billfromlangley

Q: question mark flashing, how to install OS without a disk

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Posted on Jul 15, 2014 7:32 AM

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Q: question mark flashing, how to install OS without a disk

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  • by lllaass,

    lllaass lllaass Jul 15, 2014 7:46 AM in response to billfromlangley
    Level 10 (189,795 points)
    Desktops
    Jul 15, 2014 7:46 AM in response to billfromlangley

    Try booting from the recovery partition unless you have the 2103 Mac Pro. That is the first Mac Pro desktop to have interent recovery.

    OS X: About OS X Recovery

    and reinstall the OS.

    Otherwise you will have to:

    -  download the installer on another Mac. make bootable install media and boot your Pro from that media. To make the media.

    - connect your  Mac to another Mac via FireWire and boot your Pro via Target FIreWire mode and install the OS on your Pro that way.

  • by The hatter,

    The hatter The hatter Jul 15, 2014 8:21 AM in response to billfromlangley
    Level 9 (60,935 points)
    Jul 15, 2014 8:21 AM in response to billfromlangley

    any Mac but the newest Late 2013 can run Snow Leopard.

    To access the App Store you need 10.6.8 or later.

     

    To create an installer, you need to save the downloaded package before you run it for Lion and later, and then can put it on any partition (16GB is fine) or use a USB device or flash drive as some do.

     

    However, you should also make bootable clone backups; use Safe Mode etc.

     

    The "?" on startup just meant that it had to search for and didn't have the boot volume setting stored in PRAM or NVRAM, and happens any time you "zap pram."

     

    "Help" alone would be better if there was background details as to system itself and what you have and have done.

  • by Grant Bennet-Alder,

    Grant Bennet-Alder Grant Bennet-Alder Jul 15, 2014 8:55 AM in response to billfromlangley
    Level 9 (61,185 points)
    Desktops
    Jul 15, 2014 8:55 AM in response to billfromlangley

    what model Mac, exactly?