Installing OSX on the Only Mac in the House...

Zarathustra[H]

Zarathustra[H]

Extremely [H]
Joined
Oct 29, 2000
Messages
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Here's the problem I have..

I cracked open a MacBook Pro, (the only mac in the house) after it recently was unable to boot. Using linux parted on my desktop I was able to repair the HFS+ partition to the point where I could back up the files, but it is still not bootable. I am taking this as an opportunity for a fresh install.

Problem. I have a .dmg image of Snow Leopard, but I don't have anything to burn it to a DVD with, or to put it on a bootable USB drive with.

In OSX burning a .dmg to a DVD is easy. It is also easy to use Disk Utility to transfer the files from the DMG to a bootable USB drive. I don't have a working OSX machine though...

Is there any way from Linux or Windows 7, I can burn the DMG file or transfer it to a bootable USB drive, so I can install it on the mac?

Thank you,
Matt
 
Yes, you can do it in windows. I think you can just rename the .dmg to a .iso and then burn it.
If not then there is other software that can do it. MagicIso I think.
 
The DMG format is not the same as the ISO format and can't simply be renamed. You can use PowerISO or MagicISO to convert it. Both are fucking terrible programs, but they'll work.
 
Why not just go out and buy an 8GB thumb drive for $30 or $40? That seems like it would be the easiest method.
 
dmw16 said:
Why not just go out and buy an 8GB thumb drive for $30 or $40? That seems like it would be the easiest method.
Click to expand...

Because I'd need another mac with Disk Utility in order to make the thumb drive bootable and write the DMG to it.

The problem here is not the drive, (I have a few of those) but the fact that Apples proprietary formats don't work on other computers.
 
Zarathustra[H];1037133016 said:
Because I'd need another mac with Disk Utility in order to make the thumb drive bootable and write the DMG to it.

The problem here is not the drive, (I have a few of those) but the fact that Apples proprietary formats don't work on other computers.
Click to expand...

I think you can just put the dmg on the thumbdrive and plug it in. Then as the machine (Apple) boots hold down the option key to bring up the boot menu. One choice should be your thumb drive.
 
dmw16 said:
I think you can just put the dmg on the thumbdrive and plug it in. Then as the machine (Apple) boots hold down the option key to bring up the boot menu. One choice should be your thumb drive.
Click to expand...

I was under the impression that Disk Utility had to do something special to the thumb drive in order to make it bootable on a mac...

something like this...
 
Zarathustra[H];1037133120 said:
I was under the impression that Disk Utility had to do something special to the thumb drive in order to make it bootable on a mac...

something like this...
Click to expand...

I think that's if you want it to auto boot to the thumb drive. Try holding down option while the macbook boots up w/ a thumb drive in the port containing the dmg.

You could also always just buy another copy of OSX. They are only $50 so if you need to recover the computer and nothing else works there's at least always that.
 
Yeah I had the same issue. Stupid ass DMG files.

I tried the PowerISO/MagicISO route and it failed miserably for me, but who knows...it is supposed to work.

I ended up downloading an OSX VM Ware virtual machine I found that had just the disk utility on it and was able to use that. It was slow as hell going through the VM, but worked. I looked quick but could not find it again.

It would be so much easier if apple would just let you download a disk utility ISO.
 
try slysofts "clone dvd" or a combination of that and "virtual clone drive"

I think 21day trial will be good enough
 
Maximus825 said:
A trip to the Apple Store and $30 later, you'll have an install DVD...
Click to expand...

Really don't feel like I ought to pay for a disc of something I already own the rights to use (because it came with the mac)

Besides... I thought the $30 was for the Snow Leopard "upgrade" only.
 
If it came with the Mac, you should already have a Snow Leopard installation disc.

There is no 'upgrade' version of Snow Leopard — you can install it on any compatible Mac regardless of what OS is on it currently or if there's any OS on it all. It's the equivalent of a full version of Windows.
 
phide said:
If it came with the Mac, you should already have a Snow Leopard installation disc.
Click to expand...

That's what I thought, but my fiancé (her mac) claims no disc came with it. She even found the box it came in, but no disc. (I'm guessing its just lost :p )
 
I have the same problem, has the OP found a solution?

At this point I am trying to burn a .dmg copy of snow leopard to my 16GB USB drive (DVD drive on iMac doesn't work)
 
Ambushed said:
I have the same problem, has the OP found a solution?

At this point I am trying to burn a .dmg copy of snow leopard to my 16GB USB drive (DVD drive on iMac doesn't work)
Click to expand...

Uhh..

I did find a solution. It was a proprietary program with a 30 day trial, but now I can't remember which one it was.

It worked though :p Sorry for the lack of info.

I tried another one first which was freeware, but it essentially burned a coaster. it only burned the portion of the OSX install disk that contained windows drivers for bootcamp installs, and left out the rest of the disc.
 
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