Why Make a Bootable macOS Catalina Installer?

A bootable macOS Catalina installer allows you to perform a clean install of the operating system on your Mac using the existing startup drive. There are multiple reasons why having a bootable macOS Catalina installer is beneficial.

One reason is that it provides a reliable and efficient way to install the operating system without relying on a DVD or CD, which may become outdated or damaged over time. Additionally, a bootable USB flash drive allows you to easily create a backup of your installation files, making it easy to restore your Mac in case of an issue.

Another reason is that Macs with Thunderbolt 3 can use a USB flash drive as bootable media, although an adapter may be required. Furthermore, all current Macs support booting from a USB port, making it a universal solution for installing macOS Catalina.

A bootable flash drive is also small and easy to store in a safe place, ensuring that you have access to the installation files whenever needed. Moreover, buying a new USB flash drive large enough for this project can be done for less than $10.

Here's how to create a bootable macOS Catalina installer on a USB flash drive:

1. Open Disk Utility and select the Flash Drive.

2. Erase the flash drive by clicking the Erase button and setting the format to Mac OS Extended (Journaled).

3. Name the partition you'll be creating 'Snow Leopard' or 'OS X Install' so that you can keep track of your installation device.

If the USB drive is not bootable, you will NOT be able to install from it. Make sure to follow steps 5-7 on installing onto a USB drive to ensure that the drive is bootable before proceeding.

8GB USB drives are now incredibly cheap - here's one for under $5. After getting the correct USB device, connect it to your Mac and prepare it with the Snow Leopard installation files by following these steps:

1. Download the Snow Leopard installation files.

2. Extract the files from the download package.

3. Open Disk Utility and select the Flash Drive.

4. Drag the extracted files onto the flash drive.

After preparing the USB drive, you can boot your Mac from it and install macOS Catalina. This process is especially beneficial to MacBook Air users who do not have a DVD drive.

In conclusion, having a bootable macOS Catalina installer provides a convenient and reliable way to install the operating system on your Mac. With its ease of use, affordability, and universality, it's an essential tool for any Mac user.

References:

* Apple's official support page on installing OS X from USB

* How to install OS X Lion from a USB Flash Drive

Bootable usb flash drive mac