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Yarisyoyo's avatar
Yarisyoyo
Bronze Contributor
Jan 02, 2025

Will balena e-tcher create macos installer usb from Windows PC?

My MacBook Pro Mid 2012 was factory reset and I can't login the device as there is no os on it. I tried to reinstall macOS from Internet recovery but it never ends, always stuck on the downloading sc...
AprilPatel's avatar
AprilPatel
Iron Contributor
Jan 02, 2025

Creating a macOS installer USB using Balena E-tcher from a Windows PC can be a bit of a bumpy road, mainly because there are limitations on Windows for macOS installations. If you are using Balena E-tcher create a macOS installer USB from Windows. Why not? E-tcher is designed to flash disk images, but there are specific requirements for macOS installers that you can’t fully manage from Windows alone. I’ve tried to get the perfect macOS installer USB from Windows, and it can definitely feel like banging your head against the wall sometimes. I once thought I could just download a .dmg file and use E-tcher, but nope! I ended up with a USB that my Mac wouldn’t recognize. So, I had to do some digging to figure out a proper solution.

Make sure you’re using the right macOS version and format. You should have a .dmg or .iso file. A lot of people download shady or outdated versions; stick to reputable sources like the Mac App Store or Apple's official site.  E-tcher is great for flashing images, but it can’t create a macOS installer directly from Windows. You’ll run into problems if you expect it to do that. Understand that the macOS installer needs to be built correctly.

When you create the USB, you'll need to format it correctly. It usually needs to be in Mac OS Extended (Journaled) format (HFS+), and that can’t be done from Windows natively. So, you might have to use a VM or borrow a friend’s Mac. Pay attention to the USB drive’s capacity. Some macOS installers can be pretty hefty (over 10GB), and if you’ve got a small drive, you’ll be outta luck. Ideally, use at least a 16GB USB stick.

Sometimes the hardware is to blame. If the USB drive is old or failing, it could screw everything up. Always test your USB on another device just to be sure. If you can, get your hands on a Mac and download the macOS installer from there. It’ll save you a ton of headaches.

Troubleshooting Tips:

  • USB not booting: If your USB isn’t booting, make sure your BIOS settings are right (UEFI vs Legacy modes). 
  • Too many attempts: If things go sideways, don’t keep trying with the same USB stick; use a new one to eliminate any hardware issues.

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