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startergo/How to Download Full MacOS Installers

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How to Download Full MacOS Installer from Mac Command Line
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How to Download Full MacOS Installers
// Mac OS Big Sur 11.2.3:
http://swcdn.apple.com/content/downloads/12/32/071-14766-A_Q2H6ELXGVG/zx8saim8tei7fezrmvu4vuab80m0e8a5ll/InstallAssistant.pkg
// Mac OS Catalina 10.15:
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/macos-catalina/id1466841314?ls=1&mt=12
// Mac OS Mojave 10.14:
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/macos-mojave/id1398502828?ls=1&mt=12
// Mac OS High Sierra 10.13:
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/macos-high-sierra/id1246284741?ls=1&mt=12
// MacOS Sierra 10.12:
http://updates-http.cdn-apple.com/2019/cert/061-39476-20191023-48f365f4-0015-4c41-9f44-39d3d2aca067/InstallOS.dmg
// OS X El Capitan 10.11:
http://updates-http.cdn-apple.com/2019/cert/061-41424-20191024-218af9ec-cf50-4516-9011-228c78eda3d2/InstallMacOSX.dmg
// OS X Yosemite 10.10:
http://updates-http.cdn-apple.com/2019/cert/061-41343-20191023-02465f92-3ab5-4c92-bfe2-b725447a070d/InstallMacOSX.dmg
// OS X Mavericks 10.9
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/id675248567?mt=12
// Install mas-cli:
brew install mas
// Or with MacPorts:
sudo port install mas
// Download Mavericks with mas-cli. Previous download may be required:
mas install 675248567
// OS X Mountain Lion 10.8:
https://support.apple.com/kb/DL2076?locale=en_US
// OS X Lion 10.7:
https://support.apple.com/kb/DL2077?locale=en_US
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startergo commented Jan 1, 2021 •
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  • Download the full macOS Catalina installer in Catalina:
softwareupdate --fetch-full-installer --full-installer-version 10.15.7
  • Downloading Full MacOS Mojave 10.14.6 Installer Application in Catalina:
softwareupdate --fetch-full-installer --full-installer-version 10.14.6
  • Downloading Full MacOS High Sierra 10.13.6 Installer Application in Catalina:
softwareupdate --fetch-full-installer --full-installer-version 10.13.6

pkgutil --check-signature /Applications/Install\ macOS\ Catalina.app 
Package "Install macOS Catalina":
   Status: signed by a certificate trusted by macOS
   Certificate Chain:
    1. Software Signing
       Expires: 2021-04-12 22:34:35 +0000
       SHA256 Fingerprint:
           2A A4 B9 97 3B 7B A0 7A DD 44 7E E4 DA 8B 53 37 C3 EE 2C 3A 99 19 
           11 E8 0E 72 82 E8 A7 51 FC 32
       ------------------------------------------------------------------------
    2. Apple Code Signing Certification Authority
       Expires: 2026-10-24 17:39:41 +0000
       SHA256 Fingerprint:
           5B DA B1 28 8F C1 68 92 FE F5 0C 65 8D B5 4F 1E 2E 19 CF 8F 71 CC 
           55 F7 7D E2 B9 5E 05 1E 25 62
       ------------------------------------------------------------------------
    3. Apple Root CA
       Expires: 2035-02-09 21:40:36 +0000
       SHA256 Fingerprint:
           B0 B1 73 0E CB C7 FF 45 05 14 2C 49 F1 29 5E 6E DA 6B CA ED 7E 2C 
           68 C5 BE 91 B5 A1 10 01 F0 24
  • If you have installers for 10.9 Mavericks, 10.8 Mountain Lion, and 10.7 Lion check their certificates:
pkgutil --check-signature /path/to/installer/app
  • And set the clock in terminal prior to that date:
  • To change the date from Terminal (which is likely all that will be accessible), follow these steps, which sets it to February 1st 2016 for example:
    In the installer, choose Utilities > Terminal.
    Enter:
 sudo date 0201010116
  • Quit Terminal and continue the install.

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT211683

  • Createinstallmedia Yosemite. Make sure the downloaded installer package is installed in the Applications folder.
    Prepare an 8GB USB drive labeled Untitled:
sudo /Applications/Install\ OS\ X\ Yosemite.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia --volume /Volumes/Untitled --applicationpath /Applications/Install\ OS\ X\ Yosemite.app --nointeraction
  • Createinstallmedia Mavericks. Make sure the downloaded installer package is installed in the Applications folder.
    Prepare an 8GB USB drive labeled Untitled:
sudo /Applications/Install\ OS\ X\ Mavericks.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia --volume /Volumes/Untitled --applicationpath /Applications/Install\ OS\ X\ Mavericks.app --nointeraction

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startergo commented Feb 20, 2021 •
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Create a bootable installer for OS X

With OS X El Capitan, Yosemite, or Mavericks, you can use a USB flash drive or other removable media as a startup disk from which to install OS X.

These advanced steps are intended primarly for system administrators and others who are familiar with the command line.
Use the 'createinstallmedia' command in Terminal

  • Download the OS X installer from the Mac App Store. Quit the installer if it opens automatically after downloading. The installer will be in your Applications folder.

  • Mount your USB flash drive or other volume. You could also use a secondary internal partition.

  • Open the Terminal app, which is in the Utilities folder of your Applications folder.

  • Use the createinstallmedia command in Terminal to create the bootable installer. Examples of this command are in the next section. For detailed usage instructions, make sure that the appropriate Install OS X app is in your Applications folder, then enter one of the following paths in Terminal:

  • Path for High Sierra:
    /Applications/Install\ macOS\ High\ Sierra.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia

  • Path for El Capitan:
    /Applications/Install\ OS\ X\ El\ Capitan.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia

  • Path for Yosemite:
    /Applications/Install\ OS\ X\ Yosemite.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia

  • Path for Mavericks:
    Applications/Install\ OS\ X\ Mavericks.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia

  • Examples

This is the basic syntax of the command. Replace volumepath with the path to your USB flash drive or other volume, and replace installerpath with the path to the Install OS X app.
createinstallmedia --volume volumepath --applicationpath installerpath

  • The following examples assume that the OS X installer is in your Applications folder and the name of your USB flash drive or other volume is MyVolume:
  • Example for High Sierra:
sudo /Applications/Install\ macOS\ High\ Sierra.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia --volume /Volumes/MyVolume
  • Example for El Capitan:
sudo /Applications/Install\ OS\ X\ El\ Capitan.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia --volume /Volumes/MyVolume --applicationpath /Applications/Install\ OS\ X\ El\ Capitan.app
  • Example for Yosemite:
sudo /Applications/Install\ OS\ X\ Yosemite.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia --volume /Volumes/MyVolume --applicationpath /Applications/Install\ OS\ X\ Yosemite.app
  • Example for Mavericks:
sudo /Applications/Install\ OS\ X\ Mavericks.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia --volume /Volumes/MyVolume --applicationpath /Applications/Install\ OS\ X\ Mavericks.app

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