why does Catalina installer (8.25GB) needs internet access?

[bill99]

Hello

Would like to be able to re-install Catalina to my iMac 2019 from a bootable offline installer media (USB)
without "Internet-Recovery". Therefore I did download the 8.25GB Catalina offline installer from:

https://apps.apple.com/au/app/macos-catalina/id/1466841314?mt=12

In https://support.apple.com/en-au/HT201372 it's written, that an internet connction is required.

Question:
Why that? Is not already everything inclued in this 8.25GB Catalina installer?


Thank you very much for every feedback!

Bill

 

[IceStormNG]

It's actually not needed on Intel Machines. They use the internet to validate the certificate, but it will install fine without internet connection.

On M1 on the other hand, you must connect to the internet like on iOS devices as those use the same firmware type as iOS devices. So their firmware has to be signed after install by Apple's Server.

 

[bill99]

Thanks a lot for the interesting feedback about the certificate!

Nevertheless I am wondering why "Startup Disk" of my Intel iMac shows the following messages after booting it with Command-R:

- "You can't change the startup disk to the selected disk"

and

- "The bless tool as unable tp set the current boot disk"

 

[bill99]

Pressing Alt (on this iMac 2019) instead of Command-R does sucessfully load the Catalina Installer from the USB stick
(but you have to select between MacintoshHD and CatalinaInsaller)

BIll