An ISO file is an image of a CD/DVD that is typically used to install programs to your Mac. This file can’t be copied and pasted on to a USB stick as it has hidden files that aren’t copy paste files. This process is beneficial for those who have a Macbook air with no CD-rom drive. It is also quick and easier to use when you need to install the ISO. File to your Mac.
First you must be logged in to the administrator of the Mac for this process to work as the administrator of the Mac has the right privileges to perform this. You need to download the .iso file this can also be a .dmg file, which is common on the Mac, or an .img file. Then rename the .iso file to .dmg. Once you have done that right click on the .dmg file and select get info. You will need to write down the full path name as mentioned in the dialog box for later on in this process. You need to start a terminal window, which is located in the applications folder then utilities folder of your Macintosh HD volume. This can also be opened in your spotlight search bar by just writing terminal. Once you have opened the terminal window type ‘diskutil list’ and then press enter. Now you should see a list of your storage devices displayed within the terminal window.
Next you need to insert a USB stick into your Mac and then type ‘diskutil list’ again in the terminal window. Press enter and then you will see the same list but with an extra storage device. You will need the location of that device and it will be formatted like dev/diskN, the ‘N’ represents a number. You will need to write that down. The next thing you need to do is to type in the terminal diskutil unmountDisk /dev/diskN and press enter. Make sure you put that number you wrote down where the ‘N’ is in that coding before you press enter. This will unmount the USB stick and make it disappear from your desktop. The next thing you want to type into the terminal coding is sudo dd if=/path/to/file.dmg of=/dev/diskN bs=1m. Where the word path is in the coding is you need to replace path with that location you wrote down previously when you right-clicked in the get info. The ‘N’ needs to be the number that you have used the whole time. Once you have added that information to that coding press enter. The terminal then will ask for a password, which is your Mac’s administrator that’s why its important to be logged on to the administrator account. The last thing you need to type into the terminal diskutil eject /dev/diskN, replacing the ‘N’ with the number and then press enter.
This process will allow you to burn your .iso file to a USB stick. If you find this process a little harder then you thought our Brisbane technicians can help you with this process.
