terminal so I had...
I hit enter, got prompted for my Admin password, enteed that, and then I got this:
So I ran the script and it ran but then it errored out!!
Thanks to Apple's crappy AppStore, I have pissed away an entire day just trying to download a full copy of High Sierra, and I am no farther off than I was this morning?!
And now this Python code - which still makes me nervous - didn't help either?!
First off, I saw no way to download that file from GitHub, and I'm NOT creating an account there.
Second, I copied and pasted that Python code into BBEdit and saved the file as: "installinstallmacos.py"
I saved that file in my "+MYDOWNLOADS" folder.
Then, I opened up Terminal, typed:
Code:
sudo <space>...and in Finder I dragged my newly created file
Code:
/Users/user2/Documents/+MYDOWNLOADS/installinstallmacos.pyinto Terminal so I had...
Code:
sudo /Users/user2/Documents/+MYDOWNLOADS/installinstallmacos.pyI hit enter, got prompted for my Admin password, enteed that, and then I got this:
Code:
Could not find a defualt catalog url for this OS version.So I ran the script and it ran but then it errored out!!
Thanks to Apple's crappy AppStore, I have pissed away an entire day just trying to download a full copy of High Sierra, and I am no farther off than I was this morning?!
And now this Python code - which still makes me nervous - didn't help either?!
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Go back to the GitHub link.
Click on macadmin-scripts. It's in blue, near the top of the page.
Or, just go to this link (it's the same page)
NOW, click on the Clone or Download link (it's bright green, hard to miss)
You will get a pop-up window - choose Download Zip.
You will download a zipped folder with the files on that same page.
Double-click to un-zip that folder.
Inside, look for the file that you have been trying to use: installinstallmacos.py
Move or copy that to somewhere you would like to keep it.
Now, set up the same python command, but drag that new installinstallmacos.py to make a new path in the terminal command. (Should be OK now.)
Click on macadmin-scripts. It's in blue, near the top of the page.
Or, just go to this link (it's the same page)
NOW, click on the Clone or Download link (it's bright green, hard to miss)
You will get a pop-up window - choose Download Zip.
You will download a zipped folder with the files on that same page.
Double-click to un-zip that folder.
Inside, look for the file that you have been trying to use: installinstallmacos.py
Move or copy that to somewhere you would like to keep it.
Now, set up the same python command, but drag that new installinstallmacos.py to make a new path in the terminal command. (Should be OK now.)
Exact same issue...
Code:
user2$ sudo /Users/user2/Documents/+MYDOWNLOADS/installinstallmacos.py <enter>
Password: ****** <enter>
Could not find a default catalog url for this OS version.
user2$ _It makes me cringe downloading freeware off the Internet to do anything with my OS.
I mean I respect and trust all of your advice, but still...
Is it seriously this hard to download a copy of High Sierra??
FWIW, I downloaded a copy of High Sierra last year (or two years ago) but my stupid $500 SSD had a bad sector *right* where it stored my copy of High Sierra, so *poof* there went that?! (Not to mention the perfect clones I have of that!!)
Read the stack exchange link I posted. It contains a guide to hopefully re initiate a download of the full installer via the App Store.
https://apple.stackexchange.com/questions/299731/macos-high-sierra-media-installer
@Mr_Brightside_@
At this point I won't have a chocie, so it'll automatically download to my MacBooks' Applications folder, right?
So can I plug in an external USB HDD and store things there?
If I am downloading to an external HDD, and I had to stop for some reason, would it break things?
(Hopefully I could just do this before bed and have it down in the morning?)
Just out of curiosity... If I am able to download the 5GB file to an external USB HDD, and I accidentally clicked "Restart", I guess it would take that 5GB image/dmg and install it on my MacBook, eh?
So that would be my external USB HDD, right?
I think he is saying do NOT copy the .DS_Store file, right?
(Because in the picture on that webpage, it looks like he is selecting it?!)
So in my case, I would copy that *updated* "Install macOS High Sierra" folder (i.e. 5GB) to somewhere for safe storage, like my external USB HDD, right?
Then in addition to that, I could create a bootable USB instalelr for High Sierra so I have that as well, right?
Just want to make sure I am following your intended advice, and sorry if I missed that earlier!
;-)