In previous articles I went through a lengthy method of creating a USB drive that could be used to install OS X Mavericks as well as a method that utilizes a simple Terminal command.
This method involves using a free Application called DiskMaker X. And what separates this method from the other methods that I wrote about is that this is incredibly simple.
#1 – Download OS X Mavericks
First things first, you need to download OS X Mavericks. This is a FREE download from Apple. Here’s link to it: OS X Mavericks
Next thing you need to do is download and install DiskMaker X
#2 – Make a Bootable USB drive with DiskMaker X.
Here’s a quick chart that I whipped together to show how incredibly simple it is to make a bootable USB drive for Mavericks with DiskMaker X.
- Once you open DiskMaker X you’ll be asked which version of OS X you want to install. Choose Mavericks.
- Next, DiskMaker X will scan your Applications folder for Mavericks. (When you download Mavericks from the App Store it will automatically be downloaded to your Applications folder.
- Make sure you USB Flash drive if plugged into your Mac. DiskMaker X will automatically find it.
- If you have more than one drive hooked into your Mac, you’ll be given the choice of which drive to install the Mavericks setup files on.
- Everything on the USB drive will be deleted so make sure there isn’t anything on it that you want to keep.
- Formatting the USB drive requires your password.
- Enter it and click the “OK” button.
- DiskMaker X will now start coping over all the required files. This can take quite a while since there will be Gigabytes of data being copied over.
- Congratulations you just created a working bootable copy of OS X Mavericks.
Now there are two ways of booting into the USB.
Choose one method:
1. Open System Preferences -> Startup Disk -> Select the USB drive -> Click the “Restart” button.
OR
2. While your Mac is restarting hold down the “alt” key on the keyboard and select the USB drive.
Hello
I tried to download the “free” DiskMakerX.dmg
Only to be told it can not be opened because it was not got from the App store.
I could not find in App store.
November 23, 2013 at 9:56 pmThat’s a security feature that Apple has chosen to have enabled by default. You can change it, even if only temporarily by opening System Preferences -> Security & Privacy -> “General” tab -> Set ‘Allow apps download from’ to “Anywhere”. Now you’ll be able to use the app.
Basically, that’s just a setting that Apple has set to only allow you to download/install apps that are available from the App Store. DiskMakerX.dmg is a perfectly fine piece of software but it’s blocked because you have that setting enabled.
November 23, 2013 at 10:37 pmI can’t beveile I’ve been going for years without knowing that.
April 19, 2016 at 5:13 pmI always get createinstallmedia: command not found
I moved OSinstall.mpkg by mistake and now I’m not sure where it goes. Could this be the problem?
Thanks.
November 26, 2013 at 4:56 amHey there Leon, moving the OSinstall.mpkg to a different location could be the cause of the issue. If you want to put it back were it belongs, I believe it’s proper location is /System/Installation/Packages.
November 26, 2013 at 10:25 amThanks for the help Damien.
I can’t seem to find /system/installation/packages………
I did a ‘show package contents’ and it isn’t there.
I’m a complete novice! Thanks for the help :-)
November 26, 2013 at 11:03 amHey Leon, you may be having issues with it simply because it’s a corrupt download. You could try re-downloading Mavericks, this would also negate the OSinstall.mpkg issue.
November 27, 2013 at 11:02 amYeah, I think that’s the best bet Damien.
Although, having read an article on Ars today and some of the comments, I think I may wait till 10.9.1.
It’s sounding a little glitchy at the moment.
I will just have a good system tidy up on ML, for now.
Thanks again for all the help.
Bookmarked :-)
November 27, 2013 at 1:31 pmHi Damien,
Are the instructions in this article (Easily Create a Mavericks Install USB drive with DiskMaker X) still viable?
Sincerely,
Angel
February 26, 2015 at 4:42 am