Snow Leopard onto USB flash drive boot problem

[dtevevaiamd]

Hello,

I have a imac intel core 2 duo, usb 2.0, snow leopard currently running, sony micro vault 8G USB flash drive 2.0 and a install Snow Leopard DVD. I gone through all the tasks in disk utility from partitioning the flash drive to GUID and to restoring Snow leopard dmg image onto the flash drive.But my problem is when I restart my computer while holding down the option key there is only my Mac HD to be seen. My computer isn't recognizing the Snow leopard install that is on my usb flash drive. And when I restart my computer from the usb flash drive at startup disk in preferences my computer restarts but still my computer doesn't recognizes it.


If anybody has any solutions or a reason why am I having this problem?? Thanks!

[todd51]

Have you tried a different USB port?

You could also try booting up the computer, then plugging in the USB drive. After that go to Startup Disk Preferences and select it as the device to boot to.

[dtevevaiamd]

Have you tried a different USB port?

You could also try booting up the computer, then plugging in the USB drive. After that go to Startup Disk Preferences and select it as the device to boot to.

Yes, I tried both solutions as you described but the usb still doesn't want to boot.

Do you have any other ideas what this problem could be?

[6string]

I'd try Carbon Copy Cloner....... erasing USB with disk utility formatted as mac os extended (journaled), then using CCC to copy install disc (Install disc as source/USB as Destination) and then see if you have better luck!

[dtevevaiamd]

I'd try Carbon Copy Cloner....... erasing USB with disk utility formatted as mac os extended (journaled), then using CCC to copy install disc (Install disc as source/USB as Destination) and then see if you have better luck!

I did everything you have listed but after I push "clone" it gives me an error message "An error occurred while attempting to record the exclude rules" and underneath "Please restart the computer and try again."

Now what is causing this problem??

Thanks I appreciate your help

[6string]

Ok.... I have experienced this once before for unknown reasons, and then winged it, and clicked "incremental backup of selected items" in cloning options and it worked for me!
Give it a try and report back

[dtevevaiamd]

Ok.... I have experienced this once before for unknown reasons, and then winged it, and clicked "incremental backup of selected items" in cloning options and it worked for me!
Give it a try and report back

Yes, it finally worked but again it doesn't boot :/

The USB flash drive shows up on startup disk in preferences and then I restart from the USB drive but my computer doesn't read it as bootable and skips to my login screen.

If you have anymore ideas about what could be causing this problem tell me ok.

Thanks!

[6string]

I know you tried to restore, etc from disk utility, but just to be clear, give it a whirl again, following the steps below.

How to Create a Mac Snow Leopard USB Installer Disk – Make Tech Easier

Install OS X Snow Leopard from a USB flash drive

[dtevevaiamd]

I know you tried to restore, etc from disk utility, but just to be clear, give it a whirl again, following the steps below.

How to Create a Mac Snow Leopard USB Installer Disk – Make Tech Easier

Install OS X Snow Leopard from a USB flash drive

I have done that twice already and still no luck getting it to boot.

Anything else I should try??

Thanks!

[6string]

I'm still a bit lost as to why it's not working.
When you go into the flash drive when booted from your iMac HD, is there anything on there?

[dtevevaiamd]

I'm still a bit lost as to why it's not working.
When you go into the flash drive when booted from your iMac HD, is there anything on there?

Yeah, it even gives me the chance to install from there. when it restarts it boots to a grey screen for 10 secs then goes straight to my login screen on my Mac HD.

It must be missing something in order to make the USB bootable. Other folks are also having this problem which I have notice.

[cwa107]

Did you set the partition type to GUID? That's the critical step right there and is not entirely intuitive.

Also, why not just use the disc?

[dtevevaiamd]

Did you set the partition type to GUID? That's the critical step right there and is not entirely intuitive.

Also, why not just use the disc?

Yes, I have set it to GUID with same steps as before.

And yes I can use the disc but I like to make a digital copy of it incase I loose my disc or it becomes scratched soo badly it won't play anymore.

[6string]

After many hours googling trying to find a solution to your problem, I only found one other thread in apple discussions, which was long and drawn out with no solution.
As much as I'd like to help, and hope that someone else on mac forums comes to the rescue, I think it could be a good idea to call apple tech support while you still have the 90days on snow leopard.

[dtevevaiamd]

After many hours googling trying to find a solution to your problem, I only found one other thread in apple discussions, which was long and drawn out with no solution.
As much as I'd like to help, and hope that someone else on mac forums comes to the rescue, I think it could be a good idea to call apple tech support while you still have the 90days on snow leopard.

Hey bro thanks a lot for your help I really appreciate it