NevBull

Q: Snow Leopard on Mac Mini Server

Hi All - I have a new 2010 Mac Mini Server and would like to install Snow Leopard (non server version) on it. When I boot from the retail SL DVD on an external USB drive, it boots ok, then I get the error screen and have to hold down the power button to restart.

does anyone have any idea how I can achieve this?

Nev.

Mac Mini Server 2010, Mac OS X (10.6.2)

Posted on Jun 18, 2010 5:39 AM

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Q: Snow Leopard on Mac Mini Server

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  • by Fortuny,

    Fortuny Fortuny Jun 18, 2010 6:23 AM in response to NevBull
    Level 7 (21,435 points)
    Jun 18, 2010 6:23 AM in response to NevBull
    Hi Nev. and welcome to Discussions,

    your retail SL is too 'old' to be installed directly on the 'new' 2010 Mac Mini.

    Have a look at boeces post in this thread http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=11389242&#11389242 on how-to achieve what you want.

    Regards

    Stefan
  • by Dah•veed,

    Dah•veed Dah•veed Jun 18, 2010 7:05 AM in response to NevBull
    Level 7 (34,770 points)
    Mac App Store
    Jun 18, 2010 7:05 AM in response to NevBull
    Welcome to the Apple Discussions!

    Do not boot from the Install Disk. The Server has two drives. The second one is blank. Just tell SL on the ext HDD to install SL on the blank drive. Then download the 10.6.4 Update for the Mid '10 Mac mini and install it over the new installation of SL. That should bring that out-of-date version of SL up to date with all the specialized software for SL to interface with the new hardware of the new Mac minis. When the installation is complete set the 2nd drive as the startup drive in Sys Prefs/Startup Disk.


    Dah•veed

  • by Dah•veed,

    Dah•veed Dah•veed Jun 18, 2010 7:02 AM in response to Fortuny
    Level 7 (34,770 points)
    Mac App Store
    Jun 18, 2010 7:02 AM in response to Fortuny
    What are you doing over here? I cannot have any place to myself!
  • by Fortuny,

    Fortuny Fortuny Jun 18, 2010 9:06 PM in response to Dah•veed
    Level 7 (21,435 points)
    Jun 18, 2010 9:06 PM in response to Dah•veed
    David.Austin.Allen wrote:
    What are you doing over here? I cannot have any place to myself!


    Any of the iTunes Forums... I wouldn't dare to enter these minefields
  • by Osantrix,

    Osantrix Osantrix Jun 19, 2010 10:04 AM in response to NevBull
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jun 19, 2010 10:04 AM in response to NevBull
    Hi, anyone figure this out yet?

    I tried installing SL from server and applied a combo update to 10.6.4. It refused to install the Mac mini 10.6.4 specific update from server so I rebooted to SL which worked. I applied the mini update from there but problems still remain such as ethernet not working. Is the mac mini server even built to run the client version of SL?

    Carl
  • by japaneezy,

    japaneezy japaneezy Jun 19, 2010 1:44 PM in response to Osantrix
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jun 19, 2010 1:44 PM in response to Osantrix
    I installed SL onto my server out of the box using a direct copy off of my Mac pro. I noticed the SD card was not recognizing anything. I tried the new update from apple and it still didn't work. I then tried a fresh SL install off of target disk DVD and updating, but no luck with getting the SD card reader to work. I am currently installing SL server from the original restore disks to see if it's some kind of driver problem or just my hardware... Haven't tried the Ethernet port thought yet as I've been doing everything via wifi.
  • by japaneezy,

    japaneezy japaneezy Jun 19, 2010 3:27 PM in response to japaneezy
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jun 19, 2010 3:27 PM in response to japaneezy
    Ok so I am up and running SL Server on my Mini Server and the SD reader now works. I suppose this means that even if you install SL Retail and update it, it will still lack the necessary drivers to run the Mini's new guts. Now I need to try to get a hold of someone with a regular 2010 Mini and see if their restore disks will work, which i am pretty sure it will...
  • by Dah•veed,

    Dah•veed Dah•veed Jun 19, 2010 3:47 PM in response to japaneezy
    Level 7 (34,770 points)
    Mac App Store
    Jun 19, 2010 3:47 PM in response to japaneezy
    The Restore Disks should work. The '09 ones did.
  • by acaurora,

    acaurora acaurora Jun 19, 2010 7:56 PM in response to NevBull
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jun 19, 2010 7:56 PM in response to NevBull
    I actually just did this, er well sort of. I installed Snow Leopard 10.6.3, then updated to 10.6.4. However, I noticed that after doing this, I do not see the SD card reader nor do I see my Ethernet adapter. I think I see the Ethernet adapter as "Other Network Controller" under Ethernet Cards in the System Profiler, but it doesn't show up in Network Preferences. Should I install the 10.6.4 mid-2010 update, or would that not help either? Any other ideas?

    I was under the same idea, that installing the non-SL would prove to be a better consumer experience to be used as entertainment rather than for server use (I bought the server mainly for the storage, and I don't use optical drives anyway)
  • by acaurora,

    acaurora acaurora Jun 19, 2010 8:37 PM in response to NevBull
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jun 19, 2010 8:37 PM in response to NevBull
    EDIT: Just installed the 10.6.4 mini update, still no dice for the SD card slot / Ethernet.
  • by Dah•veed,

    Dah•veed Dah•veed Jun 19, 2010 9:23 PM in response to acaurora
    Level 7 (34,770 points)
    Mac App Store
    Jun 19, 2010 9:23 PM in response to acaurora
    I think you guys will need to clone Mac OS X 10.6.3 from another Mid '10 Mac mini, as it will have all the software necessary to interface with your mini's hardware. Then update with the Mac mini version of 10.6.4. As long as you always keep an up-to-date clone of your HDD it should be smooth sailing after that.
  • by Macme,

    Macme Macme Jun 19, 2010 10:09 PM in response to NevBull
    Level 2 (160 points)
    Jun 19, 2010 10:09 PM in response to NevBull
    I can't even get SL to install.

    I boot to the server, install a retail 10.6.3 install disk and run the installer.

    But all that happens is that, after a while, the screen goes to the 'prohibited icon' and spinning wheel. The drive to which I am attempting to install SL ends up with a folder of mostly printer packages and the basic installer.

    So I tried running the basic installer package and it installed a base system, library etc.
    I then ran the 10.6.4 update - which seemed to add more files. But the updated basic system still doesn't get recognized as being bootable.

    So how are you getting anything to install?
  • by Hotman2009,

    Hotman2009 Hotman2009 Jun 19, 2010 10:39 PM in response to Macme
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jun 19, 2010 10:39 PM in response to Macme
    I have spent some time on it and have not found a solution that works yet. Apple needs to fix this because there is no reason i cannot install Snow Leopard on this machine because i want the 2 hard drives in it.
  • by dbudde,

    dbudde dbudde Jun 19, 2010 11:08 PM in response to Hotman2009
    Level 1 (20 points)
    Jun 19, 2010 11:08 PM in response to Hotman2009
    I have this working. I went to an Apple Genius bar and had them install an early 2010 version of SL 10.6.3 on the second drive. I then updated that drive to SL 10.6.4. SL Server is installed on the Server drive.

    I then copied the /System/Library/Extensions/AppleSDXC.kext directory in SL Server to the same location on the SL boot drive. You need to make sure owner is root (user terminal to do the copy). Then reboot. Now the SD card slot works.
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