I am trying to create a bootable USB of Mountain lion using Sequoia 15.4.1

I was under the impression my late 2012 macbook pro that I am trying to get up and running again was on mojave. So after battling terminal and searching on google for errors, etc for two hours I finally created a bootable installer for Mojave... Bad news is my late 2012 was shipped with mountain lion.


I thought Id try again tonight so I downloaded mountain lion, I have the installer in my apps and Im running into the same problems but I cant seem to fix them this time. Can someone please explain step by step, thwe right code? Im starting to lose my mind a little on this.


Oh this was after being tosses around calling apple, who referred me to the apple store, who said they wont repair it, and blah blah blah.


this is what I did with mojave that worked but is not with mountain lion.


cd /Applications/Install\ macOS\ Mojave.app/Contents/Resources/

User@Mac-mini Resources % codesign -s - -f createinstallmedia


sudo /Applications/Install\ macOS\ Mojave.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia --volume /Volumes/usb


But this is what did it: Resources % sudo /Applications/Install\ macOS\ Mojave.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia --volumes /MyVolumes


well /content and /resources dont seem to exist for mountain lion? Im just so lost and confused. ANy help here?

Mac mini, macOS 15.4

Posted on May 11, 2025 12:59 AM

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Posted on May 11, 2025 03:09 AM

I don’t think there is any code. The createinstallmedia utility did not exist in installers prior to El Capitan. I doubt Apple injected it into the older installers they made available.

Is that Mac not able to boot up in internet recovery?

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6 replies

May 11, 2025 01:08 AM in response to Hi_Jinks

OPs' question " I am trying to create a bootable USB of Mountain lion using Sequoia 15.4.1 "


Not possible


To perform this action will require booting from a Bootable Installer


The Bootable Installer can Only be performed on an Apple Computer 


This will have to be performed from a Qualifying Computer to run the version of macOS to be made on the Bootable Installer.


Example : Bootable Installer of Mojave would have to be done on a computer that Qualifies to run Mojave.


Notation: If the computer being used to perform this action is Too New to qualify to run the version of macOS - this computer can’t be used.


Alternative is, to gain access to a Qualifying Apple Computer from a family member, friend or associate.



May 11, 2025 02:26 AM in response to Hi_Jinks

It's been a while since I created a bootable installer for Mountain Lion and AFAIR I then had to purchase it while it now seems to be more readily available.


There was an older slightly more convoluted method to create a bootable installer but here is the more recent method that worked in the past. But Apple might have changed the folder structure later so this might not apply anymore. And this might not work in the newer Sequoia Disk Utility especially when that Mac does not support Mountain Lion.


Copy the following file out: Install OS X Mountain Lion.app > Contents > Shared Support > InstallESD.dmg.

Open Disk Utility and select the Flash Drive device name (not its volume or partition). Select the Erase tab on the right and then set format to Mac OS Extended (Journaled) and GUID Partition Map.

Select the Flash Drive volume (not the device), select the Restore tab at the top and then select the InstallESD.dmg. Click Restore and wait for the restoration to finish.


If that does not work, you'd better ask here or some other forum:


https://discussions.apple.com/community/macos/earlier-os


May 11, 2025 08:07 AM in response to Hi_Jinks

This is going to be a mess, because the necessary gear here is lacking, and these old systems are really rather limited around “modern” features like recovery. Recovery prior to macOS 10.12.something is messy.


You can build a bootable installer, but you'll have to work at it. Start by a web search for the details specific to the macOS version. Maybe this: https://www.lifewire.com/create-bootable-copies-os-x-mountain-lion-installer-2260352


The downloads of the older OS X versions can be doubly-packed too, where you’ll have to download and then perform extra steps. And some of the older versions have broken certificates, which means altering the current date, or altering the installer itself.


The results of the install can be less than useful as well, as many modern websites won’t work that far back.


Mac OS X Mountain Lion Installer - Apple Support



As for the path I’d follow, if Recovery Command-Option-R doesn’t work, I’d download macOS 10.15, and then wipe. (Among the many wrinkles here is if the Mac is missing an older firmware update that macOS 10.15 doesn’t try to install.)


The other option for newer tools and newer browsers is BSD or Linux, which will probably boot and run here. macOs 10.15 is getting pretty old, and macOS 10.13 and earlier are getting progressively more problematic.

May 11, 2025 11:07 AM in response to Hi_Jinks

Maybe try Target Disk Mode and install from your other Mac.

On the old Mac, hold down the T key during Startup. Then, connected the two devices with a compatible cable/adapter.

Transfer files between two Mac computers using target disk mode - Apple Support

Once you mount the old Mac, you could try to install Mountain Lion or another version up to Catalina.

However, the Mac you are using to install the OS must be able to run that OS version.

This thread has been closed by the system or the community team. You may vote for any posts you find helpful, or search the Community for additional answers.

I am trying to create a bootable USB of Mountain lion using Sequoia 15.4.1

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