Category: Mac OS

Create bootable ISO for High Sierra Installer

I needed to create a High Sierra ISO for use with VirtualBox – which worked successfully.

The following method worked successfully on both Sierra and High Sierra systems.

The High Sierra installation files can be downloaded from the App Store when using a Mac or Hackintosh. I usually download a fresh copy of High Sierra after each update release from Apple.

Open Terminal with Spotlight, or by navigating to the Utilities | Applications folder and click the Terminal.app

Enter the following lines into Terminal to create the ISO for High Sierra. 

hdiutil create -o /tmp/HighSierra.cdr -size 5300m -layout SPUD -fs HFS+J

hdiutil attach /tmp/HighSierra.cdr.dmg -noverify -mountpoint /Volumes/install_build

sudo /Applications/Install\ macOS\ High\ Sierra.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia --volume /Volumes/install_build

mv /tmp/HighSierra.cdr.dmg ~/Desktop/InstallSystem.dmg

hdiutil detach /Volumes/Install\ macOS\ High\ Sierra

hdiutil convert ~/Desktop/InstallSystem.dmg -format UDTO -o ~/Desktop/HighSierra.iso

mv ~/Desktop/HighSierra.iso.cdr ~/Desktop/HighSierra.iso

A usable ISO should be created if no errors are encountered.

To use these commands in a script file, I would suggest using the && operator to chain the commands together. When the && operator is used the next command is run if and only if the preceding command exited without errors. 

hdiutil create -o /tmp/HighSierra.cdr -size 5300m -layout SPUD -fs HFS+J && hdiutil attach /tmp/HighSierra.cdr.dmg -noverify -mountpoint /Volumes/install_build && sudo /Applications/Install\ macOS\ High\ Sierra.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia --volume /Volumes/install_build && mv /tmp/HighSierra.cdr.dmg ~/Desktop/InstallSystem.dmg && hdiutil detach /Volumes/Install\ macOS\ High\ Sierra && hdiutil convert ~/Desktop/InstallSystem.dmg -format UDTO -o ~/Desktop/HighSierra.iso && mv ~/Desktop/HighSierra.iso.cdr ~/Desktop/HighSierra.iso

Create executable script files with Terminal.app

Open Terminal with Spotlight, or by navigating to the Utilities | Applications folder and clicking Terminal.app

Once Terminal is open, navigate to the location where the file is to be created. If you want to know your present location type the pwd command.

cd Desktop/

Create file with the touch command.

touch script.command

If you try to run the created script it will fail due inappropriate access privilages.

Use the chmod command to apply the appropriate access privilages.

chmod +x script.command

Use TextEdit to add the required commands to the file.

NOTE: If you need to run a command that requires root access, add the sudo prefix your command. When the script runs you’ll be requested to enter your admin password.