(Create a bootable installer) The volume could not be found

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Level 1

4 points

(Create a bootable installer) The volume could not be found

Dan, MacBook Air / Big Sur

Use the 'createinstallmedia' command in Terminal to create a bootable installer.

After I confirmed the mounting of (USB)Kioxia16 using the command “diskutil list” in Terminal, I used the

'createinstallmedia' command 2 times and each time with different option (-) and (--) before “volume /Volumes/MyVolume” and received the below answers for each option. Finally, I could not continue. Please kindly advise.

1. createinstallmedia -volume /Volumes/Kioxia16

Terminal: “The volume could not be found

2. createinstallmedia --volume /Volumes/Kioxia16

Terminal: createinstallmedia: invalid option -- ?

Usage: createinstallmedia --volume <path to volume to convert>

Arguments

--Volume, A path to a volume that can be unmounted and erased to create the install media.

--nointeraction, Erase the disk pointed to by volume without prompting for confirmation.

--downloadassets, Download on-demand assets that may be required for installation.

Example: createinstallmedia –volume /Volumes/Untitled

-%

(That’s all. Without Y or N to continue…as below)

MacBook Air 11″, macOS 11.6

Posted on Sep 17, 2021 11:19 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

toshio2412 Author

Level 1

4 points

Sep 18, 2021 9:37 AM in response to leroydouglas

From the result, pleased to inform you that the Bootable Installer USB Drive has been done successfully

and thank you very much.

As your advice, after I have made “drag and drop” my USB Drive from the Desktop to the Terminal

window to complete the path, the drive has recognized, and all are OK now. The drive “Install macOS Big Sur” can be confirmed on the Desktop.

May I ask two more questions below or do I need to take another chance?

1.

This time I still kept the USB drive with Apple-HFS format as the last failed working (I have tried to be reformatted

from the first format of MS-exFat)….I think both formats to be OK before Create a bootable installer. Is this right?

2.

How can I check the Drive “Install macOS Big Sur” is working (start-up) or not?....in a safe way?.

Reply

Answer 2

Sep 17, 2021 11:23 AM in response to toshio2412

toshio2412 wrote:

Dan, MacBook Air / Big Sur

Use the 'createinstallmedia' command in Terminal to create a bootable installer.

After I confirmed the mounting of (USB)Kioxia16 using the command “diskutil list” in Terminal, I used the

'createinstallmedia' command 2 times and each time with different option (-) and (--) before “volume /Volumes/MyVolume” and received the below answers for each option. Finally, I could not continue. Please kindly advise.

1. createinstallmedia -volume /Volumes/Kioxia16

Terminal: “The volume could not be found

2. createinstallmedia --volume /Volumes/Kioxia16

Terminal: createinstallmedia: invalid option -- ?

Usage: createinstallmedia --volume <path to volume to convert>

Arguments

--Volume, A path to a volume that can be unmounted and erased to create the install media.

--nointeraction, Erase the disk pointed to by volume without prompting for confirmation.

--downloadassets, Download on-demand assets that may be required for installation.

Example: createinstallmedia –volume /Volumes/Untitled

-%

(That’s all. Without Y or N to continue…as below)

data:image/png;base64,

How to create a bootable installer for macOS - Apple Support

Reply

Answer 3

toshio2412 Author

Level 1

4 points

Sep 18, 2021 10:14 AM in response to toshio2412

Please note for my mistake (reply) as below:

The work success report to you I have sent to myself for the first time.
I have sent the report again to you in the right way but it looked like I have checked "Solved" in the wrong place.
Please correct the above my faults as possible.

Thank you very much.

Reply

Answer 4

toshio2412 Author

Level 1

4 points

Sep 18, 2021 10:19 AM in response to leroydouglas

Please note for my mistake (reply) as below:

The work success report to you I have sent to myself for the first time.
I have sent the report again to you in the right way but it looked like I have checked "Solved" in the wrong place.
Please correct the above my faults as possible.
By this reply, I have just made again the mistake 1 above.

Thank you very much.

Reply

Answer 5

toshio2412 Author

Level 1

4 points

Sep 17, 2021 11:42 AM in response to leroydouglas

I have checked a lot for any mistakes including typing, space, etc. I wondered about (-) or (--) before “volume

/Volumes/Kioxia16” and tried both options but could not fix them.

For option 2. I think all arguments are OK but have no choice, Yes or No to continue. And I can not do more.

//toshio2412

Reply

Answer 6

Sep 17, 2021 12:01 PM in response to toshio2412

When using "ls /Volumes" is the Kioxia16 listed? Remember volume names in "/Volumes" are not physical devices but partitioned and mounted volumes contained within the device.

Also, create install media is:

sudo /Applications/Install\ macOS\ Big\ Sur.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia --volume /Volumes/MyVolume

for Big Sur as an example. The command line needs to have the full path to the installer. FWIW, the backslash followed by a space is the commandline representation of a space in a string, i.e. a file "x file" needs to be written on the command line as "x\ file" (quotes only use in separating the items from my text.

Reply

Answer 7

Sep 17, 2021 12:07 PM in response to toshio2412

toshio2412 wrote:

I have checked a lot for any mistakes including typing, space, etc. I wondered about (-) or (--) before “volume

/Volumes/Kioxia16” and tried both options but could not fix them.

For option 2. I think all arguments are OK but have no choice, Yes or No to continue. And I can not do more.

//toshio2412

If you are in doubt about the path you can simply drag and drop your USB the from the Desktop to the Terminal window to complete the path.

notice the trailing blank space ...

sudo /Applications/Install\ macOS\ Big\ Sur.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia --volume

This command line assumes the installer is sitting in the default location

Reply

Answer 8

PRP_53

Level 10

91,591 points

Sep 18, 2021 6:52 AM in response to toshio2412

Have used " sudo /Applications/Install\ macOS\ Big\ Sur.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia --volume /Volumes/Untitled " where Untitled is the destination drive Name After having Formatted it as HFS Journaled / GUID.

The above has worked on Both Intel and M1 CPU computer. The Only difference I have found, the Destination Drive Must be formatted on the M1 if that is the drive from which the created Bootable Installer is to be used. The reverse is also true for Intel based computer. No explanation why - just what has been experienced.

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Answer 9

toshio2412 Author

Level 1

4 points

Sep 18, 2021 6:56 AM in response to leroydouglas

Thank you very much

I will check all again and make sure the path is as you advise, I feel it is the point. Now I also believe 2(--) before volume as "--volume" is right. I will report the result to you tonight.

Reply

Answer 10

toshio2412 Author

Level 1

4 points

Sep 18, 2021 7:44 AM in response to PRP_53

Thank you for your reply.

My Book Air is running with Intel CPU. I have failed to use "createinstallmedia" command for USB Drive with both formats MS-exFat and Mac-HFS(Journaled / GUID). I think both formats will be OK, the drive will be erased and reformated to Mac-HFS before copy the files. Now my USB drive's format is Mac-HFS. My problem may be about the path of USB Drive, I will try the way as just have been advised.

Reply

Answer 11

toshio2412 Author

Level 1

4 points

Sep 18, 2021 9:13 AM in response to toshio2412

From the result, pleased to inform you that the Bootable Installer USB Drive has been done successfully

and thank you very much.

As your advice, after I have made “drag and drop” my USB Drive from the Desktop to the Terminal

window to complete the path, the drive has recognized, and all are OK now. The drive “Install macOS Big Sur” can be confirmed on the Desktop.

May I ask two more questions below or do I need to take another chance?

1.

This time I still kept the USB drive with Apple-HFS format as the last failed working (I have tried to be reformatted

from the first format of MS-exFat)….I think both formats to be OK before Create a bootable installer. Is this right?

2.

How can I check the Drive “Install macOS Big Sur” is working (start-up) or not?....in a safe way?.

Reply

Answer 12

toshio2412 Author

Level 1

4 points

Sep 18, 2021 6:41 AM in response to woodmeister50

Thank you for

your prompt reply and advice. Tonight I will do it again from the beginning.

Reply

Answer 13

PRP_53

Level 10

91,591 points

Sep 18, 2021 7:47 AM in response to toshio2412

Do keep us all posted on the progress and good luck :-)

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(Create a bootable installer) The volume could not be found

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