Early 2015 macs - can not download "Install OS X Yosemite"

[mhasman]

We got new "Early 2015" MacBook Pro 13" and MacBook Air 13"

• those are not booting up from external drives or USB Flash with previews 10.10.2 image

• each one shows new Kernel even system is 10.10.2

• App Store does not allow to download new version of "Install OS X Yosemite" to create the external bootable drive, shows the message "Yosemite is already installed"

[stevewood]

@mhasman Try booting one of the systems in Recovery mode, then run the "Re-Install" and point it at the external USB drive. This will install the version of Yosemite you need, with the proper build # and the proper kernel extensions onto the USB drive.

[mhasman]

Thank you Steve!
Yes, I did that to make bootable external TB drive. But I really need to have new "Install OS X Yosemite" to update our imaging process for new upcoming macs.

[alexjdale]

This tends to occur when new hardware is released and the OS build is forked to support new chipsets, GPUs, etc. It's essentially a custom build for each new model which gets tricky.

Hopefully the final 10.10.3 build will unfork the OS to work on everything so you won't see these sort of issues.

My advice to you is to not bother with "imaging" these systems unless you want to manage multiple OS images for different models. Having an "out of the box" method to install packages/scripts/etc is a more sustainable model that allows you to support everything on day one. There is no real need to replace the base OS for new hardware, since the odd system that does require a full reimage can simply be wiped and reinstalled from Recovery mode. By the time you see that in any real quantity, you should have a new unforked DMG to use.

[stevewood]

@mhasman Understood. When I try downloading Yosemite from my machine running Yosemite, I receive a dialog indicating it is already installed, but it allows me to click Continue to install. See the attached image.

Another way you can do this is to use the same method I explained above, but when the computer restarts, shut down the computer. Boot off of the internal drive and you'll see on the external drive a set of folders where you can find the InstallESD.dmg file. This should be all you need for your internal imaging process.

[mhasman]

Alex, thanks for advice!

[stevewood]

And as @alexjdale pointed out, this is because the hardware has caused a fork in the 10.10.2 roadmap. So you're almost better off using the second method I mentioned, using the Restore method but unplugging the drive, to insure you get a version of Yosemite that will have the proper build # for those new machines.

[mhasman]

@stevewood This dialog is deferent on new macs with only "Cancel" option available.

[stevewood]

@mhasman Here's a method for grabbing the InstallESD.dmg file from the Yosemite installer:

You'll want to follow those instructions from one of the new machines.

Another link to the same method:

[stevewood]

Ugh, didn't realize the links didn't come through. Here are the addresses:

https://matthill.eu/osx/os-x-10-8-mountain-lion-dmg-installesd-dmg/

http://hints.macworld.com/article.php?story=20110831105634716

[davidacland]

If you just want a restorable dmg you could go old fashioned and:

• Restore the Mac to unconfigured state by Internet recovery
• Put the Mac in target disk mode
• Use disk utility on another Mac to create an image

Once 10.10.3 is released you might be able to get an up to date unified installer.

[mhasman]

@stevewood Thank you Steve - that works! I have bootable USB drive now :)

[drheiner]

So I ran into this issue, and took a few suggestions from above. Here's how I have it working now in LS&Co using AutoDMG without the .App Installer from Apple. I couldn't wait for the OS X 10.10.3 patch

New Build for the MacBook Air 13" (14C2507 Build)
Casper JSS 9.65

Steps
1. Get the new Macbook Air model
2. When booting, do a "Command + R" for recovery
3. This will either boot you into its own recovery or the Internet recovery (both work)
4. When booted, select "Reinstall OS X" and select the "Macintosh HD". 5. This will start downloading the current build for this model. After it has finish downloading, it will want to restart. When it restarts, hold the "T" button (You want to T-boot it, you don't want it to start the installation). Mount the T-boot Macbook Air on another machine. When the HDD mounts, grab the InstallESD.dmg file.
6. Find another OS X 10.10 Machine, open up the latest AutoDMG (1.5.2 or better) and compile the image. For me, I did not add anything to it from AutoDMG, as I have it creating the User name with a stand-alone package. FYI, for some reason, when placing this image in AutoDMG or imaging another machine with this compiled image, the build number is "14C2043"
7. Once you have the compiled image you can use it with AutoCasperNBI (for netboot) or your base image. I have tested this on a few of the new Macbook Air 13" that have come in and so far everything is working, plus I don't have to do it the old way.

[kstrick]

Just got a new Macbook Pro 13"....
Build is 10.10.2 (14C2055)

I'm sure that the minute I finish building the new config in casper and the new netboot,
10.10.3 will be released