Create bootable USB drive from InstallMacOSX.pkg

README.md

Create bootable USB drive from InstallMacOSX.pkg

1. Erase USB drive with Disk Utility using format Mac OS Extended (Journaled) and Master Boot Record and call it MyVolume
2. Use Finder to mount/open InstallMacOSX.dmg.
3. Run following commands:

pkgutil --expand /Volumes/Install\ OS\ X/InstallMacOSX.pkg /tmp/El\ Capitan
diskutil eject Install\ OS\ X
cd /tmp/El\ Capitan
hdiutil attach InstallMacOSX.pkg/InstallESD.dmg  -noverify -nobrowse -mountpoint /Volumes/esd
sudo asr restore -source /Volumes/esd/BaseSystem.dmg -target /Volumes/MyVolume -noprompt -noverify -erase

4. To finish and fix installation issues, run these commands:

diskutil rename OS\ X\ Base\ System Install\ El\ Capitan
rm /Volumes/Install\ El\ Capitan/System/Installation/Packages
cp -rp /Volumes/esd/Packages /Volumes/Install\ El\ Capitan/System/Installation
cp -rp /Volumes/esd/BaseSystem.chunklist /Volumes/Install\ El\ Capitan/
cp -rp /Volumes/esd/BaseSystem.dmg /Volumes/Install\ El\ Capitan/
hdiutil detach /Volumes/esd
sudo bless --folder /Volumes/Install\ El\ Capitan/System/Library/CoreServices --label Install\ El\ Capitan
cp /Volumes/Install\ El\ Capitan/Install\ OS\ X\ El\ Capitan.app/Contents/Resources/InstallAssistant.icns /Volumes/Install\ El\ Capitan/.VolumeIcon.icns
cd "$HOME"
rm -r /tmp/El\ Capitan
diskutil eject Install\ El\ Capitan

5. Insert the USB drive on Machine needed reinstall.

Resources

https://apple.stackexchange.com/a/389830
https://appstorrent.ru/602-os-x-el-capitan.html

The first line below „4.“ should be:

diskutil rename OS\ X\ Base\ System Install\ El\ Capitan

Thanks for this! This saved my day with my old mid-2009 macbook pro 🤓

The first line below „4.“ should be:

diskutil rename OS\ X\ Base\ System Install\ El\ Capitan

And indeed, yes, this should be included too in the commands

The first line below „4.“ should be:

diskutil rename OS\ X\ Base\ System Install\ El\ Capitan

Ah, missed it... Updated the gist now. Danke, @js32 !

Thanks, worked like a charm for restoring an old iMac 2008 with a corrupted recovery partition!

Many thanks from me too. I have brought my MacBook Pro from 2009 back to life.