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How to Create a Bootable OS X Mountain Lion USB Install Key

How to Create a Bootable OS X Mountain Lion USB Install Key

Posted July 25, 2012 at 6:31pm by iClarified
These are instructions on how to create a bootable OS X Mountain Lion USB key.

Step One
Connect a 8GB or larger USB key to your computer then launch the Mac App Store from your dock.
How to Create a Bootable OS X Mountain Lion USB Install Key

Step Two
Click the Purchased tab at top of the window then hold down the Option key and click the Purchased tab again.
How to Create a Bootable OS X Mountain Lion USB Install Key


**If you have not yet installed Mountain Lion then you can follow these instructions to buy it and begin downloading.

Step Three
Press the Install button for OS X Mountain Lion and wait while the operating system downloads. If the LaunchPad appears press the Escape key.
How to Create a Bootable OS X Mountain Lion USB Install Key

Step Four
Once the download has completed the Mac OS X Lion Installer will launch. Select Quit from the Install Mac OS X Lion to exit the installer.

Step Five
Click to launch a new Finder window from your dock.
How to Create a Bootable OS X Mountain Lion USB Install Key

Step Six
Navigate to the Applications folder and right click the new "Install OS X Mountain Lion" icon then select Show Package Contents from the contextual menu.
How to Create a Bootable OS X Mountain Lion USB Install Key

How to Create a Bootable OS X Mountain Lion USB Install Key

Step Seven
Double click the Contents folder.
How to Create a Bootable OS X Mountain Lion USB Install Key

Step Eight
Then double click the SharedSupport folder
How to Create a Bootable OS X Mountain Lion USB Install Key

Step Nine
Right click or 'Control' click InstallESD.dmg and select Disk Utility from the Open With menu.
How to Create a Bootable OS X Mountain Lion USB Install Key

How to Create a Bootable OS X Mountain Lion USB Install Key How to Create a Bootable OS X Mountain Lion USB Install Key

Step Ten
Select your USB thumb drive from the list on the left and click the Partition tab.
How to Create a Bootable OS X Mountain Lion USB Install Key

Step Eleven
Set the Partition Layout to 1 Partition, set the Name to 'MOUNTAINLION', set the Format to Mac OS Extended (Journaled), and then click the Options button.
How to Create a Bootable OS X Mountain Lion USB Install Key

Step Twelve
Choose GUID Partition Table from the popup window then click the OK button.
How to Create a Bootable OS X Mountain Lion USB Install Key

Step Thirteen
Next click the Apply button to save your changes.
How to Create a Bootable OS X Mountain Lion USB Install Key

When asked to confirm click the Partition button.
How to Create a Bootable OS X Mountain Lion USB Install Key

Step Fourteen
Right click or control-click the InstallESD.dmg image from the left side of Disk Utility and choose Open Disk Image from the popup. Select the new Mac OS X Install ESD partition that appears then click the Restore tab.
How to Create a Bootable OS X Mountain Lion USB Install Key

Step Fifteen
Make sure the Mac OS X Install ESD is set as the Source then drag the MOUNTAINLION partition from the list on the left into the Destination field.
How to Create a Bootable OS X Mountain Lion USB Install Key

Step Sixteen
Click the Restore button then click the Erase button from the confirmation popup to begin building your install key.
How to Create a Bootable OS X Mountain Lion USB Install Key

Another popup will appear asking you to log in. Enter your administrative username and password then click OK.
How to Create a Bootable OS X Mountain Lion USB Install Key

Step Seventeen
When the restore is complete the OS X Mountain Lion USB Install Key will be mounted and it will be ready to use.
How to Create a Bootable OS X Mountain Lion USB Install Key
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Comments (14)
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Suhailyosuf
Suhailyosuf - January 28, 2013 at 4:58pm
Gooooood
ebrahim99
ebrahim99 - July 27, 2012 at 12:31am
why we not use master boot record?
ior
ior - July 26, 2012 at 5:45pm
I read the whole article but, could someone tell me what is the purpose of creating this Bootable USB? I am waiting for apple to send me my code for the upgrade and would like to know what is this about before I upgrade my OS. Thanks in advance!
Soulpa7ch
Soulpa7ch - July 27, 2012 at 5:52am
Having a USB installer is useful for several reasons. Two that come immediately to mind are: 1) It allows you to install Mountain Lion on a computer that is not connected to the internet. 2) It allows you to install or reinstall Mountain Lion on one or more computers, without having to re-download the entire multi-gigabyte image file each time, and for each computer.
Sh Varu
Sh Varu - July 26, 2012 at 10:10am
I have a MacBoom Pro with OSX Lion. How to do a clean install of Mountain Lion ? Please help me.
Gio
Gio - July 25, 2012 at 9:38pm
Everything went just like described, but when I reboot from the Bootable disk, to do a clean install of Mountain Lion, I get a message saying |There was a problem installing "Mac OS X". Try reinstalling.| Did anyone encounter the same problem and does someone have a solution? Thanks. Gr, Gio
Gio
Gio - July 25, 2012 at 11:28pm
Oké, I think I already know what the problem was. I was already running the GM of Mountain Lion, that could be it. So I downgraded first and am installing it now. Thanks anyways. Gr, Gio
Pedro
Pedro - July 25, 2012 at 8:43pm
Sorry but my question isn´t about this topic. Someone know if was fixed the issue when using fullscreen apps on dual displays? I going to buy another display for my Mac but on Lion we can´t use an app in fullscreen mode and get the another display free for use.
tdtran1025
tdtran1025 - July 25, 2012 at 8:58pm
Depends on what video card your Mac has. If the card supports it, yes. Best display: 27".
NoGoodNick
NoGoodNick - July 25, 2012 at 7:14pm
Yea just use a USB stick.
Tim
Tim - July 25, 2012 at 8:55pm
Thanks nick.
NoGoodNick
NoGoodNick - July 25, 2012 at 10:54pm
Any time
Tim
Tim - July 25, 2012 at 7:01pm
So would I be able to use this on any machine I chose?
NoGoodNick
NoGoodNick - July 25, 2012 at 6:43pm
Create huh. What where . Forever yours Nick
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