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How to create a bootable OS X 10.11 El

Capitan USB drive
By Mihi Bamburic

Published 4 months ago

5 Comments

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There are times when you may not want to use App Store or the recovery mode to install OS X
10.11 El Capitan on your Mac. So, Apple gives you the option of creating a bootable USB drive.
You can use it anytime and anywhere to quickly get the operating system running on any
compatible Mac. An Internet connection is not even required as everything you need is already
on the drive.
Creating a bootable OS X 10.11 El Capitan USB drive is very easy. All you need is a Mac, as the
tools provided for the process are only available in OS X, and a USB drive with a capacity of 8

GB or more. I will also explain how to use a dedicated third-party tool, in case you decide that
this option suits you better.
But first you have to download the setup file

from App Store. Use this link to take you right to

its landing page, or search for it manually in the
App Store app. After the download is complete,
Install OS X El Capitanwill be available in your
Applications folder. A setup wizard should have
appeared by now -- you can close it.

Also, you should backup the contents of the USB

drive that you are using for the process, as
everything that is stored on it will be removed.
And, of course, make sure that you read the
instructions carefully before starting.

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Apple's Way, All the Way

Apple offers a dedicated tool in OS X specifically for the purpose of creating a bootable USB
drive. Unlike most tools that ship with the OS, it is not accessible directly from Launchpad.

However, it can be accessed through Terminal, which you will have to open for this part of the
process.
Here is what you need to do:
1. Connect the USB drive to your Mac.
2. Using Disk Utility (it is typically found in the Other folder, under Launchpad), format the
USB drive as Mac OS Extended (Journaled),and name it OSXElCapitan. This can be done from
the Erase tab within the app; make sure that there are no multiple partitions (turn to the
Partition tab to verify and correct this).
3. Open Terminal (it is found in the same folder as the Disk Utility app).
4. Use (paste) the following command: sudo /Applications/Install\ OS\ X\ El\
Capitan.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia --volume /Volumes/OSXElCapitan -applicationpath /Applications/Install\ OS\ X\ El\ Capitan.app --nointeraction.
5. Type in your user password, when required, to start the process.

Based on my experience, this is the bestmethod of creating a bootable OS X 10.11 El Capitan

USB drive. It delivers consistent results every time, and does not cause any issues.

Because it isbarebones, the tool does not provide any indication as to how much time is left
untilthe process completes. It usually takes around half an hour in my case, but this depends
on the speed of the USB drive -- the faster it is the sooner this step is over.
The More User-Friendly (Third-Party) Tool
DiskMaker X is the more user-friendlytool for the job. It automates the process of creating a
bootable OS X 10.11 El Capitan USB drive, requiring little input from you. And the results are
virtually the same with the aforementioned method.
If you wish to use DiskMaker X to create the bootable OS X 10.11 El Capitan USB drive, here is
what you need to do:
1. Connect the USB drive to your Mac.

2. Open DiskMaker X and select El Capitan (10.11).

3. Select Use this copy to use the Install OS X El Capitan app from the Applications folder.
(Select Use another copy... if the setup file is in another folder.)
4. Select An 8 GB USB thumb drive. (Alternatively, select Another kind of disk if you want to
use something else).
5. If requested, from the given list, select the USB drive you are using for the process, and
then select Choose this disk.
6. Select Erase then create the disk.
7. Select Continue.
8. Type in your user password when requested.

Unlike the official tool baked in OS X, DiskMaker X also lets you know how long the process
takes. Like I mentioned before, this depends largely on the speed of the USB drive that you
have, so, ideally, you should use the fastest one available, in case time is of the essence.
What Now?
Now that you have a bootable OS X 10.11 El Capitan USB drive, you should know how to install
the operating system on your Mac.
What you need to do is restart the Mac, and, right after that, press the Option key, and choose
to boot fromthis USB drive. Afterwards, youcan use the step-by-step setup as you normally
would to install andsetupOS X 10.11 El Capitan.
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Batman 3monthsago

Iwentwithagoodol'32GBLexarUSBforthis

Share

BilderbergChairman>Batman 2monthsago

Coolstorymaybeyoucouldselltherightstothemovie
2

Share

Deepti 3monthsago

YoucantrythesamewithLazesoftrecoverysoftware.
http://www.getfrompc.com/lazes...

Share

rvail317 4monthsago

8Gbisalmosttoosmall,fortheUSBthumbdrive.ElCapitancurrentlyrequires7.6Gb,so
probablybesttogowithagoodquality16GbUSB3.0thumbdrive,ifplanningonbuyinga
newone.And:especiallyso,ifplanningonusingitforbuildingaHackintoshmachine.

Share

MarkSartor 4monthsago

Mightneverneedit..Butfuntotry..(have2USBdrivessittingunusedindeskdrawer):)

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