Install OS X High Sierra without converting to APFS file system

install-osx-high-sierra-command-line.sh

# create a USB installer
# https://support.apple.com/en-au/HT201372

Download the OS X High Sierra installer via the App Store, it will be installed into the /Applications directory
If it opens automatically, close it
Insert a USB stick (8GB+)
Run the following command where MyVolume is the name of the USB volume:
sudo /Applications/Install\ macOS\ High\ Sierra.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia --volume /Volumes/MyVolume

# boot the USB installer

Boot the computer holding the Option key
Select the USB installer as the startup disk

# from the menu, select Utilities > Terminal
# install without APFS (optional)
# use the installpackage parameter to install an extra .pkg (optional)

/Volumes/Image\ Volume\Install\ macOS\ High\ Sierra.app/Contents/Resources/startosinstall \
  --volume /Volumes/Macintosh\ HD/ \
  --converttoapfs NO \
  --applicationpath /Volumes/Image\ Volume\Install\ macOS\ High\ Sierra.app \
  --agreetolicense \
  --installpackage extra-package.pkg
  

I've tried removing both the \ and the --applicationpath but still the code doesn't seem to do anything! Any other tips that might get it working?

Ah I just notice you're installing Catalina, I missed that before. The command I ran was current for installing High Sierra. I don't see documentation about the --volume parameter in your usage message for example. I'm not sure if the --eraseinstall and --newvolumename parameters are equivalent, they might be.

I've just tried the same using High Sierra instead of Catalina and still got the same issue-- the list of arguments were displayed but nothing actually ran!

Does the command still work on your computer? Could you paste a screenshot of you running the command?

Update and thanks for all the support guys

I worked out that SIP is enabled on my Mac by default which disables the --volume option in the startosinstall command. After disabling SIP and now running the command then startosinstall looks like it's working.

The problem I've got now is that my Mac seems to permanently hang on Preparing to run macOS Installer..., but I am one step closer to the solution!

I recall seeing the install log. See this article:

https://scriptingosx.com/2018/02/show-the-installer-log-during-high-sierra-installation/

Thanks @peacefixation.

I've managed to get logs- in the end I used the cp /var/log/install.log ~/Desktop command since I couldn't get the keyboard command working.

I've gone through the logs and have copied the ones that seem to show error below:

2021-02-18 08:31:56+00 MacBook-Pro osinstallersetupd[4322]: Failed to load IAMiniSoftwareUpdate.framework. Error: (null)
2021-02-18 08:31:57+00 MacBook-Pro osinstallersetupd[4322]: Failed to load IABridgeOSInstall.framework: dlopen(/Applications/Install macOS High Sierra.app/Contents/Frameworks/OSInstallerSetup.framework/Versions/A/Versions/A/Frameworks/IABridgeOSInstall.framework/IABridgeOSInstall, 1): image not found
2021-02-18 08:31:57+00 MacBook-Pro osinstallersetupd[4322]: Install was requested to a disk that was not evaluated. Blocking on evaluation.
2021-02-18 08:31:57+00 MacBook-Pro osinstallersetupd[4322]: Target is not convertible to APFS: You may not install to this volume because it can not be converted to Apple File System.
2021-02-18 08:31:57+00 MacBook-Pro osinstallersetupd[4322]: Target is not convertible to APFS: You may not install to this volume because it can not be converted to Apple File System.
2021-02-18 08:31:57+00 MacBook-Pro osinstallersetupd[4322]: Disk disk5s2 is not suitable because DMError: -69837
2021-02-18 08:31:57+00 MacBook-Pro osinstallersetupd[4322]: Target is not convertible to APFS: You may not install to this volume because it can not be converted to Apple File System.
2021-02-18 08:31:57+00 MacBook-Pro osinstallersetupd[4322]: Target is not convertible to APFS: This volume is not formatted as Mac OS Extended (Journaled).
2021-02-18 08:31:57+00 MacBook-Pro osinstallersetupd[4322]: No available package ref for compatibility update. Ignoring.
2021-02-18 08:31:57+00 MacBook-Pro osinstallersetupd[4322]: No available package ref for compatibility update. Ignoring.
2021-02-18 08:31:57+00 MacBook-Pro osinstallersetupd[4322]: No available package ref for compatibility update. Ignoring.
2021-02-18 08:31:57+00 MacBook-Pro osinstallersetupd[4322]: Unable to get fs for (null)
2021-02-18 08:31:57+00 MacBook-Pro osinstallersetupd[4322]: Unable to get fs for (null)
2021-02-18 08:31:57+00 MacBook-Pro osinstallersetupd[4322]: Unable to get fs for (null)
2021-02-18 08:31:57+00 MacBook-Pro osinstallersetupd[4322]: Unable to get fs for (null)
2021-02-18 08:31:57+00 MacBook-Pro osinstallersetupd[4322]: Unable to get fs for (null)
2021-02-18 08:31:57+00 MacBook-Pro osinstallersetupd[4322]: Unable to get fs for (null)
2021-02-18 08:31:57+00 MacBook-Pro osinstallersetupd[4322]: Operation queue started

Whats slightly strange is the Target is not convertible to APFS: You may not install to this volume because it can not be converted to Apple File System. error message since I made sure that I converted the volume to APFS before running the install. This is then followed by Target is not convertible to APFS: This volume is not formatted as Mac OS Extended (Journaled).???

I've tried adding —converttoapfs NO to the install command but this doesn't seem to change anything.

I will continue to troubleshoot. Any ideas?

APFS was introduced with High Sierra, maybe it expects Mac OS Extended?

Hmm I did try that, and got this error lol Error: This Mac can only install macOS on APFS-formatted drives.
I think maybe because my system is Big Sur?

The old vicious circle. I'm not sure mate, outside my experience at this point. Try the Ask Different Stack Exchange perhaps. Those guys are pretty smart sometimes.

https://apple.stackexchange.com/

Thanks for all your help @peacefixation, I'll give that a try!

hi, i have 2 SSD´s in my imac 27 2009, on one running High Sierra APFS, on the other one a HFS formated backup of it.

after 10 installations i could finally install HS in HFS, dont ask me how, i forgot :D

BUT when i try to rebuild my system from the timemachine backup (HFS SSD) wich was made under APFS, is AGAIN installs APFS

im getting crazy

"Target is not convertible to APFS: You may not install to this volume because it can not be converted to Apple File System. 2021-02-18 08:31:57+00 MacBook-Pro osinstallersetupd[4322]: Disk disk5s2 is not suitable because DMError: -69837`" ~dangerdave777
I am getting a similar message in my log like this one and I am wondering if you were able to resolve this, and if so, how you managed it?

#jiltedflower ... try to start under safemode and type under terminal

/Applications/Install\ macOS\ High\ Sierra.app/Contents/Resources/startosinstall --applicationpath /Applications/Install\ macOS\ High\ Sierra.app --agreetolicense --converttoapfs NO --nointeraction

(in my case)