Lion USB flash drives are available for customers who are unable to use Lion's built-in recovery tools, according to an internal AppleCare document obtained by 9to5Mac. The document notes that "the ability to use this USB drive depends on how the customer purchased Lion and what computer they are using." The document doesn't go into any further detail, but it could be that new Macs with the Internet Recovery feature don't require the USB drive.
Further, these drives aren't necessarily the same as the thumb drives Apple plans to put on sale sometime this month for $69. Those USB drives aren't available yet.
However, for customers who are having difficulty with their Lion installations, a visit to an Apple Store or a call to 800-APL-CARE may be helpful.
It is also possible to make a bootable Lion installer on a DVD or on a USB flash drive using a small AppleScript application to automate the process. Some recommend the flash drive instead of the DVD, as it reportedly is much faster to install the OS in that manner.
Top Rated Comments
DVD cost $1
A support doc like that has never stopped power users trying things and being successful. I was able to do it with Tiger years back. However, the main point of contention here is that I should have been able to reinstall Lion using my own USB install drive. You must have skipped over that part... Please tell me how this is downgrading my OS!
Besides, a computer should not be rendered "fu**ed up beyond all recognition" after simply erasing the drive! Neither should it be completely useless after replacing/upgrading to a new drive. The point i was making was that if you have a system in place to restore an OS, in this case your machine contacts Apple's servers over the network and downloads a boot environment prior to the full OS, that system should work. Clearly, it is not working for a number of people.
Your refer to those dodgy DELL computers and the experience of your friend but how many times have you spoken with an AppleCare rep whose native language is not English. My experience just the other day was with someone whom I found it difficult to understand. That certainly wasn't the first time that has happened to me.
I don't want to sound disrespectful here towards your friend but NO WAY would I accept refurbished for new, or having to pay for a faulty keyboard. I would not have been mugged like that! I would have been quoting the Sale of Goods Act and Distance Selling Regulations at them so I'm not sure why your friend accepted service like that... :confused:
However, we are now straying from the original point of my post.