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

Balena E-tcher is a super handy tool for flashing images onto USB drives. But if you're trying to create a macOS installer USB from a Windows PC, you might run into some bumps along the way. balena E-tcher itself isn’t the best tool for creating a macOS installer USB from a Windows PC. The reason is that macOS installers require some specific formatting and file structures that balena E-tcher doesn’t ensure. Plus, macOS uses the APFS and HFS+ file systems, which Windows doesn’t natively support. So, you might end up with a USB that’s not bootable on a Mac, no matter how slick the flashing process seems.

I've used Balena E-tcher can create macOS installer USB, and it's usually pretty smooth. However, when it comes to macOS, it’s a bit tricky because the macOS image files (like the ".dmg" files) aren't directly intended to be used on anything but a Mac. So, while you can use balena E-tcher create a macOS installer USB, you may find that when you try to boot from it on a Mac, it doesn’t quite work as expected. The typical macOS installer usually requires a Mac environment to set it up properly.

If you're an adventurous soul and want to attack this issue on a Windows PC, here’s how you might go about it:

• Get the macOS Installer: First, you need a copy of the macOS installer file. This usually means snagging it from a Mac because Apple’s Store and website work best on macOS. If you have a friend with a Mac, that’s your best bet.
• Convert the File:  You might need to convert the file into a format that Windows tools can understand for flashing. Sometimes, you can use a tool like UNatbootin to create a bootable USB from the macOS installer. 
• Use Balena E-tcher: If you’ve managed to get a bootable format, you can then use balena E-tcher to write that to your USB drive. Just remember to format the USB as GUID Partition Map and use the HFS+ system if possible.
• Troubleshoot on the Mac: Once you pop the USB into the Mac, it should ideally recognize it, but if it doesn’t boot, you might need to hold down the Option key while turning it on, to select the USB drive.

As for my experience: I’ve definitely had a few moments where I thought I was in the clear, only to end up with a non-bootable drive. So, it can be hit or miss. Just make sure your image is properly formatted and compatible with the Mac hardware you’re trying to use.