[Help] BaseBinaries Clone Method not working for High Sierra USB Installer

[Kyler]

Hello! I'm having issues using the basebinaries method to create a macOS USB installer. I'm aware createinstallmedia can be used in most cases, but it won't work in mine as far as I know because I need to not have a recovery partition. I'm doing a reinstall of macOS on my desktop multi-boot and so there is a real limit when it comes to space; the original never had a recovery partition and I don't want one now (this drive is already partitioned all over).

Spoiler

Last login: Tue Oct 17 05:13:14 on ttys000

Kyler:~ Kyle$ mkdir /tmp/install_esd

mkdir: /tmp/install_esd: File exists

Kyler:~ Kyle$ hdiutil attach "/Applications/Install macOS High Sierra.app/Contents/SharedSupport/InstallESD.dmg" -readonly -mountpoint /tmp/install_esd -nobrowse

/dev/disk3          GUID_partition_scheme         

/dev/disk3s1        EFI                           

/dev/disk3s2        Apple_HFS                      /private/tmp/install_esd

Kyler:~ Kyle$ sudo asr restore --source /tmp/install_esd/BaseSystem.dmg --target /Volumes/install_macOS -erase --format HFS+ --noprompt

Password:

Validating target...done

Validating source...

Could not recognize "/tmp/install_esd/BaseSystem.dmg" as an image file

done

Note: checksumming turned off due to format argument

Could not retrieve scan information - Invalid argument

Kyler:~ Kyle$

My issue is that I can't get past the "mount InstallESD.dmg in installer package" step. When I try to go through with the "restore it to target" step I get that error.

P.S. My USB is named install_macOS not install_OSX, explaining why it's like that.

RehabMan's Original Instructions for BaseBinaries Method:

Spoiler

# temporary directory
mkdir /tmp/install_esd

# mount InstallESD.dmg in installer package
hdiutil attach "/Applications/Install OS X El Capitan.app/Contents/SharedSupport/InstallESD.dmg" -readonly -mountpoint /tmp/install_esd -nobrowse

# restore it to target
sudo asr restore --source /tmp/install_esd/BaseSystem.dmg  --target /Volumes/install_osx -erase --format HFS+ --noprompt

# rename the target to be less unwieldy
diskutil rename "OS X Base System" install_osx

# remove Packages symlink
rm /Volumes/install_osx/System/Installation/Packages

# copy Packages as folder
cp -a /tmp/install_esd/Packages /Volumes/install_osx/System/Installation

# copy BaseSystem.dmg
cp -a /tmp/install_esd/BaseSystem.dmg /tmp/install_esd/BaseSystem.chunklist /Volumes/install_osx

# unmount InstallESD.dmg
hdiutil detach /tmp/install_esd

# remove temporary directory
rmdir /tmp/install_esd

Help would be very appreciated!

 

[RehabMan]

Hello! I'm having issues using the basebinaries method to create a macOS USB installer. I'm aware createinstallmedia can be used in most cases, but it won't work in mine as far as I know because I need to not have a recovery partition. I'm doing a reinstall of macOS on my desktop multi-boot and so there is a real limit when it comes to space; the original never had a recovery partition and I don't want one now (this drive is already partitioned all over).

Spoiler

Last login: Tue Oct 17 05:13:14 on ttys000

Kyler:~ Kyle$ mkdir /tmp/install_esd

mkdir: /tmp/install_esd: File exists

Kyler:~ Kyle$ hdiutil attach "/Applications/Install macOS High Sierra.app/Contents/SharedSupport/InstallESD.dmg" -readonly -mountpoint /tmp/install_esd -nobrowse

/dev/disk3          GUID_partition_scheme        

/dev/disk3s1        EFI                          

/dev/disk3s2        Apple_HFS                      /private/tmp/install_esd

Kyler:~ Kyle$ sudo asr restore --source /tmp/install_esd/BaseSystem.dmg --target /Volumes/install_macOS -erase --format HFS+ --noprompt

Password:

Validating target...done

Validating source...

Could not recognize "/tmp/install_esd/BaseSystem.dmg" as an image file

done

Note: checksumming turned off due to format argument

Could not retrieve scan information - Invalid argument

Kyler:~ Kyle$

My issue is that I can't get past the "mount InstallESD.dmg in installer package" step. When I try to go through with the "restore it to target" step I get that error.

P.S. My USB is named install_macOS not install_OSX, explaining why it's like that.

RehabMan's Original Instructions for BaseBinaries Method:

Spoiler

# temporary directory
mkdir /tmp/install_esd

# mount InstallESD.dmg in installer package
hdiutil attach "/Applications/Install OS X El Capitan.app/Contents/SharedSupport/InstallESD.dmg" -readonly -mountpoint /tmp/install_esd -nobrowse

# restore it to target
sudo asr restore --source /tmp/install_esd/BaseSystem.dmg  --target /Volumes/install_osx -erase --format HFS+ --noprompt

# rename the target to be less unwieldy
diskutil rename "OS X Base System" install_osx

# remove Packages symlink
rm /Volumes/install_osx/System/Installation/Packages

# copy Packages as folder
cp -a /tmp/install_esd/Packages /Volumes/install_osx/System/Installation

# copy BaseSystem.dmg
cp -a /tmp/install_esd/BaseSystem.dmg /tmp/install_esd/BaseSystem.chunklist /Volumes/install_osx

# unmount InstallESD.dmg
hdiutil detach /tmp/install_esd

# remove temporary directory
rmdir /tmp/install_esd

Help would be very appreciated!

Use createinstallmedia.
I have not re-written the basebinaries method instructions as required for 10.13 yet.

 

[Kyler]

Use createinstallmedia.
I have not re-written the basebinaries method instructions as required for 10.13 yet.

How can I use it without creating a recovery partition? The macOS partition on this computer is already small enough as is (which is why I never had a recovery partition for it in the first place)

^I can't rearrange the other partitions to make room for that, every other partition has data on it.

 

[RehabMan]

How can I use it without creating a recovery partition? The macOS partition on this computer is already small enough as is (which is why I never had a recovery partition for it in the first place)

^I can't rearrange the other partitions to make room for that, every other partition has data on it.

If you really think you need to, you can delete the recovery partition after installing, then expand the system volume into the empty space left.
Sounds rather like a waste of time to me (the recovery partition is not that large).

 

[Kyler]

If you really think you need to, you can delete the recovery partition after installing, then expand the system volume into the empty space left.
Sounds rather like a waste of time to me (the recovery partition is not that large).

Will it not interfere with the other partitions if it creates that one? What I'm worried about is it creating that since I have 4 partitions on the PC already (including the macOS one) and if it messes with any of them it'll be a hit.

 

[RehabMan]

Will it not interfere with the other partitions if it creates that one? What I'm worried about is it creating that since I have 4 partitions on the PC already (including the macOS one) and if it messes with any of them it'll be a hit.

I don't see why there should be a problem with it creating the recovery partition.
You should always have a good backup (and know how to restore).