Macus 0.4.2 — Windows USB boot fix

Macus 0.4.2 makes MBR + FAT32 + UEFI the default for Windows installer USBs. This avoids the separate unused EFI partition that macOS creates when formatting the USB as GPT.

Windows boot issue

A user reported that a Windows installation would only boot while the installer USB remained connected. They confirmed that recreating the installer in Macus 0.4.1 with MBR + FAT32 + UEFI resolved the problem. This release makes that working configuration the default. The reported physical test used 0.4.1 with those settings, not the 0.4.2 binary.

The USB partition scheme is separate from the internal Windows disk's partition scheme. Boot the installer using its UEFI entry; the internal Windows disk can still be GPT. GPT remains available as an explicit USB option.

Downloads and installation

• Macus-0.4.2-arm64.dmg — recommended installer for Apple Silicon Macs running macOS 26 or later. Quit Macus, open the DMG, drag Macus into Applications and replace the old version.
• Macus-0.4.2-arm64.zip — the same signed application as a ZIP.
• SHA256SUMS.txt — SHA-256 checksums for both downloads.

Select the Windows ISO to apply the new recommended settings. Existing USBs are not changed by updating Macus. Creating a new installer erases the selected USB. If an installed Windows system currently relies on a USB to boot, preserve that USB until you repair Windows or are ready to reinstall. This Mac app update does not repair an existing Windows installation.

Validation and included fixes

• 35 Swift tests passed, including writer execution with the recommended MBR defaults and retained explicit GPT coverage.
• App and DMG are Developer ID signed, Apple-notarized, and carry validated stapled tickets.
• Includes the 0.4.1 fix for installed-app resource lookup, covering Windows preparation, the image catalog, and toolkit export.
• The user-confirmed installation result above does not establish compatibility with every PC.

PC diagnostics

Quick Scan 1.1 is unchanged. Existing diagnostic USBs do not need to be recreated for this update. The boot image remains separate:

• Quick Scan 1.1 USB image ZIP
• Quick Scan download checksums

No Windows installer image is included.

Macus 0.4.1 — Windows USB crash fix

Macus 0.4.1 fixes the installed-app crash when preparing a Windows USB. The resource loader now reads the app's packaged resources instead of depending on its temporary build directory. Missing Windows writer resources produce an error instead of crashing. The same resource fix covers the image catalog and diagnostics toolkit export.

Downloads and installation

• Macus-0.4.1-arm64.dmg — recommended installer for Apple Silicon Macs running macOS 26 or later. Quit Macus, open the DMG, drag Macus into Applications and replace the old version. Reopen Macus and retry preparing your Windows USB.
• Macus-0.4.1-arm64.zip — the same signed application as a ZIP.
• SHA256SUMS.txt — SHA-256 checksums for both downloads.

The app and DMG are Developer ID signed, Apple-notarized and carry validated stapled tickets.

Validation

34 Swift tests passed, including relocated-app resource lookup and missing-resource checks. A separate packaged-app smoke check loaded the Windows writer, catalog and toolkit outside the build directory with the SwiftPM fallback disabled. Code signatures and notarization tickets were verified. This does not replace a physical Windows USB installation test.

PC diagnostics

Quick Scan 1.1 is unchanged. Existing diagnostic USBs do not need to be recreated for this Mac app update. The boot image remains separate to keep Macus small:

• Quick Scan 1.1 USB image ZIP
• Quick Scan download checksums

No Windows installer image is included.

Macus 0.4.0 + Quick Scan 1.1

Privacy rebuild: the Mac downloads were reissued on September 12, 2026 to remove local build paths and an obsolete bundled script. Re-download the Mac app if you obtained an earlier copy. Quick Scan 1.1 is unchanged.

Macus 0.4.0 keeps the Mac application small and distributes PC diagnostics separately. Quick Scan 1.1 boots from a regular USB, collects inventory and basic health data, saves reports to that same USB, and shuts down automatically.

Downloads

• Macus-0.4.0-arm64.dmg — Mac installer: open it and drag Macus into Applications. Requires Apple Silicon and macOS 26 or later.
• Macus-0.4.0-arm64.zip — the same Mac application as a ZIP.
• Macus-QuickScan-USB.img.zip — separate Intel/AMD PC boot image. Extract it, keep the .img and .sha256 together, and select the image in Macus under Inventory & Diagnostics.
• SHA256SUMS.txt — checksums for these downloads. The boot-image ZIP also contains a checksum for the extracted image.

Back up existing reports before recreating a USB; writing an image erases the selected drive. Use a regular USB of 2 GB or larger. Ventoy is optional, not required. Reports accumulate under MacusReports; reconnect the USB to the Mac to import them. Full Diagnostics remains available from the boot menu.

Changes

• Select a separate diagnostics image instead of bundling hundreds of megabytes inside the Mac app.
• Native authorized USB writing, fresh destination checks, checksum verification and automatic ejection.
• CPU/GPU inventory, RAM type/modules/speed, HDD/SSD capacity/interface, SMART and battery readings.
• Quick Scan 1.1: clearer model names and capacities, scan timing, NVMe wear/error counters, driver-reported GPU memory where available, and explicit warnings for unverified or suspect PC clocks.
• Failed saves leave the PC on with an error; successful repeated scans preserve previous reports.

Validation and limits

32 Swift and 22 Python tests pass. The published Quick Scan image passed BIOS/UEFI virtual boots, repeated saves on the same USB, and save-failure handling. Internal virtual HDD/SSD contents remained unchanged. DMG integrity, application signature and download checksums were verified locally.

Quick Scan 1.0 was tested on a physical ThinkPad P15 Gen 2i. The 1.1 update still needs a small physical pilot across different PCs, including GPU-memory verification. Secure Boot compatibility is not verified. Hardware detection and basic SMART readings are not stress tests or a complete hardware certification; unknown data stays unknown. Windows installer testing is separate from diagnostics validation.

The Mac application is Developer ID signed and Apple-notarized. The app and DMG carry stapled notarization tickets and pass local Gatekeeper assessment. Re-download the app if your copy predates this notarized reissue. Checksums verify download integrity; the Apple-verified signature identifies the publisher. No Windows or other proprietary OS installer is included.