Converting a MacOS X upgrade disk to a full installer
From Applepedia
Written by raruler [1]
The following information is supplied for those who, after paying for a brand new Macintosh which was missing the Panther (10.3) install CDs, then paid an additional $20 to receive Panther, found to their dismay that the CDs they received were Panther "update" discs, incapable of installing Panther on a freshly formatted disk. Many of us found out too late, after erasing our hard disks to install Panther, that the "Update" discs require Jaguar to be installed, and some of us just prefer to install from scratch. So we had to withstand TWO brutal installs--not one. That's not right. This information is NOT supplied for anyone who "comes across" update discs and does not have a valid license to install Panther.
The following process creates a working "OS X Install Disc 1" from an existing "Mac OS X Upgrade Disc" received through the Mac OS Up-To-Date program. Note that this process also works under Tiger and for Tiger Upgrade discs.
- Make an image of the "Mac OS X Upgrade Disc" using Disk Copy's "File->New->Image From Device" menu item. (I used 10.2.4 - I don't know about other versions of 10.2, 10.2.4 is what was handy, but 10.3 definitely would not work - try following the 10.4 instructions). In 10.4 you can do it in Disk Utility by mounting the disc, selecting it and choosing "New Image" from the icon bar. Save the image on your desktop.
- Mount the image. If you're following the 10.4 instructions, you'll need to select the image before mounting it, and press the "convert" button to make it a "read/write volume" or the next step won't work.
- In the Terminal, type: "rm /Volumes/'Mac OS X Upgrade Disc/System/Installation/Packages/Essentials.pkg/Contents/Resources/CheckForOSX" (without the double-quotes--this might work in the finder too, if you can figure it out--I thought it was cleaner done in the Terminal.).
- Change the volume name of the mounted image to "Mac OS X Install Disc 1" in the Finder. (Again, this might work in the Terminal - I thought it was easier in the Finder, and it may be best not to change anything else about the disc, including opening and closing windows.).
- "Eject" the disc image.
- Burn the image in Disk Copy, using the menu item "File->Burn Image." In Disk Utility, select the image and press the "Burn" button
Your burned CD should function as an "Install" disc 1, including for the purpose of an install on a freshly formatted disk.
Good luck!
louisk2
This process works, however I had to make a few changes for it to happen.
1. The path to the CheckForOSX component is incorrect - for the terminal. It really should be: rm /Volumes/Mac\ OS\ X\ Upgrade\ Disc/System/Installation/Packages/Essentials.pkg/Contents/Resources/CheckForOSX"
I also tried this in the Finder with no side affects, so Terminal afraid people go ahead!
2. For Tiger Only. The correct name for the image which will become the 'new' DVD your are going to burn is: Mac OS X Install DVD
Please note that this is F O R T I G E R only. Renaming in the Finder works fine too.
