Creating a MacOS USB Installer using Windows - Solving the circle boot symbol

Introduction

This tutorial guides you through the process of creating a macOS USB installer using a Windows computer. If you're looking to install macOS on a new hard disk and have encountered the circle boot symbol error, this step-by-step guide will help you overcome that issue and successfully create a bootable USB drive.

Step 1: Identify the Problem

Before starting, understand that the circle boot symbol indicates that your Mac is unable to boot from the USB drive. This could be due to several factors, including incorrect file structure or partition issues on the USB drive.

Step 2: Download the Operating System Files

1. Visit the official Apple support page to download macOS files.
2. Choose the version of macOS you want to install.
3. Ensure that you have a stable internet connection for the download.

Step 3: Gather Necessary Tools

To create the USB installer, you'll need:

• A USB drive (at least 16GB).
• 7-Zip to extract files.
• TransMac software to create the bootable USB.
• Paragon software (optional) for managing disk partitions.

Step 4: Extract the System Files Using 7-Zip

1. Install 7-Zip from the official website.
2. Right-click on the downloaded macOS file and select "Extract Here" using 7-Zip.
3. This will create a folder containing the necessary installation files.

Step 5: Prepare the USB Drive

1. Insert your USB drive into the Windows computer.
2. Open TransMac (ensure you run it as an administrator).
3. Right-click on your USB drive in TransMac and select "Format Disk for Mac."
4. Confirm the formatting process, which will erase all data on the USB drive.

Step 6: Expand the Partition in the USB Drive

1. After formatting, right-click the USB drive again in TransMac.
2. Select "Restore with Disk Image."
3. Browse to the extracted macOS files and select the appropriate DMG file.
4. Click "OK" to start the restoration process. This may take some time.

Step 7: Fix the File Structure in the USB

1. If you encounter any issues during the installation, check the USB file structure.
2. You may need to ensure that the EFI partition is correctly set up.
3. Use Paragon software if you need to modify partitions or fix file system errors.

Step 8: Run the Installation

1. Eject the USB drive safely from Windows.
2. Insert it into the Mac where you want to install macOS.
3. Restart the Mac and hold the Option (Alt) key during boot.
4. Select the USB drive from the boot menu.
5. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the macOS installation.

Conclusion

You've now created a macOS USB installer using a Windows computer and learned how to troubleshoot the circle boot symbol error. If you encounter issues during the installation process, revisit the steps to ensure all procedures were followed correctly. Happy installing!