Mount the Mac OS installer to get.DSStore, BaseSystem.chunklist, and BaseSystem.dmg. Files from InstallESD.dmg file. MacOS Sierra downloads as a disk image that contains a file named InstallOS.pkg. Open this file and follow the onscreen instructions. It installs an app named Install macOS Sierra into your Applications folder. OS X El Capitan downloads as a disk image that contains a file named InstallMacOSX.pkg. Open this file and follow the onscreen.
- Installesd.dmg Disk Utility High Sierra Base System Download
- Installesd.dmg Disk Utility High Sierra Base System Mac
Install clean macOS Sierra from USB
macOS Sierra 10.12 (previously known as OS X) was released in September 2016 as an update available through the App Store. You do not need to worry, much like in the case of previous updates, your user data as well as system settings and installed applications will be preserver when you update your OS.
However, some users might prefer to mae a clean installation of macOS Sierra and for that you will need to create a bootable installation USB drive. This article covers several ways how you can achieve this.
Four ways how to create macOS Sierra USB installation flash drive
First step - Get OS X Sierra installation app and prepare USB flash drive
Download macOS Sierra installer (Install macOS Sierra.app in Applications folder) from Mac App Store.
Prepare a USB flash drive with the Apple Disk Utility. If you did not already, you will have to format the USB drive with GUID Partition Table scheme selected and name it as Untitled. The minimal capacity of USB drive must be of at least 8 GB.
How to create macOS Sierra installation USB flash drive with createinstallmedia tool
The createinstallmedia is a command line tool, which allows users to simply create installation drive, distributed with macOS Sierra installer.
When you have prepared your USB flash drive and the macOS Sierra Installer is downloaded from the App Store ► open Terminal and type command:
sudo /Applications/Install macOS Sierra.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia --volume /Volumes/Untitled --applicationpath /Applications/Install macOS Sierra.app --nointeraction &&say Done
In our case 'Untitled' is the name of USB flash drive! Replace 'Untitled' by name of your flash drive.
Wait a few minutes until your macOS Sierra installation USB drive is ready.
To install macOS Sierra ► restart computer ► hold the Option key and select Installation USB drive from the menu.
How to create macOS Sierra installation USB flash drive with Terminal
When your USB flash drive is ready and macOS Sierra installer downloaded from the App Store ► Open Terminal and type the following sequence of commands:
sudo hdiutil attach /Applications/Install macOS Sierra.app/Contents/SharedSupport/InstallESD.dmg
sudo asr restore -source /Volumes/OS X Install ESD/BaseSystem.dmg -target /Volumes/Untitled -erase -format HFS+
sudo rm /Volumes/OS X Base System/System/Installation/Packages
sudo cp -a /Volumes/OS X Install ESD/Packages /Volumes/OS X Base System/System/Installation/Packages
sudo cp -a /Volumes/OS X Install ESD/BaseSystem.chunklist /Volumes/OS X Base System
sudo cp -a /Volumes/OS X Install ESD/BaseSystem.chunklist /Volumes/OS X Base System
sudo cp -a /Volumes/OS X Install ESD/BaseSystem.dmg /Volumes/OS X Base System
hdiutil detach /Volumes/OS X Install ESD
Now wait until your bootable installation flash drive with macOS 10.12 Sierra is made.
To install macOS Sierra ► restart computer ► hold the Option key and select Installation USB drive from the menu.
How to create macOS Sierra installation USB flash drive with Disk Utility and Finder
When your USB flash drive is ready and macOS Sierra installer downloaded from the App Store ► Open Terminal and type:
defaults write com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles 1 && killall Finder
This command allows you to view hidden files in Finder.
Now Open Finder ► Applications ► Install macOS Sierra.app ► right click ► Select Show Package Contents option.
Navigate to Contents/SharedSupport ► Mount InstallESD.dmg file
Open OS X (even thought the system it's caled macOS now) Install ESD archive in Finder and mount BaseSystem.dmg archive
Connect USB drive and open Disk Utility (/Applications/Utilities)
Select the USB drive from the list of disks, click on Restore icon and use OS X Base System option as a source. When ready click on Restore button.
After the Restore process is finished, open Finder ► open USB drive (OS X Base System) ► go to the System/Installation folder and select Packages file and delete it.
Open OS X Install ESD volume in Finder, select Packages folder and copy them to System/Installation folder on USB drive.
Also copy BaseSystem.chunklist and BaseSystem.dmg files from InstallESD.dmg volume to root of USB flash drive (OS X Base System).
Now your macOS Sierra installation USB drive is prepared and ready for use.
To install macOS Sierra ► restart computer ► hold the Option key and select Installation USB drive from the menu.
How to create macOS Sierra installation USB flash drive with DiskMaker X
DiskMaker X tool is Wizard like tool that allows you create macOS installation disk. Download DiskMaker X to your Mac and copy it to Applications folder.
When you have prepared your USB flash drive and macOS Sierra installer is downloaded from App Store ► open DiskMaker X.
Select version of macOS (in our case macOS Sierra).
Select copy of macOS installation app.
Select USB drive that will be used for USB installation.
And wait a few minutes till the the DiskMaker X finish creating process. Information about progress are viewable in Notification center.
To install macOS Sierra ► restart computer ► hold the Option key and select Installation USB drive from the menu.
Try out a beta version of the upcoming macOS High Sierra!
macOS High Sierra 10.13 (available as beta since June 5, 2017) is an update available through the App Store. Much like in the case of previous updates, your user data as well as system settings will be preserved when you update your OS.
Nevertheless, many users might prefer to make a clean installation of macOS High Sierra and for this you will need to create a bootable installation USB drive and we will show you several ways how you can achieve this.
Macs compatible with macOS High Sierra
- Mac: late 2009 or newer
- MacBook/MacBook (Retina): late 2009 or newer
- MacBook Pro: mid-2010 or newer
- MacBook Air: late 2010 or newer
- Mac Mini: mid-2010 or newer
- Mac Pro: mid-2010 or newer
macOS High Sierra is now available in App Store only for registered beta testers. The public version will be available this fall.
How to create macOS Sierra USB installation flash drive
First step - Get macOS High Sierra installation app and prepare USB flash drive
Download macOS High Sierra installer (Install macOS High Sierra.app in Applications folder) from Mac App Store.
Prepare a USB flash drive with the Apple Disk Utility. If you did not already, you will have to format the USB drive with GUID Partition Table scheme selected and name it as Untitled. The minimal capacity of USB drive must be of at least 8 GB.
Create macOS Sierra installation USB flash drive with createinstallmedia tool
The createinstallmedia is a command line tool, which allows users to simply create installation drive, distributed with macOS High Sierra installer.
After you have prepared your USB flash drive and downloaded the macOS High Sierra Installer from the App Store, open the Terminal and type command:
sudo /Applications/Install macOS High Sierra.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia --volume /Volumes/Untitled --applicationpath /Applications/Install macOS High Sierra.app --nointeraction &&say Done
In our case 'Untitled' is the name of USB flash drive! Replace 'Untitled' by name of your flash drive.
Wait a few minutes until your macOS High Sierra installation USB drive will be ready.
To install macOS High Sierra ► restart computer ► hold the Option (ALT) key and select Installation USB drive from the menu.
Create macOS High Sierra installation USB flash drive with Disk Utility and Finder
After you have prepared your USB flash drive and downloaded the macOS High Sierra Installer from the App Store, open the Terminal and type command:
defaults write com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles 1 && killall Finder
This command allows you to view hidden files in Finder.
Now Open Finder ► Applications ► Install macOS High Sierra.app ► right click ► Select Show Package Contents option.
Navigate to Contents/SharedSupport ► Mount InstallESD.dmg file and BaseSystem.dmg file
Connect USB drive and open Disk Utility (/Applications/Utilities)
Select the USB drive from the list of disks, click on Restore icon and use OS X Base System option as a source. When ready click on Restore button.
Open InstallESD volume in Finder, select Packages folder and copy them to System/Installation folder on USB drive (OS X Base System).
You will also have to copy BaseSystem.chunklist and BaseSystem.dmg files from Install macOS High Sierra.app package to root of USB flash drive (OS X Base System).
Installesd.dmg Disk Utility High Sierra Base System Download
And that's it. Your macOS High Sierra installation USB drive is ready for use.
Installesd.dmg Disk Utility High Sierra Base System Mac
To install macOS High Sierra ► restart computer ► hold the Option (ALT) key and select Installation USB drive from the menu.
