Problem creating bootable USB

[Sawday]

I'm trying to create a bootable USB with OSX 10.13 (High Sierra) in order to use this as an alternative to Ventura on my 2020 iMac to allow old legacy apps to run. I have downloaded the appropriate installer dmg to my old , but failing, iMac running High Sierra and have a formatted USB connected. However, when I run the installer I get the message The recovery server could not be contacted. I am unable to download the installer app on my 2020 iMac as it states that the computer is incompatible.

Is there any other way for me to create a bootable USB with High Sierra?

 

[Sawday]

More info: I've been trying using the Terminal commands as follows but constantly get error messages...

sudo /applications/install\ macOS\ High\ Sierra.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia --volume/Volumes/HSNew

Where HSNew is the name of my formatted USB.

I'm not knowledgeable in the use of Terminal - the above was copied and edited as best I understood from another site. A little (or no!) knowledge is a dangerous thing!

 

[Raz0rEdge]

The 2020 iMac came with Catalina, you cannot install an older version of macOS than what it came with. Thus the error.

 

[Sawday]

The 2020 iMac came with Catalina, you cannot install an older version of macOS than what it came with. Thus the error.

I'm not trying to do that. I'm wanting to create a bootable USB with High Sierra on so I can swop to that to run apps that won't run under Ventura. The error is occurring on my 2011 iMac, running High Sierra when I try to create the USB.

 

[Raz0rEdge]

I'm trying to create a bootable USB with OSX 10.13 (High Sierra) in order to use this as an alternative to Ventura on my 2020 iMac to allow old legacy apps to run.

This is what you said in your first post, so you want to run High Sierra on your 2020 iMac instead of Ventura? If so, even if you create the installation media successfully, the 2020 iMac will not be able to use it.

The bootable USB doesn't allow you to run High Sierra from the USB, it allows you to install it on a machine. It isn't a live USB that you can boot/operate from.

 

[Rod]

I get that your problem is creating the bootable USB drive with your 2011 iMac but before we tackle that issue you need to know that your 2020 iMac will not run on High Sierra.

 

[Rod]

You beat me to it by a minute RazOrEdge.

 

[Rod]

Perhaps you are not trying to create a bootable macOS installer. Booting from that would just display a window like Recovery Mode. If you are trying to actually install High Sierra on a USB that will not work either.
You could try creating a bootable clone of your existing 2011 iMac but again I don't think it would run on your 2020 iMac but I can't be completely sure. In any case it would be a good way of saving your data and OS on your failing 2011 model.

 

[Sawday]

I do have a Clone copy of my 2011 iMac. In order to run legacy apps on my new (2020 iMac) I was advised initially to partition the hard drive on the iMac and then boot into the appropriate one. However, my 'hard drive' is an SSD which cannot be partitioned so I understand and I was advised to run High Sierra from an external drive or USB. I do not want to install High Sierra onto my 2022 iMac. Is the no other way to run Apps that will not run under Ventura on my new iMac? Some are no longer supported full stop, others like Photoshop Elements can be upgraded but are then chargeable on a subscription basis.

 

[pm-r]

I do have a Clone copy of my 2011 iMac. In order to run legacy apps on my new (2020 iMac) I was advised initially to partition the hard drive on the iMac and then boot into the appropriate one. However, my 'hard drive' is an SSD which cannot be partitioned so I understand and I was advised to run High Sierra from an external drive or USB.

It sounds like you have been given some rather confusing and inaccurate advice or you misunderstood what they were explaining, and if you really want or need to run legacy apps, you might want to consider just using your old 2011 iMac for such occasions you need to use them.

Either that, or come up with some other alternative method of doing whatever you want to do which might entail using different applications and other compatible software that will work on your 20/20 iMac.

Or maybe I am just misunderstanding your whole situation and what you are attempting to do. As others have said, there is no way in **** a 2020 iMac is going to run incompatible software only designed to run on a 2011 iMac.




- Patrick
=======

 

[krs]

I do have a Clone copy of my 2011 iMac. In order to run legacy apps on my new (2020 iMac) I was advised initially to partition the hard drive on the iMac and then boot into the appropriate one. However, my 'hard drive' is an SSD which cannot be partitioned so I understand and I was advised to run High Sierra from an external drive or USB.

You have been given wrong advice on more that one subject.
For one, as Patrick mentioned, you need a Mac that is compatible with High Sierra to run that macOS regardless if you're trying to run a clone on an external drive (or have HS on the internal drive) and telling you that an SSD cannot be partitioned is also wrong.

Going back to your original question, a bootable High Sierra USB installer does absolutely nothing for you unless you have a HS compatible Mac to boot from.
And since you do have a clone, with macOS High Sierra I assume, you can boot from that but only with a HS compatible Mac.

 

[ferrarr]

Is there any other way for me to create a bootable USB with High Sierra?

On your older iMac, you can use DiskMaker X to create a bootable USB installer.

DiskMaker X

diskmakerx.com

 

[Sawday]

It sounds like you have been given some rather confusing and inaccurate advice or you misunderstood what they were explaining, and if you really want or need to run legacy apps, you might want to consider just using your old 2011 iMac for such occasions you need to use them.

Either that, or come up with some other alternative method of doing whatever you want to do which might entail using different applications and other compatible software that will work on your 20/20 iMac.

Or maybe I am just misunderstanding your whole situation and what you are attempting to do. As others have said, there is no way in **** a 2020 iMac is going to run incompatible software only designed to run on a 2011 iMac.




- Patrick
=======

Actually Patrick the initial advice about using a bootable partition came from yourself in this thread: www.mac-forums.com/threads/seeking-an-alternative-to-canons-mp-navigator-software.377107/.

 

[Rod]

Sawday, is the clone you have bootable? You can try it on the 2011 iMac if you are unsure.
If so, I would suggest you look for an later model Mac, not necessarily 2011 but no later than 2017 that you could transfer your clone to.
It's a pretty simple process to erase an internal HD with the clone and (restore) your copy to it.

 

[krs]

Actually Patrick the initial advice about using a bootable partition came from yourself in this thread: www.mac-forums.com/threads/seeking-an-alternative-to-canons-mp-navigator-software.377107/.

You can partition any drive, including SSD, and you can install a different macOS on each partition, but the specific Mac you are using has to be compatible with each one of those operating systems that you installed on those partitions.
Your 2020 iMac for instance can run any macOS from 10.15.6 to the current one - so not High Sierra.
Your 2011 iMac can run any macOS from 10.6.8 to 10.13.x

BTW, what is the problem using your 2011 iMac to run the High Sierra clone you have? Something I missed?

 

[Rod]

I was going on Sawday's first post,"....my old , but failing, iMac running High Sierra....". I took that to mean it was not long for this world.
I dont know what failing means in this case but I wonder if repair is out of the question? Either way a bootable CCC clone would be a good idea if Sawday wants to keep using his 32bit apps.

 

[Sawday]

Thanks for your suggestions folks, but can I just say I do not have room on my desk for two 27" iMacs and having just purchased a 2020 iMac I do not wish to purchase another iMac. My 2011 iMac needs frequent reboots due to it locking up and often will not restart following an attempted reboot!

No-one has mentioned running VMWare Fusion or Parallels. Are they not options?

 

[ferrarr]

No-one has mentioned running VMWare Fusion or Parallels. Are they not options?

Yes, they are options, depending on what you plan on using them for?

I use VMWare Fusion Player 13 (Free for personal use) on my 2018 MBP. I haven't tried it on my Studio yet.

https://www.vmware.com/products/fusion.html

Then select the "Register to get your key now" link.

It won't hurt to try it. I don't know if Parallels offers a totally free version.

 

[Rod]

Sawday, I get that you don’t want a second desktop on your workspace but what about a laptop? You could feasibly transfer the data from your 2011 iMac to say a 2015 MBP using Migration Assistant with the option to upgrade as far as macOS Monterey and still run your 32bit apps.

 

[krs]

Yes, they are options, depending on what you plan on using them for?

According to post #1, sawday wants to install HS to be able to run Mac legacy software.
If that actually works, it would be a solution to run 32-bit apps on the new Macs.
But that issue has come up before many times and the solution to run 32-bit apps has always been to keep a Mac around that can run Mojave (last macOS to run 32-bit apps), never to use a virtual machine.