Help! I desperately need to find Big Sur 11.5

[ChannelChick]

I need to find a way to obtain the full OS to install on a 2020 iMAC that crashed Microsoft applications after updating from 11.5 to 11.6. I cannot obtain the 11.5 and i have confirmed the 11.6 version is the problem as i tried it on another iMAC and Macbook that were running Big Sur 11.5. In all cases, 11.6 caused the same problems.

Updating to Monterey fixed those crash problems but caused new issues with wifi and bluetooth connectivity. Monterey 12.1 supposed fixed those issues but crashes Outlook. And, the connectivity issues are still happening sporadically.

I downgraded all my other systems to Catalina but some of my clients networks require me to have Big Sur 11.3 or greater as a minimum.

am not very technically savvy so some of the instructions and terminology goes way over my head when i read through discussions and find sites that supposedly have ways to do this. I don't understand most of what they are saying. If you know how i can find this, please help.

 

[bogdanw]

11.5.2 is still available from Apple

http://swcdn.apple.com/content/downloads/43/16/071-78704-A_U5B3K7DQY9/cj9xbdobsdoe67yq9e1w2x0cafwjk8ofkr/InstallAssistant.pkg

Other links & sha https://mrmacintosh.com/macos-big-sur-full-installer-database-download-directly-from-apple/

 

[ChannelChick]

I cannot see how to verify that is Big Sur 11.5, which is tried to get from Apple but it sends me to the App Store and only 11.6 is available. Running the .pkg file only saves it as a file, it does not actually download the OS. I thought i needed a .dmg file to install it?

 

[bogdanw]

Running the .pkg puts Install macOS Big Sur.app in Applications. You can use the app to upgrade from Catalina for example.
To make a clean install, create a bootable installer https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201372

sudo /Applications/Install\ macOS\ Big\ Sur.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia --volume /Volumes/MyVolume

 

[ChannelChick]

However, i think i did find a later Big Sur 11.2 dmg file so i am downloading that.

 

[ChannelChick]

Running the .pkg puts Install macOS Big Sur.app in Applications. You can use the app to upgrade from Catalina for example.
To make a clean install, create a bootable installer https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201372

sudo /Applications/Install\ macOS\ Big\ Sur.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia --volume /Volumes/MyVolume

I downloaded the installassistant.pkg, which is the same file from both the links you provided. While the download on Mrmac says its 11.5.2, when i was able to getinfo on the file, its actually 11.6, which is what i am trying to avoid.

Thanks anyway. I will keep searching...

 

[bogdanw]

I downloaded the installassistant.pkg, which is the same file from both the links you provided. While the download on Mrmac says its 11.5.2, when i was able to getinfo on the file, its actually 11.6, which is what i am trying to avoid.

Thanks anyway. I will keep searching...

That is not true, check DTPlatformVersion and DTSDKBuild in Install macOS Big Sur.app/Contents/info.plist

If you have 11.6 Install macOS Big Sur.app in your Applications folder, delete it before you run InstallAssistant.pkg
It will probably not overwrite a newer version.

 

[ChannelChick]

Again, i have no idea what you mean when you say check DTPlatformVersion, etc.

I do not have Big Sur 11.6 installed on my system. I deleted any previous versions of the install packages and then downloaded again from the links provided. And yes, i emptied my trash and ran searches to see if there were any files associated anywhere.

I downloaded and installed the version that said it was 11.5. I then looked at the Install macOS Big Sur info and it showed the version was 11.6. I did it for the 11.5.1 and 11.5.2 and they both showed the 11.6 version. Did it 3 times as described above and all were the same.

 

[bogdanw]

I downloaded and installed the version that said it was 11.5. I then looked at the Install macOS Big Sur info and it showed the version was 11.6.

The link provided is certainty Big Sur 11.5 Disconnect from the Internet when you install it to avoid auto-updating during the install.

 

[ChannelChick]

would be so much easier if i could find the .dmg file somehow

 

[ChannelChick]

PS, i have disconnected, restarted after deleting and removing previous downloads, cleared cache, etc.

 

[bogdanw]

would be so much easier if i could find the .dmg file somehow

And what would you do with the dmg?
This is probably useless for you, but this is how to create a dmg from the Install macOS Big Sur.app
From Terminal:
hdiutil create 1016.dmg -size 16g -layout SPUD -fs HFS+J

hdiutil attach 1016.dmg -noverify -nobrowse -mountpoint /Volumes/InstallBigSur

sudo /Applications/Install\ macOS\ Big\ Sur.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia --volume /Volumes/InstallBigSur

hdiutil detach /Volumes/Install\ macOS\ Big\ Sur

hdiutil resize -sectors min 1016.dmg

 

[ChannelChick]

I just did it again and you were right, that is the correct version. I don't know why it was installing the wrong one before but i have it now.

I cannot thank you enough for all your help!!! Now i just need to figure out how to actually install the OS from the .pkf file... I see there is a Youtube from MrMacintosh that shows how to do it.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. You are a lifesaver!

Happy New Year!

 

[MauiPa]

I never seem to have any of those problems. But you should get in the habit of creating an install disk, with the flavor you like and use that to install.

 

[MBAir2010]

I just did it again and you were right, that is the correct version. I don't know why it was installing the wrong one before but i have it now.

I cannot thank you enough for all your help!!! Now i just need to figure out how to actually install the OS from the .pkf file... I see there is a Youtube from MrMacintosh that shows how to do it.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. You are a lifesaver!

Happy New Year!

Happy this worked out!
enjoy your mac!