How Create a Bootable macOS Mountain Lion USB Flash Drive

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Introduction:

Creating a bootable USB flash drive is a convenient way to install or reinstall an operating system, and it can be especially helpful when dealing with older versions of macOS. In this article, we will guide you through the process of creating a macOS 10.8 Mountain Lion bootable USB flash drive. Although this version is no longer the latest, it may be required for specific purposes or for older Mac systems. By following these step-by-step instructions, you will be able to create a bootable macOS Mountain Lion USB flash drive and perform a clean installation of macOS 10.8 Mountain Lion.

Before proceeding, ensure that you have a USB flash drive with sufficient storage capacity of at least 8GB and a copy of the macOS 10.8 Mountain Lion installer.

Mac OS X Mountain Lion System Requirements:

  • iMac (Mid 2007-2020)
  • MacBook (Late 2008 Aluminum, or Early 2009 or newer)
  • MacBook Pro (Mid/Late 2007 or newer)
  • MacBook Air (Late 2008 or newer)
  • Mac mini (Early 2009 or newer)
  • Mac Pro (Early 2008 or newer)
  • Xserve (Early 2009)

Check Your Current Mac Model

To check your current Mac model, you can follow these steps:

  • Click on the Apple logo () in the top left corner of your screen.
  • Select “About This Mac” from the dropdown menu. A window will appear with an overview of your Mac’s information.
  • In the “Overview” tab, you should see information about your Mac, including the model name and the release year.

If you need more specific information about your Mac’s hardware configuration, you can click on the “System Report…” button in the same window. This will open the System Information application, where you can find detailed information about your Mac’s hardware components and specifications.

Step 1: Download macOS 10.8 Mountain Lion:

To create a bootable USB flash drive, you will need the macOS 10.8 Mountain Lion installer. Unfortunately, this version is no longer available for download from the Mac App Store. However, if you have previously purchased Mountain Lion, you can still find it in your purchase history. Alternatively, you may consider acquiring the installer from a reliable third-party source, ensuring its authenticity and legality. You can also check the Apple.com site and may find it there.

Step 2: Prepare the USB Flash Drive:    usb flash drive

Before we can make the USB flash drive bootable, it needs to be properly prepared. Follow these steps:

  1. Insert the USB flash drive into an available USB port on your Mac.
  2. Open “Disk Utility” from the “Utilities” folder within the “Applications” folder.
  3. Select the USB flash drive from the list of available drives on the left-hand side.
  4. Click on the “Erase” tab.
  5. Provide a name for the drive and choose the appropriate format (usually “Mac OS Extended (Journaled)”).
  6. Click on the “Erase” button to format the USB flash drive.

Note: Formatting the USB flash drive will erase all existing data, so ensure you have a backup if necessary.

Step 3: Create the Bootable USB Flash Drive:

Once the USB flash drive is properly prepared, it’s time to create the bootable USB drive using the macOS 10.8 Mountain Lion installer. Follow these steps:

  1. Open “Terminal” from the “Utilities” folder within the “Applications” folder.
  2. Type the following command, replacing “Untitled” with the name you provided for the USB flash drive in Disk Utility:

sudo /Applications/Install\ macOS\ Mountain\ Lion.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia –volume /Volumes/Untitled –applicationpath /Applications/Install\ macOS\ Mountain\ Lion.app

  1. Press the “Enter” key to execute the command.
  2. Terminal will prompt you to enter your administrator password. Type the password and press “Enter.” Note that your password will not be visible while typing.
  3. Terminal will display a progress bar indicating the creation of the bootable USB drive. This process may take some time, so be patient.
  4. Once the process is complete, Terminal will display a message indicating that the creation of the bootable USB drive was successful.

Step 4: Install macOS Mountain Lion:

Now that you have a bootable USB flash drive with macOS 10.8 Mountain Lion, you can proceed with the installation. Follow these steps:

  1. Restart your Mac.
  2. While the Mac is restarting, hold down the “Option” key.
  3. A boot menu will appear. Use the arrow keys to select the bootable USB flash drive you created.
  4. Press the “Enter” key to start the installation process.
  5. Follow the on-screen instructions to install macOS 10.8 Mountain Lion. You may need to choose the destination drive for installation and agree to the terms and conditions.
  6. Once the installation is complete, your Mac will restart, and you can begin using macOS 10.8 Mountain Lion.

The Mac Medic Utility Option

If you don’t want to go through the process of downloading the Mavericks installer and making a bootable USB flash drive, there’s another option available. You can buy the Mac Medic Utility for Mac OS Mavericks, which comes on a bootable USB flash drive. It also includes clear instructions on how to perform a full installation or upgrade of Mavericks on your Mac. To purchase the Mac Medic Utility for Mavericks, simply click on the following link: Mac Medic Utility for Mountain Lion.

Conclusion:

Creating a bootable USB flash drive is an effective way to install macOS 10.8 Mountain Lion on your Mac. By following the steps outlined in this article, you can successfully create a bootable USB drive and perform a clean installation of the operating system. Remember to obtain the macOS 10.8 Mountain Lion installer from a reliable source, and ensure that you have a USB flash drive with sufficient capacity. With a bootable USB drive at your disposal, you can easily install or reinstall macOS 10.8 Mountain Lion whenever needed, even on older Mac systems.

Article 104: MacMedicStore.com