[Solved] Error "This copy of the Install MacOS application is damaged"

Discussions about using Mac OS X guests (on Apple hardware) in VirtualBox.
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RoddyJoff
Posts: 3
Joined: 12. May 2020, 16:04

[Solved] Error "This copy of the Install MacOS application is damaged"

Post by RoddyJoff »

I have been attempting to install macOS Sierra or High Sierra in VB for quite some time now without success.

The VM boots the disk file successfully and presents the maxOS Utilities dialog.

I have used the Disk Manager to erase the virtual disk successfully.

However when I choose Install macOS I receive the error message

This copy of the Install MacOS application is damaged and can't be used to install macOS

I have tried numerous (too many by far) files of the os software downloaded from various places, including Apple but the message is the same.

Am I making a fundamental error that I am missing somehow?

I am running macOS Catalina 10.15.4 on a 3.4 GHz Quad-core i5 with 24 GB Ram

I hope someone is able to help me before I go bananas!

Many thanks.
mpack
Site Moderator
Posts: 39156
Joined: 4. Sep 2008, 17:09
Primary OS: MS Windows 10
VBox Version: PUEL
Guest OSses: Mostly XP

Re: Fail to install "any" macOS

Post by mpack »

Provide a VM log file. With the VM fully shut down, right click it in the GUI. Select "Show Log" and save "VBox.log" (no other file) to a zip file. Attach the zip here.
RoddyJoff
Posts: 3
Joined: 12. May 2020, 16:04

Re: Fail to install "any" macOS

Post by RoddyJoff »

Many thanks for your reply.

I have attached the log file as you requested.

Cheers.
Attachments
HighSierra-2020-05-12-21-13-46.log.zip
Log file attached.
(29.47 KiB) Downloaded 332 times
granada29
Volunteer
Posts: 687
Joined: 3. Mar 2015, 07:27
Primary OS: Mac OS X other
VBox Version: OSE other
Guest OSses: Linux, macOS, Windows

Re: Fail to install "any" macOS

Post by granada29 »

RoddyJoff wrote: This copy of the Install MacOS application is damaged and can't be used to install macOS
.
In October last year the code signing certificates used by all of the Apple macOS Installers expired. New versions of the installers were released a few days later and can be found with a bit of googling.

Alternatively, you can workaround the the expired certificates with the following steps:
  1. Make sure you have a restorable backup of your system (not absolutely required by usually a very good idea)
  2. Disconnect your Mac from the Internet. i.e. remove any ethernet cables and turn of wifi. Or pull the plug on your router.
  3. Change the system date of your Mac to 1 July 2019
  4. Reboot your Mac
  5. Install your macOS virtual machine. You should NOT get the damaged message.
  6. After you have a running VM shut it down.
  7. Close all other applications you are running.
  8. Set the system date to the current date
  9. Reboot your system
  10. Reconnect to the internet
I hope that helps - seems like a lot of steps but it's actually not too bad.
mpack
Site Moderator
Posts: 39156
Joined: 4. Sep 2008, 17:09
Primary OS: MS Windows 10
VBox Version: PUEL
Guest OSses: Mostly XP

Re: Error "This copy of the Install MacOS application is damaged"

Post by mpack »

That's a very helpful post. I'm making this topic as sticky so that the info remains visible for a while, plus I changed the topic title to make the relevance clearer.
RoddyJoff
Posts: 3
Joined: 12. May 2020, 16:04

Re: Error "This copy of the Install MacOS application is damaged"

Post by RoddyJoff »

Many thanks granada29 your suggestion worked a treat.

Now I'm going to have some fun.

Cheers.
mpack
Site Moderator
Posts: 39156
Joined: 4. Sep 2008, 17:09
Primary OS: MS Windows 10
VBox Version: PUEL
Guest OSses: Mostly XP

Re: [Solved] Error "This copy of the Install MacOS application is damaged"

Post by mpack »

Topic marked solved.

Experience tells me that this topic will now attract loads of "I have the same problem, but..." (and goes on to describe completely different problem) posts for the rest of eternity, so I'm going to lock it now before the information is diluted.
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