OSX High Sierra – NO APFS installation

source: https://www.tonymacx86.com/threads/guide-avoid-apfs-conversion-on-high-sierra-update-or-fresh-install.232855/

Default will ALWAYS make primary drive APFS!!

MUST USE: –converttoapfs NO

FRESH INSTALL SCENARIO:

1. Format TARGET as HFS+J
2. Boot installer, Utilities > Terminal

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/Volumes/"Image Volume/Install macOS High Sierra.app"/Contents/Resources/startosinstall --volume the_target_volume --converttoapfs NO --agreetolicense

OR SOURCE: POST # 2 @ https://www.tonymacx86.com/threads/guide-avoid-apfs-conversion-on-high-sierra-update-or-fresh-install.232855/#post-1602625

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# list /Volumes to remind yourself of the name you gave it

ls -l /Volumes

# then change your working directory to it (in my case, I used '1013')

cd /Volumes/1013

# now change to the "macOS Install Data" directory

cd "macOS Install Data"

# now <em><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>fix the minstallconfig.xml</strong></span></em> with PlistBuddy

/usr/libexec/PlistBuddy -c "Set :ConvertToAPFS false" minstallconfig.xml

**–volume TAG ONLY WORKS WITH “SIP” DISABLED.

UPDATE SCENARIO:

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/Applications/"Install macOS High Sierra.app"/Contents/Resources/startosinstall --converttoapfs NO --agreetolicense