macOS Mojave install failed

[Ambrosia7177]

Several months ago I came here and asked for help with downloading a full copy of macOS Mojave.

That file (~ 6GB) was placed on an external drive containing other versions of macOS.

Last night I decided to finally make a bootable USB installer of Mojave so that I can install Mojave on an external HDD and use it to ultimately get a copy of Keynote.

A couple years ago I wrote myself a VERY detailed guide on creating a bootable UBS installer, including screenshots.

This made things a breeze last night.

However, when I booted to this newly created drive, and went to macOS Utilities and choose "Install macOS" I got this unexpected error...

This copy of the install macOS Mojave application is damaged, and can't be used to install macOS.

OMG! Who could have guessed this would happen?!

Also, I tried installing macOS Mpjave *directly* from the installer file I downloaded from Apple that was on this "drive of MacOSes" and I got the same message.


Questions:
1.) What went wrong?

I thought downloading a *full copy* of macOS was pretty full-proof?


2.) How can I avoid this issue in the future?


3.) How can I get a FULL COPY of the macOS Mojvae installer?


4.) Is there anything I can do to avoid this issue in the future?


I pray to God that I can still get a full copy of the macOS Mojave installer...

 

[mikzn]

I am not sure but I think that downloaded macOS versions have an "expiry date" - I have had this happen in the past and had to re download a newer version

 

[chown33]

A possible reason is explained in this article:

How to Fix a Damaged macOS Installer

Creating a macOS installer on a bootable USB drive provides a convenient way of installing a fresh copy of macOS on multiple Macs, and also allows...

www.macrumors.com

I found it by googling the error message you posted:

This copy of the install macOS Mojave application is damaged, and can't be used to install macOS

Other articles also appear in the search results. They may provide additional info.


Every modern OS download will be signed by an Apple certificate. That certificate will have an expiration date. Therefore, it's quite likely that this problem will occur in the future, depending on what the date is when you try to use the installer, and what the certificate's expiration date is.


You didn't state where or exactly when you obtained the download. Details can be important when working with cryptographically signed objects.

 

[Erehy Dobon]

Mikzn is right. Some older macOS installation images had security certificates that expired last fall I believe.

You'll need to download a newer copy of the Mojave installer.

I did this myself several months ago in order to wipe a MacBook Air 2019's internal SSD clean and re-install a fresh copy of Mojave. It worked great.

 

[DeltaMac]

By far the easiest way to download the last 3 versions of the macOS installer is to use the dosdude1 patcher apps.

dosdude1's Personal Web Server - Software

dosdude1's patcher apps download directly from Apple's servers, not one of those janky download sites that you might find somewhere else. The completed download for Mojave will ask if you want to patch the installer (so it can be used to install on non-native Macs, so you just quit the patcher app, and find your newly-downloaded installer app in your Downloads folder.

 

[Ambrosia7177]

@chown33,

A possible reason is explained in this article:

How to Fix a Damaged macOS Installer

Creating a macOS installer on a bootable USB drive provides a convenient way of installing a fresh copy of macOS on multiple Macs, and also allows...

www.macrumors.com

Every modern OS download will be signed by an Apple certificate. That certificate will have an expiration date. Therefore, it's quite likely that this problem will occur in the future, depending on what the date is when you try to use the installer, and what the certificate's expiration date is.

So does that mean that you can no longer create bootable installers that will stand the test of time?

The whole idea of getting a fullc opy of macOS and then creating a bootable USB instalelr is that is supposed to last forever - or so I thought - and you always have a way to go back in time and restore things. But if all of this is dependent on Apple security certificates, then if Aple doesn't renew the cert, then eventually your instalelrs will die and you'll never be able to install old OSes... :-(

You didn't state where or exactly when you obtained the download. Details can be important when working with cryptographically signed objects.

I started a thread here on MacRumors earlier this year, and one of you guys provided a (reputable) link to a full copy of Mojave.

In the link you posted above, can I get *full copies* of the various macOSes (including Mojave)?

 

[chown33]

There's a trick where you:
1. Turn off internet access completely.
2. Change the system date to one where the installer was known good.
3. Run the installer with the faked date.

Here's an article:

Redownload Archived macOS Installers to Address Expired Certificates - TidBITS

Signing certificates for macOS installers have expired, so Apple consultants and IT admins who maintain troubleshooting toolkits containing older installers will need to download new copies.

tidbits.com

I found it by googling change date to install Mojave.


Here's a MacRumors thread:

Is the installer still available for OS Mojave?

Hello All, I have an older Mac Pro (Mid 2012 Cheese Grater) with a sapphire 580 pulse card which I bought to upgrade to OS Mojave. As I am sure many of you know with this card I cannot see the boot screen so I cannot use the option to do a recovery to the latest OS that my Mac Pro supports...

forums.macrumors.com

I found that by searching the MR site for change date mojave installer.

 

[Ambrosia7177]

@chown33,

Okay, but what about my earlier questions...

1.) Is there some way to prevent bootable USB instalelr from expiring and no longer being useful?

Or are things ultimately always tied back to the Apple cert (i.e. Apple is still always in control!)?


2.) For the link you posted earlier, will those links take me to *FULL COPIES* of the OS?

 

[KeesMacPro]

Is there some way to prevent bootable USB instalelr from expiring and no longer being useful?

In general it's recommended to download the latest version of the installer.
However as long as there's a previous version of the installer on some HDD (external or internally connected),
the download will not work.
So you could delete the old version (or keep it on a not connected disk), and download the latest version of the Mojave installer here:
This way it's in the right place (your application folder) and not expired.
At point #4 it says: get Mojave.

How to download and install macOS - Apple Support

Download and install current or previous versions of the Mac operating system on compatible Mac computers.

support.apple.com

 

[Ambrosia7177]

This is turning out to be a real PITA...

I tried downloading the Mojave installer from post #8 in this thread...

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/is-the-installer-still-available-for-os-mojave.2232322/


To save my data, I chose my hotel's Wi-Fi and turned on my VPN. It seemed like things were going okay, but after coming back to my MBP after about 2 hours, it had only downloaded like 250KB.

So I quite the installer, and tried using my iPhone's personal hotspot with not VPN - I was told my Internet connection is safe without a VPN because the conenction to my MBP to my iPhone to AT&T is encrypted? Is this true?

At any rate, the App Store apparently didn't like my iPhone's hotspot because I couldn't download anything.

Then I deleted the install frile from my Applications folder, emptied the Trash, rebiited, and conencted to the hotel's Wi-Fi with my VPN up.

Now the App Store says "Open" which I thought means you have already downloaded the macOS Instalelr and it is ready to install the OS?

I look under Applications and see no isntances of Mojave, and my About says I still have Sierra, and if I click on "Open" nothing happens.

WTF????????


Questions:
1.) What seem to be the App Stores issue my iPhone's personal hotspot?


2.) Why does the App Store make it sound like I already downloaded Mojave when I never got past 250 KB?


3.) Will the link above even give me the full 6GB full installer?


4.) How do I get all of this sorted out?!

 

[DeltaMac]

If your App Store shows "Open", then it "sees" the app somewhere on your boot drive (or maybe on another volume that you have connected to your Mac?) The complete installer app will be just over 6GB, so you could search for files that are over 6GB. Or search for a file with the right name: "Install macOS Mojave". I am pretty sure that even a "stub" installer will still have that same file name. (250 KB is too small, a stub installer is usually about 30MB. Still a small file, and launching THAT will begin the actual download of all the files. If you do find a file with that name, and it does not work - DELETE the file, and try the download again.

I don't have any idea why the "normal" method to download Mojave doesn't appear to work for you.
maybe your connection is "too locked-down" to be successful. Apple's servers don't seem to like using proxy servers, for example. That may not be an issue for you, but for some types of connections, simple or basic network might be your best choice. (Maybe it is nothing more than a download limitation of your hotel's wifi connection. Bet that is a good question for the hotel "Is there a size limit for downloads on your network" or something like that...
But, try something else -- a different method to get that macOS installer downloaded.

Lots of methods to get the Mojave installer app, with the goal of upgrading to Mojave.
Try the dosdude1 Mojave patcher app, just to download the Mojave installer.
Try the python download script (search for installinstallmacos. You will find it) The script will work. It takes longer to get the installer to a usable point, as it goes through a fairly long process to "assemble" the app after the download, but it does eventually get there.

 

[Ambrosia7177]

@DeltaMac,

If your App Store shows "Open", then it "sees" the app somewhere on your boot drive (or maybe on another volume that you have connected to your Mac?)

I was afraid of that - I already deleted on stashed away copy, but it sounds like there is another copy someone?!

(I so need a reference librarian in my life!!!)

The complete installer app will be just over 6GB, so you could search for files that are over 6GB. Or search for a file with the right name: "Install macOS Mojave". I am pretty sure that even a "stub" installer will still have that same file name.

See my laest thread on looking for an alternative to Finder... ;-)

(250 KB is too small, a stub installer is usually about 30MB. Still a small file, and launching THAT will begin the actual download of all the files. If you do find a file with that name, and it does not work - DELETE the file, and try the download again.

I had a full 6GB copy stashed away in a folder like 5 layers deep. I deleted it and emptied the Trash, but apparently I have another copy somewhere.

I don't have any idea why the "normal" method to download Mojave doesn't appear to work for you.

maybe your connection is "too locked-down" to be successful.


Apple's servers don't seem to like using proxy servers, for example. That may not be an issue for you, but for some types of connections, simple or basic network might be your best choice. (Maybe it is nothing more than a download limitation of your hotel's wifi connection. Bet that is a good question for the hotel "Is there a size limit for downloads on your network" or something like that...

You mean my first attempt using the hotel Wi-Fi? In that case, I know the hotel throttles the hell out of downlaoding - must be that guy down the hall downloading porn all night!

But, try something else -- a different method to get that macOS installer downloaded.

Okay, but what is Apple's problem with my iPhone's personal hotspot on the AAT&T network?

I thought Chrome complained about the "network is insecure" which makes no sense considering the links recomemnded earlier are https.

When I fired up my VPN on my mbile hotspot, then it seemed to be okay, other than now I have the issue of having a duplicate Mojave installer somewhere?!

Lots of methods to get the Mojave installer app, with the goal of upgrading to Mojave.
Try the dosdude1 Mojave patcher app, just to download the Mojave installer.

I've heard that recommendation before, but unfortunately I will ONLY download from an Apple website. Supposedly trusted or not, I can't risk the Ruskies getting me with a root-kit because of amacOS update!!

Try the python download script (search for installinstallmacos. You will find it) The script will work. It takes longer to get the installer to a usable point, as it goes through a fairly long process to "assemble" the app after the download, but it does eventually get there.

I've heard about that option too. Maybe I'll try it someday.


Considering that the Mojave installer download DID start before I went for groceries, and considering I deleted that 250KB file and emptied the Trash, what is the issue?

Honestly I lost track of the sequence today. I know I did have a 6GB copy stashed away, but I forget when I deleted it.

Could there be some residual file from my earlier atempt today, even though I deleted that file?

 

[Fishrrman]

Try this.
Try it right now.

1. Boot up as you regularly would, using your current OS (NOT the flash drive).
2. Open date and time pref pane
3. UNCHECK "set date and time automatically"
4. Now, MANUALLY SET BACK the date to Jan. 1, 2018
5. Close date and time and SHUT DOWN the MacBook
6. Connect the Mojave bootable flash drive and start over

Try the install NOW.
Does it make a difference?

If the install goes through, get back running, and go back to the date and time pref pane and "set things right".

 

[DeltaMac]

I think your opinions are a bit misplaced about dosdude1
Nothing wrong with a little paranoia -- but,
If there are any friends useful to the Mac world, one of those is absolutely dosdude1 !
His patcher tools provide an alternative method to download the macOS installers, which download direct from Apple's servers. The patcher tools allow you to, well, patch that downloaded installer so it will boot and install on unsupported Macs. That process DOES, of course, modify the installer. But, you don't need that patched installer. So, you quit the patcher app when the download is complete - and you have what's left, the installer (as offered by Apple).
There are some areas in the Apple world where you (rightly) need to be cautious about sources. In my opinion, dosdude1 is not one of them.

 

[Ambrosia7177]

@DeltaMac (and all),

I downloaded a trial copy of Pathfinder last night, tried searching my HDD for another copy of the Mojave installer - beause I did once have multiple copies on another MBP once that caused me grief - but found nothing.

Then I shut down, booted up as Admin and search some more. Nothing.

Then I logegd into my Apple account (?) based on some article and looked for "Unfinished downloads". Nothing.

Then rebooted as Reg User, fird up iPhone hotspot/VPN and went into App Store and it said "Download".

WTF?!

I always get these bat s crazy situations that cannot be explained!!!!!!!

Anyways, I pissed away my entire Friday (and Friday night) with all of this, BUT at least I was able to rebuild my botoable USB Mojave installer, get Mojave instaleld on a blank external drive, "purchase" Keynote, install it, immediately swicth to my MBP with Sierra on it, go into the App Store, and now I could download an OLDER VERSION of Keynote for my Sierra Retina MBPs.

What a PITA to do something so simple, but at least a good accident to learn that all of my macOS copies are toast!!

I hope the new Apple cert lasted for a looooong time, because this stuff is insane?!

I think your opinions are a bit misplaced about dosdude1
Nothing wrong with a little paranoia -- but,
If there are any friends useful to the Mac world, one of those is absolutely dosdude1!

His patcher tools provide an alternative method to download the macOS installers, which download direct from Apple's servers. The patcher tools allow you to, well, patch that downloaded installer so it will boot and install on unsupported Macs. That process DOES, of course, modify the installer. But, you don't need that patched installer. So, you quit the patcher app when the download is complete - and you have what's left, the installer (as offered by Apple).

There are some areas in the Apple world where you (rightly) need to be cautious about sources. In my opinion, dosdude1 is not one of them.

Yes, I have head this before, and you are probably right in trusting DOSDUDE1, but I remain on the uber-paranoid end of the continuum for now...

(If you had as many technical issues as I do, you'd be paranoid too!!) ;-)


Thanks everyone (as always) for all of the help in this thread!! Definitely one to bookmark!

 

[chown33]

I hope the new Apple cert lasted for a looooong time, because this stuff is insane?!

The Tidbits article I linked earlier gives the new certificate expiration date.