lite1x
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Q: How to reinstall Snow Leopard on a Mini with no Optical drive

I have a Mini running 10.9 that needs to be wiped./reloaded. I have a set of discs from another Mini, a few months older than the one in triage, but when I set up via remote disc, I get a box saying I have to use Installer 23.1.1. The version number the discs report is 23.1.1. There's no menu to do a reformat since the installer program won't load. What is plan-B?

Mac mini, OS X Mavericks (10.9.1), no DVD drive

Posted on Jan 14, 2014 11:52 AM

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Q: How to reinstall Snow Leopard on a Mini with no Optical drive

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  • by Limnos,

    Limnos Limnos Jan 14, 2014 12:00 PM in response to lite1x
    Level 9 (54,368 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jan 14, 2014 12:00 PM in response to lite1x

    Are you actually booting to the installer DVD?

     

    I know discs that came with a machine originally can be machine-specific, but I thought that was a general model line.  Perhaps you crossed that line?

  • by varjak paw,

    varjak paw varjak paw Jan 14, 2014 12:01 PM in response to lite1x
    Level 10 (169,883 points)
    Jan 14, 2014 12:01 PM in response to lite1x

    You cannot use Remote Disk to install Mac OS X. Quoting from Apple's support article on Remote Disk (emphasis mine);

     

    Note: These types of discs or activities are not supported by DVD or CD sharing:

    • DVD movies.
    • Audio CDs.
    • Copy protected discs such as game discs.
    • Install discs for an operating system such as Microsoft Windows (for use with Boot Camp), or Mac OS X.
    • Burn a CD or DVD

     

    You'll need a USB optical drive, either an Apple SuperDrive or a third-party unit.

     

    Regards.

  • by Limnos,Helpful

    Limnos Limnos Jan 14, 2014 12:16 PM in response to varjak paw
    Level 9 (54,368 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jan 14, 2014 12:16 PM in response to varjak paw

    varjak paw wrote:

     

    You cannot use Remote Disk to install Mac OS X.

    But perhaps?

     

    Reinstalling software using Remote Install Mac OS X v10.5 and v10.6 - http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2129 - Learn how to reinstall software on your MacBook Air or Mac mini with Remote Install Mac OS X or Mac OS X Server.

  • by varjak paw,

    varjak paw varjak paw Jan 14, 2014 12:22 PM in response to Limnos
    Level 10 (169,883 points)
    Jan 14, 2014 12:22 PM in response to Limnos

    Hmmm.. interesting. Seems to be contradictory information. But your information is more likely to be correct, and you're probably right that the disks the OP is trying to use are wrong for that model of mini.

     

    Regards.

  • by lite1x,

    lite1x lite1x Jan 14, 2014 3:10 PM in response to Limnos
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 14, 2014 3:10 PM in response to Limnos

    Followed the link and tried the <OPTION> on startup. Selected Internet Recovery and watched in amazement as Lion fell out of the Cloud and rebuilt the MacMini as new. Thanks all who responded.

  • by varjak paw,

    varjak paw varjak paw Jan 15, 2014 6:46 AM in response to lite1x
    Level 10 (169,883 points)
    Jan 15, 2014 6:46 AM in response to lite1x

    If your Mini shipped with OS X 10.7, that would explain why it wouldn't install Mac OS X 10.6. Except in a few rare instances, you cannot install a version of Mac OS X earlier than the one the Mac shipped with since the earlier versions won't have the drivers for the newer hardware.

     

    Glad you got the mini to an acceptable state.

     

    Regards.