Make a Bootable El-Capitan USB in Sierra?

[hartleymartin]

Is it possible to make a bootable USB stick to install El Capitan from a Mac Running Sierra? I need to make an installer for another older Mac. I know I should have done it before I upgraded to Sierra - I ran into printer compatibility issues with Sierra. Turns out Brother doesn't have drivers for Sierra, but does for several older versions of OSX.

 

[keysofanxiety]

Is it possible to make a bootable USB stick to install El Capitan from a Mac Running Sierra? I need to make an installer for another older Mac. I know I should have done it before I upgraded to Sierra - I ran into printer compatibility issues with Sierra. Turns out Brother doesn't have drivers for Sierra, but does for several older versions of OSX.

Yep! Providing you still have the 'Install El Cap' dmg, or can get a download of it. You can use DiskMaker X to make the bootable USB: http://diskmakerx.com/

Not sure if anybody else can suggest any other applications rather than DiskMaker, or if that's what most people would use. The reason I'm pointing towards that application is because it's a PITA to make a bootable USB through Terminal.

 

[chrfr]

Turns out Brother doesn't have drivers for Sierra, but does for several older versions of OSX.

Apple has Brother printer drivers that work in Sierra: https://support.apple.com/kb/DL1881
You can check to see if it supports your printer at this link: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3669#brother
I'm using a Brother HL-L2360DW in Sierra just fine but it may be that yours is older and doesn't have supported drivers in Apple's package.

 

[DeltaMac]

Install Disk Creator is another app that makes bootable OS X installers easily, and works well for me.

 

[iDemiurge]

Yep! Providing you still have the 'Install El Cap' dmg, or can get a download of it. You can use DiskMaker X to make the bootable USB: http://diskmakerx.com/

Not sure if anybody else can suggest any other applications rather than DiskMaker, or if that's what most people would use. The reason I'm pointing towards that application is because it's a PITA to make a bootable USB through Terminal.

Not sure why bother with an app. I'm not particularly techie-minded and have created several bootable usb's in the past. All you have to do is format a stick with disk utility, naming it "untitled", and then copy and paste one single command in terminal, which you can easily find online. Never had an issue.

 

[fischersd]

Here's that command line reference that iDemiurge was talking about:

https://support.apple.com/en-ca/HT201372

 

[CoastalOR]

To use the createinstallmedia command line in Terminal, you will need to have the "Install OS X El Capitan" app in the Applications folder.

When the full installer app is downloaded it will automatically launch. Quit the installer app when the first question is asked thereby leaving the "Install OS X El Capitan" app in the Applications folder.

http://arstechnica.com/apple/2015/0...able-os-x-10-11-el-capitan-usb-install-drive/

 

[dianeoforegon]

I need to make an installer for another older Mac. .

Why not just use Printer Sharing and attach the Brother to the old Mac?

 

[hartleymartin]

To use the createinstallmedia command line in Terminal, you will need to have the "Install OS X El Capitan" app in the Applications folder.

When the full installer app is downloaded it will automatically launch. Quit the installer app when the first question is asked thereby leaving the "Install OS X El Capitan" app in the Applications folder.

http://arstechnica.com/apple/2015/0...able-os-x-10-11-el-capitan-usb-install-drive/

Thanks, that worked a treat!
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Why not just use Printer Sharing and attach the Brother to the old Mac?

I took the SSD out of the 2009 White MacBook so I need an installer. It currently has a 7,200 rpm Western Digital Black HDD in it until I get around to getting another SSD for it.

 

[hartleymartin]

The printer is in a place where I cannot really leave a mac attached to it, though I have wondered if some sort of older style Airport base unit would do the trick or an old Mac Mini.