How to Create A Bootable Installer For Macos El Capitan

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Mac OS X El Capitan is the twelfth major release of the Apple operating system for Mac computers. It was released in September 2015 and is still used by many Mac users today. If you want to perform a clean install of El Capitan or upgrade an older version of the operating system, you will need to create a bootable installer. This blog will provide you with detailed instructions on how to create a bootable installer for Mac OS X El Capitan.

Video Tutorial:

What’s Needed

To create a bootable installer for Mac OS X El Capitan, you will need the following:

  1. A Mac computer running OS X Yosemite or later
  2. A USB flash drive of at least 8GB in size
  3. The OS X El Capitan installer from the Mac App Store (which is free to download)

What Should I Pay Attention to?

Before starting, make sure that the USB flash drive you have is at least 8GB in size. It is also important to note that creating a bootable installer will erase all data on the USB flash drive, so make sure to back up any important files beforehand. Additionally, the process of creating a bootable installer will take some time, so make sure you have enough time to complete it.

Method 1: Using Disk Utility

Explanation:

Disk Utility is a built-in utility on Mac that can be used to create a bootable installer for Mac OS X El Capitan.

Steps:

  1. Connect the USB flash drive to your Mac computer.
  2. Open Disk Utility from the Utilities folder within the Applications folder.
  3. Select the USB flash drive in the list of drives on the left-hand side of the Disk Utility window.
  4. Click on the "Erase" tab at the top of the window.
  5. Choose "Mac OS Extended (Journaled)" as the format for the drive.
  6. Type a name for the drive in the "Name" field (e.g. "El Capitan Installer")
  7. Click on the "Erase" button to format the drive.
  8. Once the formatting process is complete, close Disk Utility.
  9. Download the El Capitan installer from the Mac App Store if you haven’t already.
  10. Open Terminal from the Utilities folder within the Applications folder.
  11. Type the following command into Terminal and press Enter:
    sudo /Applications/Install\ OS\ X\ El\ Capitan.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia --volume /Volumes/ElCapInstaller --applicationpath /Applications/Install\ OS\ X\ El\ Capitan.app --nointeraction

Pros:

  1. This method is relatively easy.
  2. It doesn’t require any third-party software.

Cons:

  1. This method requires the use of Terminal, which may be intimidating for some users.

Method 2: Using Third-Party Software

Explanation:

There are also third-party software options available that can be used to create a bootable installer for Mac OS X El Capitan, such as DiskMaker X and UniBeast.

Steps:

Please note that the steps for this method will vary depending on which software you choose to use.

Pros:

  1. Some third-party software options offer a more user-friendly interface than Terminal.
  2. These options may offer additional features such as creating a bootable installer for multiple versions of OS X.

Cons:

  1. Third-party software can sometimes be unreliable and may contain viruses or malware.
  2. Some third-party software options may cost money.
  3. These methods are more complex than using Disk Utility.

Method 3: Using Another Mac Computer

Explanation:

If you have access to another Mac computer running El Capitan or later and you have a USB flash drive, you can use this method to create a bootable installer.

Steps:

  1. Connect the USB flash drive to the other Mac computer.
  2. Download the El Capitan installer from the Mac App Store if you haven’t already.
  3. Open Disk Utility from the Utilities folder within the Applications folder.
  4. Select the USB flash drive in the list of drives on the left-hand side of the Disk Utility window.
  5. Click on the "Erase" tab at the top of the window.
  6. Choose "Mac OS Extended (Journaled)" as the format for the drive.
  7. Type a name for the drive in the "Name" field (e.g. "El Capitan Installer")
  8. Click on the "Erase" button to format the drive.
  9. Once the formatting process is complete, close Disk Utility.
  10. Open the Terminal application from the Utilities folder within the Applications folder.
  11. Type the following command into Terminal and press Enter:
    /Applications/Install\ OS\ X\ El\ Capitan.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia --volume /Volumes/ElCapInstaller --applicationpath /Applications/Install\ OS\ X\ El\ Capitan.app --nointeraction
  12. Press the Enter key and follow the on-screen instructions to create the bootable installer on the USB flash drive.

Pros:

  1. This method doesn’t require any additional software.
  2. If you have access to another Mac computer, this method can be quicker than others.

Cons:

  1. You need access to another Mac computer.
  2. This method may take some time to complete.

Why Can’t I Create A Bootable Installer for Mac OS X El Capitan?

  1. You may not have a USB flash drive of sufficient size for the installer.
  2. You may not have downloaded the El Capitan installer from the Mac App Store.
  3. Your Mac computer may not be running Yosemite or later.

Suggestions

Before creating a bootable installer, make sure to back up any important data on your USB flash drive. Also, make sure to have enough time set aside to complete the process. Lastly, consider using Disk Utility as it is the easiest and most reliable method for creating a bootable installer for Mac OS X El Capitan.

FAQs

Q: Can I use a DVD instead of a USB flash drive?

A: No, El Capitan cannot be installed via DVD.

Q: How long does it take to create a bootable installer using Disk Utility?

A: This process can take 20-30 minutes or longer depending on the speed of your computer and USB flash drive.

Q: Do I need to keep the bootable installer after installing El Capitan?

A: No, once you’ve installed El Capitan, you don’t need to keep the bootable installer.

Q: Why do I need to create a bootable installer?

A: You may want to perform a clean install of El Capitan or upgrade an older version of the operating system. A bootable installer is necessary to do this.

Q: Can I use a third-party app to create the bootable installer?

A: Yes, there are third-party apps available, such as DiskMaker X and UniBeast, which allow for the creation of a bootable installer. However, these methods are more complicated than using Disk Utility and may not be as reliable.