Mountain Lion installer boots into recovery partition

Strange thing: being a registered devloper I downloaded the OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.2) installer and wanted to upgrade one of my Mac minis (which was running 10.7.5).
However, the aluminum mid-2010 Mac mini acts strange: I copied the installer onto a USB stick and burned it onto a DVD, too. Tried to install from both media but the Mac mini boots either into the Mountain Lion recovery partition (so that was somehow created) or the Setup assistant lacks entries in lists and always jumps to step 1 after step 3 or 4 in an endless loop.
Once -- when I wanted to select the 10.8.2 OS X as boot volume -- I got an error message that boot caches can't be created so I can't set this partition as boot partition.
I've got app. 100 GB free on the Mac minis hard disk.

I was afraid the Apple Store wasn't going to be an option.
Based on your previous post, I was under the impression you could download Mountain Lion, but when you installed it, it locked up again. Not true?
I don't know how to remove it. You can try contacting Apple support through the link below to see if they can help you get this unlocked.
Apple Support Contact
Are the kernal panics new since all this happened?
Here is some information about kernal panics.
Kernel Panics - About
Kernel Panics - Avoiding and Eliminating
Kernel Panics FAQ
Kernel Panics FAQ (2)
Kernel Panics - Understanding and Debugging
The articles discuss where kernal panic reports are filed. After you have a kernal panic, copy the report and post it here. Please copy and paste rather than using a screen shot. There are several people who can read them and they can suggest what to do next. Reading kernal panic reports isn't something I've totally figured out yet.

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Mountain Lion only boots into Recovery mode after using iCould lock

Hi everyone!
I have searched the forums for hours now, but I can't seen to find an answer to my question, so I'd like to ask it.
Recently my system partition failed due to frequent kernel panics caused by a cable in the screen I think. The kernel panics still occur, but I don't know what to do with them.
I managed to save my files and reinstall my osx, which is Snow Leopard (the disc came with the computer). Then I wanted to install my purchased copy of Lion through Appstore, but it said it's no longer available in my country and I couldn't download it again.
Then I decided to buy a copy of Mountain Lion which I tried to install. I managed to do it, and I tried to explore my new operation system.
I tried the iCloud app as well, including the Lock. It locked the computer, and rebooted, but ever since I couldn't unlock it.
When it asks for the password I enter it and it accepts it, but doesn't unlock, only lets me into Recovery mode. Now I reinstalled the whole thing over again and when the Mountain Lion install finishes, it only boots into the Recovery HD without asking.
So if I reboot my computer, no matter what I do it only boots into Recovery Mode.
Please help!!
Mike

I was afraid the Apple Store wasn't going to be an option.
Based on your previous post, I was under the impression you could download Mountain Lion, but when you installed it, it locked up again. Not true?
I don't know how to remove it. You can try contacting Apple support through the link below to see if they can help you get this unlocked.
Apple Support Contact
Are the kernal panics new since all this happened?
Here is some information about kernal panics.
Kernel Panics - About
Kernel Panics - Avoiding and Eliminating
Kernel Panics FAQ
Kernel Panics FAQ (2)
Kernel Panics - Understanding and Debugging
The articles discuss where kernal panic reports are filed. After you have a kernal panic, copy the report and post it here. Please copy and paste rather than using a screen shot. There are several people who can read them and they can suggest what to do next. Reading kernal panic reports isn't something I've totally figured out yet.

Mountain Lion Didn't Install Recovery Partition

So here's a weird one...
Upgarded my harddrive a while back while I was still on Lion and in the process of cloning from my 500gb drive to my new 750gb drive I didn't end up getting the recovery partition cloned over. Didn't really think much of it, hopefully I wouldn't need it and even if I did I made a bootable Lion USB.
Fast forward to today. Decided to install Mountain Lion. Made a bootable key (just in case) but didn't bother doing my usual clean install method and just upgraded the system. Everything went fine and dandy but it looks like I still have no recovery partition (opening up disk utility simply shows Macintosh HD, and if I recall when the recovery partition existed it showed up there too).
No where in the install process did the install mention that the partition couldn't be made. No warnings were given. It just looks like it straight up didn't bother to do it.
So did I miss out? Am I SOL? I really wanted to avoid a clean install... I mean if I have a bootable thumb drive with Mountain Lion it's probably a moot point anyways but the idea of not having it JUST IN CASE is a little troublesome. Any ideas?

Derp derp derp. Just checked by booting. It's there.
I could have SWORN in Lion I had actually seen it in Disk Util (must have had debug enabled or something) but it's there.
Crisis averted.

Mountain Lion installation fails (No Recovery) - Mac Pro '10

Whenever I try to install Mountain Lion on my 2011 Mac Pro it fails and I get message telling my that a Recovery file could not be created and to visit http://www.apple.com/support/no-recovery. After going through the support document, I haven't been able to find a solution or work around.
I'm upgrading from Lion on a Mac Pro I bought in 2011.
Help!!

Hi Linc,
This is what I get:
/dev/disk0
   #:                       TYPE NAME                    SIZE       IDENTIFIER
   0:      GUID_partition_scheme                        *3.0 TB     disk0
   1:                        EFI                         209.7 MB   disk0s1
   2:                  Apple_HFS Big Mac III             2.2 TB     disk0s2
/dev/disk1
   #:                       TYPE NAME                    SIZE       IDENTIFIER
   0:      GUID_partition_scheme                        *3.0 TB     disk1
   1:                        EFI                         209.7 MB   disk1s1
   2:                  Apple_HFS Big Mac I               2.2 TB     disk1s2
/dev/disk2
   #:                       TYPE NAME                    SIZE       IDENTIFIER
   0:      GUID_partition_scheme                        *3.0 TB     disk2
   1:                        EFI                         209.7 MB   disk2s1
   2:                  Apple_HFS Big Mac II              2.2 TB     disk2s2
/dev/disk3
   #:                       TYPE NAME                    SIZE       IDENTIFIER
   0:      GUID_partition_scheme                        *3.0 TB     disk3
   1:                        EFI                         209.7 MB   disk3s1
   2:                  Apple_HFS Big Mac IV              2.2 TB     disk3s2
/dev/disk4
   #:                       TYPE NAME                    SIZE       IDENTIFIER
   0:     Apple_partition_scheme                        *12.0 TB    disk4
   1:        Apple_partition_map                         258.0 KB   disk4s1
   2:                  Apple_HFS Back Up                 12.0 TB    disk4s3
/dev/disk5
   #:                       TYPE NAME                    SIZE       IDENTIFIER
   0:      GUID_partition_scheme                        *2.0 TB     disk5
   1:                        EFI                         209.7 MB   disk5s1
   2:                  Apple_HFS *****'s Shows KD        2.0 TB     disk5s2
The last two disks are external.
Got an idea of what I can do?

Can't boot Mountain Lion installer on a machine that already has Mavericks installed

I have upgraded my Mac mini 2012 to Mavericks, and everything is running quite well. However, I need to also run Mountain Lion (a piece of hardware I need to use is not Mavericks compatible.)
I am attempting to install Mountain Lion on a 2nd partition on my Mini's internal hard drive by following the following steps:
* used Disk Utility to repartition my mini's internal drive, creating a 100 GB partition to install Mountain Lion on
* used DiskMakerX to create a Mountain Lion bootable USB key
* rebooted machine while holding down Option
At this point the boot menu appears and I see icons for both my Mavericks partition, as well as the Mountain Lion installer USB key. However when I select the USB key and try to boot from it, it does not boot; instead I get a gray screen with the universal "no" symbol (circle with a slash through it) on it.
I tested the USB key on another Mac and it booted fine, so there is nothing wrong with the USB key I made. So it would seem that the Mountain Lion installer will refuse to run on a computer if it has a newer OS on it, even if the computer has a free partition (or drive) to install on to.
Is there any way around this restriction?

Hi,
to calm your nerves: on my computer I have CS3 and CS4, and I work with both versions, but of course, I never use them at the same time. First, I had CS3, CS4 I installed later.
All the keyboard short cuts, like yours work free from defects.
Hahns-G.

Windows 7 Installation Media Only Boots into Recovery

Ever since I've updated to Windows 8, I have been really pleased. Everything works fine but when I was automatically updated to windows 8.1, I wasn't happy. I mostly use my PC for gaming and emulating my favourite classic game consoles. But windows 8.1 either
doesn't allow games to play, and makes my emulators run at 15 FPS (normally they run at 55-60). And now, I cant install Graphics drivers! I used to be able to on windows 8. 8.1 will not let me run any of my old Windows 7 Apps either,
So, after spending hours backing up my date, ready to start a fresh windows 7 installation, I figured out that I cannot upgrade, or even start the installation from the USB drive!
I had lots of issues with Windows Vista and used the same installation media to fix the OS. Now, the installation ONLY boots into recovery mode!
Luckily, I use Debian KDE on the side, So I am able to use my computer, but not play any games.
Is there any way to have the installation media boot into Win7 Setup?

Hi,
Could you provide with a screen shoot?
Please test the USB drive in another pc.
If it is the same issue, it would be caused by the USB drive.
And then follow the steps to create a bootable USB drive.
Create a Bootable USB Flash Drive
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/jj200124.aspx
Hope this helps,
Ada Liu
TechNet Community Support

I have a 15" MacBook Pro with Mountain Lion installed. I have partitioned the hard drive into two partitions. Is it possible to install Snow Leopard on the second partition? If so how do I do it?

I have a 15" MacBook Pro with Mountain Lion installed. I have partitioned the hard drive into two partitions. Is it possible to install Snow Leopard on the second partition? If so how do I do it?

If your MacBook Pro had Snow Leopard on it at one time then sure. (Early 2011 or earlier)
How to erase and install Snow Leopard 10.6
Obviously choose the second partition to install into. It has to be OS X Extended journaled formatted in Disk Utility (BootCamp software makes it a MSDOS/FAT32 formatted partition if you used that to partition with)
If it's a Early 2011 or Late 2011 that came with 10.7, it's possible, but it's not easy.
https://discussions.apple.com/thread/3264421?start=0&tstart=0
If you can't install Snow Leopard, there is a thread over at MacRumors how to run Snow Leopard in a virtual machine program under 10.7 or 10.8

Mountain Lion installer will not let me choose my Lion Partition as an install location

Mountain Lion installer will not let me choose my Lion Partition as an install location.
Any ideas why?

Again, why will the Mountain Lion installer not allow me to select my Lion partition as the location for the install?
Good question. That's the main way it's supposed to be installed. You shouldn't even need to choose a partition. You purchase Mountain Lion through the App Store, it downloads to the Applications folder and automatically begins the installation on the drive where Lion or Snow Leopard resides as soon as the download is complete.

My MacBook won't boot into recovery mode after new hard drive installation. Please help!

I just installed a new hard drive. On boot it keeps on going to the flashing folder with a question mark inside.
I was able to format the new hard drive but am unable to boot into recovery mode to install the operating system over the air.
When I hold down Command -R it keeps on taking me to the flashing folder.
Please help!

A new hard drive doesn't have a recovery partition. It's totally blank.You're going to need either your original install discs or a Snow Leopard retail disc from which partition, format and install OS X.

OS X Lion 10.8.2 won't boot into recovery mode

Help! OS X Lion 10.8.2 won't boot into recovery mode, I get a grey screen, the apple icon and the spinning symbol...Does anyone have any suggestions?
Have a MacBook Pro (2009) and had no problems until upgrading to LIon from Snow Leopard... thanks!

Hi there - thanks very much for your suggestion, it did reboot eventually but took a long time to get there.
I've have run Disk Utility. After Verifying the disk it said it needed Repairing - so tried doing that and got the message " Error: Utility can't repair this disk. Back up as many of your files as possible, reformat the disk, and restore your backed-up files" I have got Time Machine but haven't backed-up since Dec 12...Can I use "Restore" to copy the MBP HD to an external HD and then re-install Lion?

Where can I find my mountain lion installer included with 2012 mac mini

I just bought a 2012 mac mini and I want to install mountain lion on an SSD that I bought separately. Where can I find the mountain lion installer file to create a bootable USB install drive? When I go to the mac app store, mountain lion is not listed in my purchases and when I try to buy it, it says "We could not complete your purchase. OS X Mountain Lion is not compatible with this computer." It's already installed on the mac mini, I just need the installer file so I can install it on my SSD.

keg55 wrote:
You might be able to simply boot into the ML Recovery HD, select Reinstall OS X and point to your SSD drive. You won't capture the InstallESD.dmg file to create a USB thumb drive installer.
OR.... to create a USB thumb drive of your pre installed ML, you would need to redownload Mountain Lion then grab the InstallESD.dmg file and create your USB thumb drive.Here is how I've done it using Internet Recovery to get my pre installed OS X.
Attach a USB external drive to your system. Formated as Mac OS Extended (Journal) and GUID partition table.
Restart using Command+R+Option to boot into Apple's Recovery HD. This will get you the original version. Or just Command+R to boot into your ML Recovery HD.
Select Reinstall OS X from the OS X Utilities menu.
You will have to watch the download. After it completes and your system restarts, at the black screen disconnect the external USB drive.
After you are back to your current desktop, insert the external USB drive. There should be a single folder on the drive called 'Install Data' (I think). Find the InstallESD.dmg file and copy it to a folder on your current system (Downloads, for example).
Follow any of the internet instructions to create a ML USB thumb drive.
I tried this method, and while it did get me the installer image, when I restored it to an external and tried to use it to restore a Late 2012 Mac Mini, I got the same "No" symbol I did with other ML installers.
Here are some screenshots of what was loaded onto my external before I yanked it, when the screen turned black durring the restart. The highlighted file is what I restored to my external to use to restore the Mac Mini.

Prevent Mountain Lions Installer Automatic Delete

I want to do a clean reinstall of Mountain Lion on my MacBook. I recently learned how to do it, yippee! However, in following the instructions that supposedly an 8 year old could follow, I hit a brick wall. I could not find the application/installer. I searched and searched banging my head in frustration. Then I discoverd that, after download, it is automatically deleted. Anyway, I apparently need to re-download the app from the app store. Is it that simple first? Second, how do I ensure it is not automatically deleted upon download. I hope that makes sense. It is my intent to first, make my current MacBook Pro back to original settings. Second, it is my intent to create a boot disk with a flash drive to install Mountain Lion on two other MacBooks (it is my understanding I can use it on up to 5 of my machines). Thanks in advance.

BigSky13 wrote:
Anyway, I apparently need to re-download the app from the app store. Is it that simple first?
Correct. As you purchased it in the past, you can download it as many times as you want for free, from App Store or starting into Recovery (pressing Command and R keys while your Mac is starting). If you want to download the installer, you have to download Mountain Lion from the App Store.
BigSky13 wrote:
Second, how do I ensure it is not automatically deleted upon download. I hope that makes sense. It is my intent to first, make my current MacBook Pro back to original settings.
It's only deleted when you upgrade OS X, but if you download the OS X Mountain Lion installer and you don't install it, you won't get it deleted
BigSky13 wrote:
Second, it is my intent to create a boot disk with a flash drive to install Mountain Lion on two other MacBooks (it is my understanding I can use it on up to 5 of my machines). Thanks in advance.
To do it, first download OS X Mountain Lion from the App Store. Then, use Lion Diskmaker to create the USB drive with Mountain Lion > http://liondiskmaker.com
You can upgrade to OS X Mountain Lion all your Macs without any problem, so you don't have to worry about paying OS X Mountain Lion again to install it in your other Macintoshes

How do I boot into recovery mode with wireless keyboard

I am unable to boot into recovery mode using either cmd-R or holding down the alt key. How is it supposed to work?
Message was edited by: Niklas Brunberg (better title)

I understand your concerns - I'm glad both of my machines are dual bootable (just in case) and I have my Snow Leopard install disks..... However, this is what Apple has decided, so we need to find the best way to deal with it. Personally, I've tested the recovery mode several times and, at least on my machine, it was not reliable (i.e. it wouldn't work - I tried it again and it did, but it spent more than an hour downloading the entire 4 GB installer again and then another 30 minutes installing it), and on a third try, I found that it had vanished because I had cloned by drive. When you clone, only your system is cloned, not the extra partition.
So, I've decided to rely on a) my bootable clones and b) a copy of the installer (.dmg) in case my clones fail. I don't feel comfortable relying on something that requires an internet connection and a full download to work. But, that works for me; you may want to take a different approach.

Mac Mini 2011 - Grey Screen in Mountain Lion Installation

I'm having major difficulties with my Mac Mini 2011.
It started with random grey screens appearing forcing me to restart. I restarted and continued working as normal.
Today, I restarted and it jumped directly into the grey screen again in startup.
1.
I booted into recovery mode
-Tried disk utility - repaired and everything seemed fine
-Rebooted and into grey screen again
2.
-Formated partition
-Started new installation and after downloading and 20min remaining, grey screen appears again
Restarted and everything went to grey screen portrayed in the link below:
https://www.box.com/s/yqzizv9g1enob4cdc4yr
I'm stuck.. I believe this should be a clean installation. Why isn't this working?
Can anyone help me please?

If you want to preserve the data on the boot drive, you must try to back up now, before you do anything else. It may or may not be possible. If you don't care about the data, you can skip this step.
There are several ways to back up a Mac that is unable to fully boot. You need an external hard drive to hold the backup data.
1. Boot from the Recovery partition or from a local Time Machine backup volume (option key at startup.) Launch Disk Utility and follow the instructions in this support article, under “Instructions for backing up to an external hard disk via Disk Utility.”
2. If you have access to a working Mac, and both it and the non-working Mac have FireWire or Thunderbolt ports, boot the non-working Mac in target disk mode. Use the working Mac to copy the data to another drive. This technique won't work with USB, Ethernet, Wi-Fi, or Bluetooth.
3. If the internal drive of the non-working Mac is user-replaceable, remove it and mount it in an external enclosure or drive dock. Use another Mac to copy the data.

Need help with Os X Mountain Lion Installation

I have a Macbook Pro (early 2011) 2.3Ghz and Everytime I boot up my macbook this Os X Mountain Lion screen pop up but when I try to install it. A message pop up saying ‘"temperaly unavailable try again ‘later" and sometimes "please contact apple care". I need help getting pass this installation so I can start using My macbook pro. Can someone help me?

Have you downloaded the Mountain Lion installer from the App Store? It is a stand alone application.

Mountain Lion installer boots into recovery partition

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