How to Convert a MacOS X 10.1 Update into an Install CD

Written by Michael Holve
Last updated on December 5^th 2001

Updates!

11/20/01
The original hack on MacFixIt posted.

11/28/01 (3:00pm)
This article goes live!

11/29/01 (3:19pm)
Over on MacFixIt's own forum, under "Convert your Update CD to a full Install CD" there's a discussion brewing... As of Monday, December 3 - they seem to have removed this thread. How typical of MacFixIt.

11/29/01 (4:19pm)
On Wired, "Apple's OS X Upgrade Fiasco"

11/29/01 (4:33pm)
Rumor that the original hack (not this one) is already available on Gnutella. Look for "Mac OS X - Convert the Free 10.1 Update CD to a Full Install.txt" Personally, this alarms me.

11/30/01 (3:00pm)
At the MacDirectory, "Apple OS X Gets Hacked"

11/30/01
At ExtremeTech, "Apple Slows Mac OS X Rollouts" which seems to be somewhat related to this situation, possibly.

11/30/01
At As the Apple Turns, "And All Over One Little File"

11/30/01 (7:05pm)
I got an interesting Email that appears to have come from Apple's lawyers - it looks like the infamous cease and desist letter... I'll probably reply to this on Monday, the first business day after receiving this Email after hours. My intention so far is to not remove this page based on "freedom of speech" and the fact that this article does not constitute any violations - peforming them probably does, though. Besides, I never said that *I* performed this hack, so violating any licensing or copyrights as Apple claims is a bunch of phooey.

12/01/01
In the New York Times, "Apple Offers More Than an Update to Its System"

12/02/01
I've been giving this whole situation a lot of thought over the weekend. Some of you have even expressed your opinions, both pro and con. I'm reaching a decision on what to do with this information and how to respond to the cease and desist. If nothing else, I might concede to removing the screenshots - but the procedure itself is in plain English, and as such does not constitute code or intellectual information. I also think that the point has been made. I also have to say that I think Apple has done right by us, feeding us regular, nice updates to the OS. I for one like that, and MacOS X - and yes, Apple. I don't like how they've handled updates though. For one thing, the way the recent 10.1 upgrade was handled with that ridiculous "go to your dealer/store" and jump around like a groupie at a concert, groping for the 20 CDs that the store happened to get. I also don't like having to install 10.0.4 from CD, then upgrade to 10.1 also from CD - followed by downloading 10.1.1 from Apple's Website. That's a bunch of B.S. I must also say to Apple in this matter, "give it up." The info is out there, it's been there since the 20th. It's now on Gnutella, Websites, search engine caches and usenet. This genie not only left the bottle, he's been overseas on vacation. Twice. Sending lawyers after your loyal fan base is also not a good way to get publicity. Lastly, I want to say to Apple - that I recently became a Mac person, and thus a MacOS X user. It's because of the latter that I bought the former. Let me spell that out. I bought a Mac just because of MacOS X. You're kicking ass and MacOS X is fantastic - keep it up. So... More later.

12/03/01
There appears to be a small Applescript out and about called UninstallMacOSX that will move all your MacOS X folders from the Startup Disk to the Trash. This should hopefully then allow MacOS X to be installed. I have not tried this - nor do I have any more information about it. It is supposedly a script from Apple.

12/03/01
Over on MacDirectory, even after I told them about this page, decides to post a "new" story, using primarily quotes from already published online articles in their "Apple OS X Mistake Still Alive" story. Weak. More avoidance of the subject by mainstream Mac sites? You be the judge.

12/03/01 (1:22pm)
I have sent Apple's lawyer my response. Basically in a nutshell, I made my point that the procedure is in plain English and shall remain as-is. I would, however - remove the screegrabs if they still wanted me to.

12/03/01 (6:10pm)
The story hits CNET, in "Free OS X Riles Apple." I must admit, I liked the Apple representitive's response, "We trust our users to do the right thing, and we have a license that we expect people to respect." I'd like to think that people out there would, also. That's been my point all along - this is for legitimate users, not thieves.

12/03/01 (8:05pm)
Well, there's still no response from Apple's lawyers, and at this point, I'm beginning to think this issue has run it's course. This has nothing to do with the "cease and desist" that was sent, but I may take down this information. Personally, I think we all have to choose our battles, and I think what's important is that MacOS X continue on and improve. Apple got the hint that there are issues with rushing out the door. I hope, at least, that Apple also got the hint that upgrades should be handled better next time around. Find out who your users are, send them a CD or an Email on where to get it. Don't toss it out like Halloween candy to a crowd of kids. As for the lawyers, well, I understand that they have to do what they do to protect trademarks and such. I'll leave this ball in Apple's court. If they still want me to take this information down, so be it. I can't speak for the mirrors or the information that's out there already, though. Here's to MacOS X and seeing it evolve... Personally, I'd rather focus my energy on, and get back to - all the great things about MacOS X.

12/03/01 (9:56pm)
Apple's sharp legal team is burning the midnight oil in their reply to my response to the C&D.

12/04/01
Over on MacNightOwl, there's a story called "The Mac OS X Free Upgrade Debacle." Funny, they mention MacFixIt and even link to it, yet don't mention this Website or provide a link - where this issue is still alive and well. Lame.

12/04/01
I think I've made my point, Apple still thinks that lawyers are the way to impress their userbase (not!), and Mac news sites (with a few exceptions) are all too weak to touch this story and too busy kissing Apple's ass. Apple is also being quite insistent with it's "cease and desist" order, so screw it. I've removed the information and everyone can be happy again. ;)

12/04/01
Over on MacDirectory, there's a good editorial entitled "Apple's Cease and Desist Strategy." Nicely sums up what I've been trying to say all along. Good to see that some Mac sites aren't afraid to get involved in a story that affects all of us.

12/04/01
It appears that there is now an original musical work called, "OSXUSA" by the band Audra & The Antidote, with some neat lyrics... ;) Check it out on mp3.com! For your convenience, I have also mirrored that song below. Audra - I like your band - good stuff!

Preface

Let me just make it clear that I am not the originator of this hack. Similarly, I do not condone software piracy. This information is for legitimate, licensed users of MacOS X ONLY. Do not ask me for workarounds, image files or anything not related to what is described below. Do the Right Thing(TM).

Contents

Introduction
The Problem this Solves
The Irony
Mirrors
Updates!
The Procedure

Introduction

There has been a good bit of debate recently about the hack originally posted on MacFixIt on how to convert your MacOS X 10.1 Updated CD into a full Install CD. For the sake of posterity and in the spirit of free information, I have made my own instructions, in a little easier to follow format than the one posted all over the Internet at this point...

Apple had sent MacFixIt a cease and desist letter to which they complied. Since that time, it's been posted to Slashdot and MacSlash. Several users posted the technique including links to Google caches. I'm sure this is on usenet by now, and on underground discussion forums. Apple at this point could chase it's tail by sending letters to everyone that has this information, but I believe that much like DeCSS, the information will worm it's way into all manner of nooks and crannies, available for reading if you took the time or knew where to look.

This proverbial "genie" is out of the bottle I'm afraid...

It should be noted that only people with legitimate copies of MacOS X perform this hack. I am not condoning piracy here! However, people like myself who bought and own a Mac have a certain right to have an easy way to restore their system. I find nothing easy about having to first install MacOS X 10.0.4 and then applying the 10.1 update. That's very time consuming. Apple has done right by us, I feel - and I don't know about you, but I love MacOS X and want to see it thrive. Don't be a bastard and steal it - go BUY it.

Now, only people that are licensed for MacOS X and have presented credentials to that effect, (including the purchase of either MacOS X or a qualifying Mac) were given the Update CD. This in effect, says to me - that anyone performing this hack would be doing so on their own, licensed copy of MacOS X.

You can discuss this situation in the forum (you must be a registered user).

The Problem this Solves

The following is from a posting on MacFixIt's Website describing a valid, technical reason that this hack would be useful to MacOS X users. That post reads:

After installing Mac OS X 10.1.1, you will no longer be able to use your Mac OS X 10.1 Update Install CD. If you try, you will get a message saying that "This disk is dimmed because an earlier version of Mac OS X is not installed." You will not even have the option to erase the destination disk to install OS X 10.1.

This is unlike the Security Update, which apparently allowed a downgrade to OS X 10.1 from the Update CD after installing the Security Update.

A bit of good news: We also tried the Mac OS X 10.1 "full" Install CD. In this case, the CD allowed us to install OS X 10.1 again - with or without erasing the CD first.

If you don't have the full OS X 10.1 Install CD, and you want or need to reinstall Mac OS X, you will thus have to start over using your Mac OS X 10.0 Install CD and progressively update to 10.1 and 10.1.1. As Apple has pointed out, this downgrading and reupgrading - without first erasing - may lead to problems with files that are not correctly updated - which is why they recommend erasing the disk instead. While we would feel pretty comfortable about downgrading from 10.1.1 to 10.1, we are less so about going back to 10.0. In the latter case, we would recommend either reformatting the disc or purchasing the full OS X 10.1 Install CD.

The Irony

One final word, it should be noted that when you put the Update CD in your drive and MacOS X mounts and presents it on your Desktop, it's clearly titled, "Mac OS X Install CD!"

Mirrors

http://freaky.staticusers.net/UpdateCDHack/

OSXUSA - Audra & The Antidote (MP3, 2.9MB, mp3.com)
OSXUSA - Audra & The Antidote (MP3, 2.9MB, local)

The Procedure

Imaging your Update CD

1. Insert your MacOS X 10.1 Update CD

   

2. Fire up "Disk Copy" from /Applications/Utilities

   

3. Select from the Menubar "Image | New Image from Device..."

   

4. Select your CD-ROM drive's contents from the resulting dialog

   

5. Image it as a "DVD/CD Master" type (this will take a little while)

   

Modifying the CD contents

1. Control-click (or right-click) on the resulting disk image:

   

2. See that it's mounted:

   

3. Navigate with the Finder to System/Installation/Packages on mounted image

   

4. Select the "Essentials.pkg" file...

   

5. ...by right-clicking on it and select "Show Package Contents"

   

6. In the pop-up Finder window, navigate to Contents/Resources/

   

7. Drag "CheckForOSX" to the Trash and close all these Finder windows

   

Burning your new Install CD

1. Go back to Disk Copy and select from the Menubar "Image | New Image from Device..."

   

2. Select the mounted volume you opened up above and make another "DVD/CD Master" image

   

3. Now select from the Menubar "Image | Burn Image..."

   

4. Select your newly modified .dmg file

   

5. Burn it to CD and enjoy: