jakeajames

if [ $# != 2 ]; then
    echo "Usage: $0 /path/to/input_ipa /path/to/output_ipa"
    exit 1
fi

if ! [ -f $1 ]; then
    echo "'$1' does not exist"
    exit 1
fi

darwin

Today I wanted to move existing APFS-resident macOS Catalina installation to a new disk. I upgraded my late 2014 Mac Mini with a shiny new 1TB SSD. This took way too many hours of my life I will never get back. Hope this saves some time to you.

Good news:

1. it is possible to create a DMG image from existing APFS container with macOS Catalina installation including metadata needed for complete restore (the DMG contains OS, OS Data, Preboot, Recovery and VM volumes)
2. it is possible to restore this DMG image into empty APFS container and get a bootable copy of the original system

This information is relevant for Catalina (I'm currently running macOS 10.15.1).

P1kachu

#include <string.h>
#include <stdlib.h>
#include <unistd.h>
#include <mach-o/dyld.h>
#include <mach-o/nlist.h>
#include <mach-o/dyld_images.h>
#include <mach/mach_vm.h>

/* Dyld is the OSX Dynamic Linker
 * /usr/include//mach-o/loader.h

toxuin

/sbin/fsck -fy
mount -uw /

launchctl load /System/Library/LaunchDaemons/com.apple.notifyd.plist
launchctl load /System/Library/LaunchDaemons/com.apple.configd.plist
launchctl load /System/Library/LaunchDaemons/com.apple.diskmanagementd.plist
launchctl load /System/Library/LaunchDaemons/com.apple.securityd.plist
launchctl load /System/Library/LaunchDaemons/com.apple.diskarbitrationd.plist

diskutil rename Macintosh_HD Macintosh\ HD