Create a bootable Lion install drive for newer Macs

12. Drag the InstallESD.dmg disk image into Disk Utility's left-hand sidebar.

Now you've got the latest Lion-installer disk image, and you're ready to use that image to create a bootable installer drive or disc. As a bonus, the resulting Lion-installer drive should boot and support any current Lion-capable Mac. However, be aware that when Apple releases new Mac models, those models will come pre-installed with a newer version of Lion, so your installer drive won't work with them. (At some point, Apple will update the Lion installer on the Mac App Store to support those newer Macs, so you can then download the updated installer and make an updated installer drive that supports even those Macs. And so on...)

The next steps depend on whether you want to create a bootable hard drive or flash drive, or a bootable DVD. I recommend a hard drive or flash drive; a DVD will work, but it will take a long time to boot and install. And, of course, depending on your particular Mac model--I'm looking at you, MacBook Air and recent Mac mini--you may not have an optical drive.

To create a bootable hard drive or flash drive

1. In Disk Utility, select InstallESD.dmg in the sidebar, then click the Restore button in the main part of the window.