Hi, I’m Serge Siou and Welcome to MacStudioA.
This is Part 1 of three screencast from our Blueprint Series.
In Part 1, we'll be showing you how to create a Mac OS X USB Boot Disk..
Then, in Part 2, we'll be showing you how to create a Mac OS X System Image File.
And finally, in Part 3, we'll be putting it all together, using Parts 1 & 2.
So on to Part 1: Creating A Mac OS X USB Boot Disk.
Some reasons why you might need to create a boot disk, might be that, you might need
to perform a clean install of Mountain Lion on a Mac Intel Based System.
Or, alternatevely, you might need to install Mountain Lion on another Intel Based Mac System
or Systems that you might have.
And finally, and my personal favorite, restoring a Mountain Lion System Image File, and which
we'll be demonstrating in Part 3.
Okay...Let's Get Started.
"What You'll need"
An Intel Based Mac System.
An 8 Gigabyte USB Flash Drive (Make sure to save all data as it will be
erased when the USB Boot Disk is created).
And finally, a copy of OS X Mountain Lion. Check your Applications Folder to see if it's
there, that's usually where it's downloaded to, you need the install file.
Launch the Mac App Store and check your Purchases Tab to see if you've got one available to
download. If not, you need to make a purchase. Whatever the case, you need a copy of OS X
Mountain Lion to continue.
As always, don't forget to make a backup of your hard drive or hard drives, just in case
something goes wrong. As you know, human error prevails.
So; Assuming you got a copy of Mountain Lion, navigate to its location, goto Finder and
go to the Applications Folder, this is normally where the Mac App Store installs the Mac operating
system of Mountain Lion.
Right Click on the Icon and where it say "Show Package Contents", click on that.
Then Double-click on the Contents Folder, and finally, Double-click on the SharedSupport
Folder. What we are looking for is the InstallESD.dmg file.
Next, we need to launch the Disk Utility Program. Go to Launchpad then in the Other Directory
or Folder
and click on Disk Utility.
Once launched, we need to insert our 8 gig USB Disk.
Once done, go to the Disk Utility and make sure that your 8 GigaByte USB Disk is selected.
Click where it says Erase, then go down the "Erase Button" and confirm.
A dialogue box will come up, just click Erase. This will normally take 10 to 15 seconds.
Once completed, we now need to partition the USB Disk.
Go to the Partition Tab, and wait a few seconds for that to load.
Then in the Drop-down list, choose 1 Partition.
Then click the Options Button, to make sure that the GUID Partition Table is selected.
As this is an Intel Based Mac, it's done for you by default.
Click Ok to confirm and then click Apply.
And finally, click the Partition Button to partition it.
This again will take 10-15 seconds.
Once completed, we need to restore or copy the Mac operating or Mountain Lion Operating
system onto the USB disk.
Click on the Restore Tab,
then, MAKE SURE that the Untitled 1 we just Partitioned is highlighted,
Then; remember the SharedSupport folder we just opened earlier,
well, locate the InstallESD.dmg file and click and drag it to the Source Area of the Disk
Utility window.
Next; click and drag the Untitled 1 to the Destination location.
Once done, click the Restore Button, then you'll be promted with a Dialogue box, click
Erase, then you'll be promted to enter your Admin and Password details.
Do so, and the Mountain Lion Operation System will be copied onto the USB Disk.
It indicated that it'll take about 1Hr and 8 mins, but in my case, it took only 16 minutes.
We'll now time lapse it by 8000% so that you don't have to wait for the 16 minutes.
Once completed, a dialogue box or window will open up, showing the name of the USB disk
and all it's contents, which is "Mac OS X Install ESD", as you can see here.
Now all we need to do is just close all opened windows and eject the USB Boot Disk.
That takes care of Part 1, hope you join us in Part 2, where we'll be showing you How
To Create A System Image File.
And finally, in Part 3 we'll be putting it all together.
As always, your feedback is important, if there's anything that you don't understand
or you have a question, please leave them in the comments below.
Until then, see you in Part 2, Peace.