OS X Snow Leopard install from (non-boot) USB memory stick

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Level 1

8 points

OS X Snow Leopard install from (non-boot) USB memory stick

oi~

just bought this second hand and after i finally got into it (the seller forgot name/password) it turns out the DVD drive is malfunctioning, i was able to watch part of a movie but it will not boot from it nor let me install from DVD. (seller is not calling me back or responding to anything i sent) bottom-line for now i can live without the DVD drive but i would like to install OS X Snow Leopard.. can i copy the DVD contents onto a 8 GB USB memory stick (using a Vista pc) and install from the USB stick ? it does not have to be bootable as i realize to do that you must use the Mac.

i also have a old(er) iMac, maybe i can use that copy copy contents (if it even reads DVD's)

any help appreciated.. thanks.

MB061LL/B, Mac OS X (10.5.4), (iPhone 3g w/ OS 4.0

Posted on Apr 20, 2010 6:26 AM

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Answer 1

Fortuny

Level 7

21,461 points

Apr 20, 2010 6:39 AM in response to roeiboot

Hi and welcome to Discussions,

the USB-Stick has to be bootable for installing Snow Leopard from it !

Windows Vista doesn't know a thing about OSX, its file system, etc. so Vista won't even be able to read the OSX DVD without additional helper-tool like MacDrive.

Might be easier to get an external DVD-drive for the MAc.

Regards

Stefan

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Answer 2

roeiboot Author

Level 1

8 points

Apr 20, 2010 7:09 AM in response to roeiboot

thanks..

i thought i put my model # in my info, it's a MB061LL/B (Apple MacBook "Core 2 Duo" 2.0 13") darn... i keep getting stuck when i think i have a solution. so copying the contents of the disc to a network pc will not work either. or, could i make the
USB stick bootable and copy contents using a old iMac ?

added: i might be able to borrow a MacBook w/ a working DVD player.. is it a fairly quick and painless process to create a bootable USB stick + put OS X Snow Leopard on it ? (i'm rusty when it comes to Mac..)

Message was edited by: roeiboot

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Answer 3

Fortuny

Level 7

21,461 points

Apr 20, 2010 7:06 AM in response to roeiboot

Hi,

here's a how-to for SL and USB-stick http://www.maciverse.com/install-os-x-snow-leopard-from-usb-flash-drive.html

Like said the Windows PC knows nothing about Mac and OSX, so it wouldn't be doable there.

Good Luck

Stefan

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Answer 4

direwolf8

Level 4

1,286 points

Apr 20, 2010 6:38 AM in response to roeiboot

It sounds like your DVD drive doesn't read multilayer discs. You don't indicate what it is you actually bought, but a replacement DVD drive is pretty cheap in most cases.

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