macosterminalbootable

Unable to create Bootable Installer for macOS Sierra 'libc++abi.dylib: terminating with uncaught exception of type NSException' error

I have tried to create a bootable installer for macOS Sierra to use on my MacBook Air that is broken and needs to reinstall macOS (The macOS X Lion installer that comes with the Macbook is broken and says it is unable to install additional components needed to install macOS).

I have tried to follow these instructions; https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201372 but they haven't worked.

I used this code in the terminal: sudo /Applications/Install\ macOS\ Sierra.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia --volume /Volumes/Backup --applicationpath /Applications/Install\ macOS\ Sierra.app

(The drive I am trying to use is called 'Backup' and has been erased to become a 'macOS Extended (Journaled)' type drive.) After entering my password and waiting for about two minutes I receive this error:

"2019-11-05 11:07:18.778 createinstallmedia[21078:275343]

*** Terminating app due to uncaught exception 'NSInternalInconsistencyException', reason: 'Couldn't posix_spawn: error 35'

*** First throw call stack:

(

0   CoreFoundation                      0x00007fff360dcf53 __exceptionPreprocess + 250

1   libobjc.A.dylib                     0x00007fff6c1ac835 objc_exception_throw + 48

2   Foundation                          0x00007fff38715fd5 -[NSConcreteTask launchWithDictionary:error:] + 5014

3   Foundation                          0x00007fff387235a5 +[NSTask launchedTaskWithLaunchPath:arguments:] + 153

4   createinstallmedia                  0x00000001087f2968 createinstallmedia + 6504

5   libdyld.dylib                       0x00007fff6d50f2e5 start + 1

)

libc++abi.dylib: terminating with uncaught exception of type NSException"

It is expected to look more like: https://support.apple.com/library/content/dam/edam/applecare/images/en_US/macos/macos-high-sierra-terminal-create-bootable-installer.png

Solution

  • I found a solution that worked for me.

    I am using a 2017 MacBook Pro with Catalina, and the solution is a combination of a similar resolved issue on iFixIt forums and using unofficial downloads of the macOS Sierra DMG file.

    1. Download the DMG for Sierra here: https://themacgo.com/macos-sierra-10-12-6-dmg-mac-free-download/

    2. Mount the DMG file, and copy the Installer macOS Sierra.app file to /Application

    3. Open Terminal and write sudo su, and enter your password when asked.

    4. Run the command /Applications/Install\ macOS\ Sierra.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia --volume /Volumes/[YOUR VOLUME]/ --applicationpath /Applications/Install\ macOS\ Sierra.app/ (Replace [YOUR VOLUME] with your actual volume.

    5. Press Y to confirm when asked to format the volume.

    You will run into an issue during installation when the installer will say it is damaged. A simple hack worked for me, thanks to this video on YouTube. Simply do the following:

    1. In the menu, select Utilities and then Terminal.

    2. Set the date back in time when the installer should be working. I just randomly picked a date two years back: date 0416218002018. The format is date MMDDhhmmYYYY.

    3. Run the installation and it works!