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.
did a clean install, downloaded the combo update but it wont let me install, i think i still have to boot at least once to finish the instalation before i can install the update :\
i guess i'll just have to wait for a new retail version
It shouldn't really be necessary to boot once in order to install the Combo update.
I tried to replicate your problem, by booting into the server and then beginning to install the client Combo update to the other disk: it let me choose the disk where I have OS X client installed, so there should be no problems continuing with the install (of course, I didn't, as I already have 10.6.5 installed).
Sure that you downloaded the 10.6.5
client Combo updater and chose the disk where OS X client is installed as the target?
All HDs have the yellow sign wich wont let me install the update. I did get the client combo update, also download the 10.6.4 update and it didnt work either
That is really strange: the Combo updater should see that you have OS X client installed on an internal or external hard drive and make it available to be updated.
Hmm - I think we need some experts, here: anyone...?
I've installed 10.6.3 off the disc on my mid 2010 server, updated to 10.6.5 using the combo update and the system
still does not see the SD card. Did anyone get this working? I no longer have OS X server installed on the other drive, so I can't get the kext files off it--no matter, though, because I tried that once already and it wouldn't let me install the kext's on SL client--it gave me some kind of an error saying they were incompatible.
For me, it worked out of the box, after updating to 10.6.5 client...
The kernel extension
AppleSDXC.kext (version 1.0.1) is indeed included in the 10.6.5 client Combo updater, so it should have been installed as a part of the updated base system.
Anyway, you can always open the 10.6.5 Combo package with Pacifist, locate the extension (it is in SUBaseSystem10.6.5.pkg -> System -> Library -> Extensions) and install it from there (or even simply reapply the Combo updater).
Strange, thus, that it doesn't work (does it show up in System Profiler?)...
... OTOH, if the kernel extension is already there - as it should be - and with the correct version number (1.0.1), repairing permissions with Disk Utility could perhaps be a good idea.
Sorry I'm new to Mac, getting more into it lately
This may be a dumb pointless question
But when you guys talk about SL OS X 10.6.3 retail cd... is this the upgrade cd(39$) or a full box set? Kinda confused about this. Thanks.
I spent many unsuccessful days trying to install SL client onto the 2010 Mac mini with SL server...
I had someone order me a set of replacement discs for their 2010 Mac Mini (non server) through Apple Care which I used.
After an erase and install, I tried to migrate the back up I had made using SL server over to SL client and I ended up with SL server at the end!!!!. The only option was to erase again and install SL client then manually move my files over from the Time Machine back up made using SL server.
None of the SL Retail Discs that I tried, worked correctly even after software updates. I even booted off an external HDD that already had a fully updated SL client install. Initially it would run but with no ethernet and card reader support. Eventually kernel panics were frequent enough for me to give up and source the 'custom build' client disc for the same generation Mac mini.
Probably, personally I had success mainly because I installed OS X client (retail, 10.6.3: it shouldn't matter if it is standalone or from a box set) via a MacBook Pro, in target DVD mode: maybe there's something magic happening with this method (could it also be that the retail DVD gets some boot info from the MacBook Pro's HD?); and updating to 10.6.5 (and now 10.6.6) fixed all the remaining problems.
Anyway, I, too, solved the problem more radically, by purchashing also a non-server Mac mini (for another person): thus, if I have to reinstall, I'll just use the client Mini's DVDs (also good, BTW, for the Boot Camp drivers), directly with the external USB SuperDrive.
Just thought I would reply with my experience with all of this mess. ;o)
Today I received my brand new Mac Mini Server that I purchased as an upgrade to my early 2009 Mac Mini. After failing to read any of these discussions first, I made the mistake of attempting to install a copy of the OSX 10.6 client from my original release DVD which of course bombed the new Mini when it tried to reboot with it. The distressing aspect to that is that it made no attempt to try and boot from the other HDD that had the factory installed copy of the Server version on it, so the machine was basically bricked unless I booted it off the server disc that came with it, which immediately began installing ANOTHER copy of the server version over my failed OSX client install.
Anyway... I read a blog post on another site about a guy that basically booted his new Mini Server in Target Disc mode while connected to another Mac. Copied its 10.6.6 boot disc over to the second drive of the new Mini Server, rebooted the Mini, changed the startup disc to the OSX Client he copied from his other machine and rebooted. He claimed that everything worked perfectly, so I decided to give it a try.
I have 7 Macs here on my home network, but I figured I may as well use the early 2009 Mac Mini that this new machine is replacing as our Plex Media Server so that I wouldn't have to reconfigure anything to play my video collection. I set the new machine in Target Disc mode connected with FW800 and used Disk Utility on the 2009 Mini to wipe the second drive of the server Mini clean, and then proceeded to copy over the entire contents of my old Mini's boot disc onto the second drive of the new Mini.
After this completed, I rebooted the new Mini which came up on the Server. I changed the startup disc to the second drive with a copy of my 2009 Mini's boot disc and held my breath! ...
The new Mini Server booted right up with an exact clone of my old Mini's desktop! Everything was there and all the apps set to launch on startup all came up fine. The only thing that didn't work right away was my Magic Trackpad and my BlueTooth keyboard. I had to rediscover both of them, and on the keyboard I had to add it as a new device.
After that was done I proceeded to check all the other areas that have failed for others.
Ethernet - Works fine
SD Card Reader - Works Fine
DVD Player - Works fine (using a OWC Blu-ray reader/burner) via FW800
I found a torrent with the 2010 non-server version of the Mini Startup disc #1 that I had downloaded as a backup in case this didn't work, but it doesn't look like I am going to need it. The machine seems to be running perfectly normally. Only thing I notice is more audible noise from this Mini probably due to the two 7200 rpm drives spinning in there, and also apparently a higher fan speed than my 2009 Mini when the machine first boots up, but it settles down after everything launches.
I ran software update and it says the machine is up to date.
I didn't have to copy any kext files over from the Mini server disc, or do any elaborate commands with terminal etc. Perhaps I had an easier time because the boot disc was a copy of another Mini, although an early 2009 model, not a 2010.
Just thought I would add my experience with this to this thread, since I think more and more people will probably be running into the same original problem with trying to get the client version of OSX onto the server version. If you are upgrading from an Intel Mini, following the above steps should get you up and running without having to jump through all the hoops!
I am getting ready to do this, I have installed my OS X server software on an external that boots just fine, However after reading your post my plan of using a usb dvd drive for the client install is not possible? So I can target disk my MBP and use it to install client correct? If my MBP is not an intel mac will I have an issue? Because this caused me to have to purchase the usb drive because I couldnt use remote disk or cd/dvd sharing on my PPC MBP.
Just an update, Got SL Client installed no issues thanks for all the good info that allowed me to have a first time go with this process. Going to check tomm to make sure all my data made the migration.
Just wanted to provide one more confirmation that regular Snow Leopard (non-server) can be installed on a Mac Mini Server mid-2010 (2.66HGz Macmini4,1) using the tips provided in this thread (particular thanks to Sven G for all the useful tips!). In my case, I had another Mac (Mac Mini 2008) available to help with the process.
To summarize what I did:
- Booted new Mac Mini Server mid-2010 into target disk mode (hold down the T key while booting new Mac Mini until it shows the Firewire logo on the monitor). This makes the new Mac Mini Server hard drives look just like external firewire hard drives to another mac.
- Connect the new Mac Mini Server to another Mac with firewire (in my case, the older Mac was already powered up and logged in) via Firewire cable. In my case, I had to purchase a FW800(1395b)-to-FW400(1394a) adapter since my older Mac only had FW400. I used a FireWire 400-to-800 Adapter but a conversion cable should work fine too.
- The new Mac Mini should show up as a couple of hard drives on the old Mac.
- I chose to install on the 2nd (blank) drive on the new Mac Mini server, so I formatted it to "Mac OS Extended (Journaled)" using Disk Utility.
- I purchased a fresh copy of Snow Leopard (non-server) 10.6.3 retail as well as downloaded the Apple Combo updater 10.6.5 ahead of time onto my old mac.
- I popped the Snow Leopard retail 10.6.3 DVD into the old mac and fired up the install. Went through the options, and installed it onto the new Mac Mini Server 2nd hard drive.
- Then (without any reboots) ran the Combo updater 10.6.5 (or later should be fine) to get everything up to date (for the ethernet driver, SD card reader driver and DVD player).
- Once that's done, ejected both hard drives of the new Mac Mini off of the old Mac, disconnected the firewire cable, and rebooted the new Mac Mini Server. Note that by default it will boot into the original new Mac Mini Server 1st hard drive (ie. where the Snow Leopard
Server was pre-installed), so hold down the Option key while booting the new Mac Mini Server and it will give you the option of selecting any drive. Just select the drive with the non-server Snow Leopard.
- From there, use your new Mac Mini Server as a normal (non-server) Snow Leopard Mac. I immediately ran Software Update (which found 10.6.6 updates) and that was it. Tested everything out, then formatted the 1st drive (to wipe out the Snow Leopard Server) and everything has worked great! Snow Leopard (non-server) on a Mac Mini Server mid-2010!
