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MikeDProducer

macrumors member
Mar 6, 2019
54
63
I have been trying to do this for days. The terminal command just results with "zhs: killed". Every. Single. Time.
 

Groking

macrumors newbie
Sep 19, 2017
21
21
This sucks. So far, trying to follow Apple's instructions, you can't the InstallOS.pkg to create the install app, because of an unnecessary compatibility check (I'm trying to create a bootable installer for an older machine, no need to check - the Installer app it creates does that check anyways), got around that with Pacifist. Then tried making the bootable installer with the createinstallmedia command (no need to check for compatibility then, I'm making the media, not running the installer).

Some developers are just too clever by half.

This wouldn't be an issue if Apple would give a way to update the damn certificate stores - the "marketing" decision (I have no doubt that Marketing forced this situation) to forego security in the name of repeat sales is why I'm starting to hate Apple.
 

Dochartaigh

macrumors member
Feb 3, 2023
88
33
While this old topic has been bumped... same for me on Ventura 13.2.1 (tried my 2023 Mac mini M2 Pro, and 2017 Intel macbook 12-inch). Can't make Mojave USB bootable installers from them... luckily I have an ancient 2009 Mac Pro I could make them from (otherwise I would be screwed).
 
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Yebubbleman

macrumors 603
May 20, 2010
6,024
2,616
Los Angeles, CA
This sucks. So far, trying to follow Apple's instructions, you can't the InstallOS.pkg to create the install app, because of an unnecessary compatibility check (I'm trying to create a bootable installer for an older machine, no need to check - the Installer app it creates does that check anyways), got around that with Pacifist. Then tried making the bootable installer with the createinstallmedia command (no need to check for compatibility then, I'm making the media, not running the installer).

Some developers are just too clever by half.

This wouldn't be an issue if Apple would give a way to update the damn certificate stores - the "marketing" decision (I have no doubt that Marketing forced this situation) to forego security in the name of repeat sales is why I'm starting to hate Apple.


While, I'm instinctively worried about the inability to make bootable installers for OSes that are Intel-only on Apple Silicon Macs, it is March 2023 now and the oldest supported macOS release is not an Intel-only one. A bootable macOS Mojave drive seems like a handy thing to have in the event that one needs to spin up 32-bit Intel Mac apps. But that also requires an Intel Mac to install Mojave onto in the first place. Furthermore, Catalina is total crap (I'd take Big Sur over Catalina any day) and Macs that can even run Mojave are no older than four and a half years old. I'm not saying the flexibility isn't nice. But I can't remember the last time I thought to myself "Man, I wish I could make a USB drive out of a nearly five year old OS that is no longer getting any kind of security updates". Like, having a Mojave setup for those apps makes sense to a point. Past that point, an I'm not entirely sure when I'd need to create an Intel-Mac-only macOS release on an Apple Silicon Mac. Certainly not in an IT environment where you should always be on a supported macOS release.

While this old topic has been bumped... same for me on Ventura 13.2.1 (tried my 2023 Mac mini M2 Pro, and 2017 Intel macbook 12-inch). Can't make Mojave USB bootable installers from them... luckily I have an ancient 2009 Mac Pro I could make them from (otherwise I would be screwed).
I'm surprised that this won't work on an Intel Mac on Ventura. I thought that the mechanisms preventing being able to run the createinstallmedia command for those older OSes had more to do with signing features that are required for Apple Silicon Mac apps to execute that Apple simply had no need to put in those older installer apps.
 

Dochartaigh

macrumors member
Feb 3, 2023
88
33
I'm surprised that this won't work on an Intel Mac on Ventura. I thought that the mechanisms preventing being able to run the createinstallmedia command for those older OSes had more to do with signing features that are required for Apple Silicon Mac apps to execute that Apple simply had no need to put in those older installer apps.
I literally tried it 5+ times on the 2017 Intel MacBook running Ventura... would not complete using the normal terminal command I have used 50+ times before... Had to switch to the 2009 Mac pro to make the bootable Mojave installer.
 

pshufd

macrumors G4
Oct 24, 2013
10,145
14,572
New Hampshire
I literally tried it 5+ times on the 2017 Intel MacBook running Ventura... would not complete using the normal terminal command I have used 50+ times before... Had to switch to the 2009 Mac pro to make the bootable Mojave installer.

I have 4 Intel Macs that are strong enough to create bootable installers (2009, 2010 iMacs, 2014, 2015 MacBook Pros) and I was considering selling several of these but it turns out that these old systems come in handy for various things. I am quite surprised that this doesn't work on the AS Macs.
 

Yebubbleman

macrumors 603
May 20, 2010
6,024
2,616
Los Angeles, CA
I literally tried it 5+ times on the 2017 Intel MacBook running Ventura... would not complete using the normal terminal command I have used 50+ times before... Had to switch to the 2009 Mac pro to make the bootable Mojave installer.
That's pretty wild. Also seems needless, but I'll bet it's a security change that requires some sort of updated signature type that Apple just isn't issuing for the older releases. I believe that's similar to the elements that prevent you from being able to run the createinstallmedia command from Catalina and earlier installers on an Apple Silicon Mac.

I was already planning on hanging onto my MacBook Pro (Retina, 13-inch, Early 2015) for one-off just-in-case measures. Being able to make a Mojave drive is one of the things I might need (as I do have a couple of 2014-2015 MacBook Airs specifically to be able to mess with older Mac software). But outside of that, I don't really see a need to be able to make installers for older than Big Sur considering my consulting practice is generally geared toward IT and IT only wants OS versions that are still supported. Plus, with the exception of maybe one other Intel Mac (which will be kept current), everything in my personal arsenal is either Apple Silicon macOS or x64 Windows.
 

zer0ed

macrumors member
Jun 18, 2016
65
29
Idaho
This has to do with a bug in Apple's ASR code. Hopefully they fix it soon! It's why none of the backup utils are currently able to make and restore a fully bootable backup of your system anymore on Apple Silicon machines. Apple forces them to use their ASR routine which as I previously stated has a bug in it which prevents the successful copy of the OS during the 3rd party util's backup process. Hence, these programs are now used to backup the user data volume and don't bother trying to copy the OS until Apple fixes this situation. The current workaround process for doing a clean restore is to erase the target (internal) disk, and then reload the OS to it from scratch. Then on reboot of the new OS one uses the Migration option to copy the user data volume back over to it from the backup your util made. You'll then have a fully bootable clean system restored.
 
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zer0ed

macrumors member
Jun 18, 2016
65
29
Idaho
Update: Just downloaded and tested Ventura 13.3 beta 4. Apple still hasn't fixed the bug in their ASR code! :-(
 

zer0ed

macrumors member
Jun 18, 2016
65
29
Idaho
Update2: Both the Ventura 13.3 release as well as the new Ventura public beta 13.4 still haven't fixed Apple's ASR bug that prevents utils like Carbon Copy Cloner, and SuperDuper from being able to make a fully bootable system disk backup. :(
 

chrfr

macrumors G5
Jul 11, 2009
13,707
7,277
Update2: Both the Ventura 13.3 release as well as the new Ventura public beta 13.4 still haven't fixed Apple's ASR bug that prevents utils like Carbon Copy Cloner, and SuperDuper from being able to make a fully bootable system disk backup. :(
I don’t quite understand why you’re so sure this is a bug rather than Apple’s desired functionality.
 

zer0ed

macrumors member
Jun 18, 2016
65
29
Idaho
I don’t quite understand why you’re so sure this is a bug rather than Apple’s desired functionality.
Because it is documented by both Carbon Copy Cloner and SuperDuper authors.

From Mike Bombich's Blog:

When Apple introduced Apple Silicon Macs, we discovered another snag. The "Apple Fabric" storage in these Macs offers per-file encryption keys (like the storage in iOS devices), and for months, ASR didn't work with it. Apple partially resolved that in macOS 11.3, but even now using ASR to clone the system back to the internal storage of these Macs doesn't quite work – it causes a kernel panic.

Back in December I had a conference call with Apple about the reliability and functionality of ASR on macOS and regarding Apple Silicon Macs in particular. They indicated that they were working to resolve the ASR/Apple Fabric issue, but they made it very clear that copying macOS system files was not something that would be supportable in the future. Many of us in the Mac community could see that this was the direction Apple was moving, and now we finally have confirmation. Especially since the introduction of APFS, Apple has been moving towards a lockdown of macOS system files, sacrificing some convenience for increased security.
 
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Don Jose Luis Grijander

macrumors newbie
Mar 16, 2023
11
4
they made it very clear that copying macOS system files was not something that would be supportable in the future. Many of us in the Mac community could see that this was the direction Apple was moving, and now we finally have confirmation. Especially since the introduction of APFS, Apple has been moving towards a lockdown of macOS system files, sacrificing some convenience for increased security.

wow, this means that full clone of the SSD using apps like macrium or others is not gping to be possible on macs in a near future? we are not going to be able to create images of our computer disk? This is a bit strange, whole image backup is the best and fastest way to restore a computer.
 

pshufd

macrumors G4
Oct 24, 2013
10,145
14,572
New Hampshire
wow, this means that full clone of the SSD using apps like macrium or others is not gping to be possible on macs in a near future? we are not going to be able to create images of our computer disk? This is a bit strange, whole image backup is the best and fastest way to restore a computer.

I had to do a rollback on 13.3 this week and I wasn't able to create an external bootable SSD. I am going to try again as I want the ability to do this so that I can look at used systems. It will be a royal pain if this is no longer possible. I was also surprised that I could do a full restore from Time Machine to the system. Time Machine only had "Data" backups. It told me to install macOS and then use Migration Assistant to move the userspace and applications to the system. Is that how you have to do full restores now? This will definitely make things less flexible.
 

zer0ed

macrumors member
Jun 18, 2016
65
29
Idaho
I had to do a rollback on 13.3 this week and I wasn't able to create an external bootable SSD. I am going to try again as I want the ability to do this so that I can look at used systems. It will be a royal pain if this is no longer possible. I was also surprised that I could do a full restore from Time Machine to the system. Time Machine only had "Data" backups. It told me to install macOS and then use Migration Assistant to move the userspace and applications to the system. Is that how you have to do full restores now? This will definitely make things less flexible.
Indeed! It won't work no matter how many times you try because of the ASR bug. Both those backup utils advise to just use them to backup your data volume onto your external drive since neither can make a bootable backup at this point. Then one needs to reinstall the OS onto your internal drive, when completed boot it and then choose the Migration option to restore your data backup to the system drive. That is the only way presently to do a clean bootable restore to your internal system disk. Yes, exactly the same procedure TM advised you. This procedure is required for Apple Silicon machines. If you think this is bad wait until your internal system drive goes belly up and your Silicon Mac is rendered useless! It won't allow you to boot off of any other device if the internal system drive goes bad! At that point you'll have to get Apple to replace the motherboard (which the drive is part of now) or junk it and buy a new machine. Thanks Apple for that great decision!
 
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pshufd

macrumors G4
Oct 24, 2013
10,145
14,572
New Hampshire
It won't work no matter how many times to try. Because of the ASR bug the utils advise to just backup your data volume to your external drive. Then one needs to reinstall the OS onto your internal drive, when completed boot it and then use the Migration util to restore you data to the system drive. That is the only way presently to do a clean restore to the internal system disk.

Is this true for Intel Macs too? I have run Monterey on an external SSD on my 2015 MacBook Pro. Is this bug in Big Sur, Monterey and Ventura on Apple Silicon?
 

dandeco

macrumors 65816
Dec 5, 2008
1,253
1,049
Brockton, MA
With Mac OS 13.3 coming out this week, I downloaded the revised Ventura installer and reformatted my two Ventura USB installer thumb drives at my workplace with the new version so we don't have that SMB network problem on any Macs we get that I install Ventura onto. Of course, I used my 2015 Retina 15" MacBook Pro for this process, running Ventura via OCLP 0.6.2.
 

pshufd

macrumors G4
Oct 24, 2013
10,145
14,572
New Hampshire
With Mac OS 13.3 coming out this week, I downloaded the revised Ventura installer and reformatted my two Ventura USB installer thumb drives at my workplace with the new version so we don't have that SMB network problem on any Macs we get that I install Ventura onto. Of course, I used my 2015 Retina 15" MacBook Pro for this process, running Ventura via OCLP 0.6.2.

I was able to create a Ventura 13.2.1 Flash installer this week so that still works - this was on my Mac Studio and I used it to install on my M1 Pro MacBook Pro.
 

zer0ed

macrumors member
Jun 18, 2016
65
29
Idaho
I was able to create a Ventura 13.2.1 Flash installer this week so that still works - this was on my Mac Studio and I used it to install on my M1 Pro MacBook Pro.
Yes, the flash drive creation and install still works.
 
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gemgeremgemgem

macrumors newbie
Apr 25, 2023
1
0
AHHHHH this is so helpful!

Here's my situation:

I have a Macbook Air 2017 that I'm ready to sell, so I reformatted my disk and tried reinstalling macOS. It gave me reinstallation issues like, "An error occurred when reinstalling....." I've tried it multiple times for almost three days. Almost gave up lol

Until I saw from Apple forums that creating a bootable installer could help, and so I tried! I tried the terminal thing from this article: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201372, but I guess Terminal and I are not besties. Hence, it gave me "command not found errors"

I scanned through articles and tons of Youtube videos again and found another way - which was to use MDS to download the installer. Tried with Catalina but encountered an issue again. SOOOOOOO FRUSTRATED! UNTIL!!!! I saw the quoted comment. YAYYYY Big Sur indeed worked! Now I am soon handing out this Macbook Air 2017 to the buyer. Thanks a bunch!
 

framedbythomas

macrumors newbie
Apr 27, 2023
1
1
Sorry to necro but I found a solution, all that is required is to codesign the createinstallmedia binary
this can be done using this command
Bash:
codesign -s - -f createinstallmedia
ran from the Contents/Resources folder in the app
Thank you!

After a week of searching this worked on my MacBook Pro 2017 that I needed to install High Sierra on.
This made it possible to create the boot-USB from a M1 MacBook Pro 14.

The High Sierra installer I got from the "High Sierra Patcher" where you can download the installer to a non-valid Mac.
 
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akkis

macrumors newbie
Jun 7, 2023
1
1
I registered just to say a big thank you! Thanks to all of you that with your research and advices it tooks me only one day to figure out how to maka a High Sierra bootable USB for my Mac Mini 2012, while on a MacBook Pro M1.

My steps:
1. Download High Sierra with the help of MDS app
2. Right click on file and select "Show Package Content" and open the teminal there
3. Run the
Bash:
codesign -s - -f createinstallmedia
terminal command
4. Run the specific terminal command in order to make the bootable USB (I used an 8GB USB flash)
5. The resurrection of my mac mini happened :)
 
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appa14

macrumors newbie
Jun 8, 2022
6
0
I ran this command:

cd /Applications/Install\ macOS \ Catalina.app (High Sierra in my case)
find . -type f -exec codesign -s - -f "{}" \;


After this command I managed to create a bootable USB (High Sierra) but when trying to install this on a 2010 MBpro it gave me errors when starting the installation.

My solution:
Deleted the installer, downloaded the installer again.
Rebooted into the recovery mode, opened terminal, disabled SIP (terminal command: csrutil disable )
And I am able to make all the installers I want, without any terminal commands to resign anything.. so solved. I know disabling the SIP is not a populair solution, but at least it's something.
 
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