How to Fix iMac A1311 (Mid-2011) That Won't Boot from USB Flash Drive with macOSX 10.13?

Abstract: This article provides a solution to help iMac A1311 (Mid-2011) users fix the issue of a corrupted MacOSX 10.12 version that boots but shows a white screen of death. A bootable macOSX 10.13 USB flash drive was created, but the iMac won't boot from it. The article offers a possible solution to resolve this problem.

Created: 2025-01-06 by UserComp.com Editors

Introduction

In this article, we will discuss how to fix an iMac A1311 (Mid-2011) that won't boot from a macOS X 10.13 USB flash drive. We will cover the key concepts related to this issue and provide a detailed, step-by-step guide to resolving it.

Context and Key Concepts

When an iMac A1311 (Mid-2011) refuses to boot from a macOS X 10.13 USB flash drive, there are several possible causes. One common issue is a corrupted version of macOS X 10.12 that boots but displays a white screen of death. In these cases, the firmware may be set to boot from the internal disk rather than the USB drive.

Resolution

To resolve this issue, you will need to create a bootable USB flash drive with macOS X 10.13 on it, if you haven't already. Then, follow these steps:

Step 1: Shut Down the iMac

Start by shutting down the iMac completely.

Step 2: Connect the USB Flash Drive

Connect the USB flash drive that contains the bootable version of macOS X 10.13 to the iMac.

Step 3: Start Up in Recovery Mode

Start up the iMac while holding down the Command + R keys. This will put the iMac into Recovery Mode.

Step 4: Utilities Window

Release the keys when the Utilities window appears.

Step 5: Disk Utility

From the Utilities window, select Disk Utility.

Step 6: Select Internal Disk

In Disk Utility, select the internal disk of the iMac.

Step 7: Erase Disk

Click the Erase button to erase the internal disk. This will remove the corrupted version of macOS X 10.12 and allow you to install a clean version of macOS X 10.13.

Step 8: Install macOS X 10.13

Quit Disk Utility and return to the Utilities window. Select Reinstall macOS and follow the prompts to install macOS X 10.13 on the iMac's internal disk.

Code Block: Creating a Bootable USB Flash Drive

Here's a code block that shows how to create a bootable USB flash drive using the Terminal on a macOS system:


 sudo /Applications/Install\ macOS\ High\ Sierra.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia --volume /Volumes/My\ Volume \
 --applicationpath /Applications/Install\ macOS\ High\ Sierra.app

In this code block, replace "/Volumes/My\ Volume" with the path to your USB flash drive and "/Applications/Install macOS High Sierra.app" with the path to the macOS X 10.13 installer that you have downloaded from the Mac App Store.

An iMac A1311 (Mid-2011) that won't boot from a macOS X 10.13 USB flash drive may be due to a corrupted version of macOS X 10.12.
To resolve this issue, create a bootable USB flash drive with macOS X 10.13 and follow the

steps outlined in this article. This will erase the internal disk, removing the corrupted version of macOS X 10.12, and allow you to install a clean version of macOS X 10.13.

References

Apple Developer: Booting an Intel-based Mac from a USB Flash Drive
Apple Support: How to reinstall macOS
Jamf Nation: How to create a bootable OS X 10.11 El Capitan install drive

Tags: iMac A1311 MacOS USB Boot

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