Where is the "Remote Install Mac OS X" utility?

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Where is the "Remote Install Mac OS X" utility?

Greetings,

I am trying to to do a remote installation of OS X onto an older iMac (PPC G4, OSX 10.4.11) from a newer iMac (Intel i7, OSX 10.7). I have the Mac Box Set Family Pack and want to upgrade from Tiger to Leopard on the older iMac (finally!). Unfortunately, the optical drive on the older iMac is not acting right so I would like to install it remotely from the newer iMac. I can find plenty of resources telling me how to complete this task - all mentioning "Remote Install Mac OS X" found in Utilities.

However, "Remote Install Mac OS X" is nowhere to be found on my newer iMac. (The Tiger version is on my older one). I just upgraded to Lion and I believe it is still supposed to be around. How can I get this utility?

Thanks,

Jay Womack

iMac (Intel i7)-OTHER, Mac OS X (10.7)

Posted on Jul 24, 2011 7:18 AM

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Answer 1

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Jolly Giant

Level 7

25,464 points

Jul 24, 2011 7:45 AM in response to womackjm

womackjm wrote:

I just upgraded to Lion and I believe it is still supposed to be around. How can I get this utility?

seems it's gone with Lion.

instead, do this:

put the install DVD into the iMac and reboot it into target disk mode.

connect it by a firewire cable to the G4. then reboot it and hold option (⌥) at the chime. it will boot you into startup disk manager. one of the options there should be to boot from the DVD sitting in the ODD of the iMac. choose it and proceed with the install.

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Answer 2

womackjm Author

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9 points

Jul 24, 2011 8:34 AM in response to Jolly Giant

I just got off the phone with Apple (I still have extended warranty and Tech Support for the new machine). They confirmed that the "Remote Install Mac OS X" utility is no longer part of OS X with Lion. Their only suggestion was the same as yours: target disk mode.

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Answer 3

womackjm Author

Level 1

9 points

Jul 24, 2011 8:35 AM in response to womackjm

I do not really want to physically move the older iMac but it seems that is my only choice unless someone knows another remote method.

Does anybody know if OS X can be installed remotely by simply turning on CD/DVD sharing? Or does one need the "Remote Install Mac OS X" utility as well?

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Answer 4

Jolly Giant

Level 7

25,464 points

Jul 24, 2011 9:07 AM in response to womackjm

check out this read.

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Answer 5

womackjm Author

Level 1

9 points

Jul 24, 2011 7:36 PM in response to Jolly Giant

Thanks - I saw that earlier today. I have no problem enabling the sharing or even getting the DVD to mount on the older iMac.

However, when I try to run the install application, I get a warning that it must be run directly from the DVD. It seems the older iMac knows the difference between running an OS X install off a remote DVD versus one in its own optical drive.

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Answer 6

vangoun

Level 1

0 points

Feb 3, 2012 9:26 AM in response to womackjm

HOw did you solve the problem after all my friend. I am trying to do the same thing, use my iMac(with Lion) to install a fresh copy of Snow Leopard to my MBA.(10.5.2)

Any ideas as to how to use the iMac's optical drive for the installation.

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Answer 7

womackjm Author

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9 points

Feb 3, 2012 10:32 AM in response to vangoun

I ended up having my dad bring me his MacBook that was still running Leopard (or possibly Snow Leopard). The "Remote Install Mac OS X" was available as part of his OS and worked without a hitch. So . . . if you can find a Mac running OSX pre-Lion that would be one solution.

If you do not have that option, I would think "Target Disk Mode" should work for you. I have used this feature for moving large amounts of files from a hard drive but never for a remote install from an optical drive. They say it works . . . let me know if you are successful!

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Answer 8

vangoun

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Feb 3, 2012 10:38 AM in response to womackjm

The thing is that i am not an expert with iMac technology. I 've just defected from PC's so i have no idea what target disk mode is!!!

On the other hand i found an external optical dvd drive from a friend, connected with a usb. Do you think that it will be possible to use it and boot up the snow leopard installation DVD from it?

thanks

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Answer 9

womackjm Author

Level 1

9 points

Feb 3, 2012 1:55 PM in response to vangoun

That should work, as long as your MacBookAir recognizes the optical drive. However, I would think it might be slow-going over a USB connection. Using "Target Disk Mode" with a FireWire cable connected to your iMac would definitely be faster. If speed is not an issue, go for it.

If you are willing to try "Target Disk Mode", the first reply to my original question explains how to do it, albeit pretty succinctly. And while the linked explanantion in that reply may look complicated, just follow the steps and you should have no problem (just subsitute "optical drive" for "hard drive").

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Answer 10

Feb 10, 2012 3:09 PM in response to womackjm

I was trying to restore Snow Leopard on my Mac Book Air (2007). I have Lion installed on my iMac - the computer I was planning on using as the Air Disc.

I was very frustrated looking for the "Remote Install Mac OS X" utility on my iMac. As you all have said it is gone in Lion. However, I used my handy dandy Time Machine to restore the utility. Once restored, it works fine under Lion.

So, if you have Lion installed, and you have Time Machine backups to snow leopard days, you can simply restore the Remote Install Mac OS X utilitiy. Have fun.

-kevin

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Answer 11

Mar 5, 2012 12:06 PM in response to Kevin Holliday

Absolutely . Copy "Remote Install Mac OS X" utility from a Snow Leopard machine onto a USB drive. Put USB stick into Mac running Lion and drag 'Remote Install Mac OS X.app' into the Applications->Utilities folder. You will be asked to authenicate it. Do so and away you go. 🙂

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Answer 12

czeslaw

Level 1

10 points

May 11, 2012 9:54 PM in response to dickiebuk

Yes Work, thanks!

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Answer 13

jnrob

Level 1

0 points

Jul 1, 2015 9:57 AM in response to womackjm

womackjm, just wanted to post:

Used TDM from Mac A -- specs:

Model Name: Mac mini

Model Identifier: PowerMac10,1

Processor Name: PowerPC G4 (1.2)

Processor Speed: 1.25 GHz

Number Of CPUs: 1

L2 Cache (per CPU): 512 KB

Memory: 512 MB

Bus Speed: 167 MHz

Boot ROM Version: 4.8.9f1

Operating System: Mac OS X Leopard (10.5.1)

to install Mac OS X Leopard (10.5.1) from the Mac A DVD,

onto Mac B (which had no OS installed) via its

Startup Manager -- specs:

Model Name: PowerBook G4 15"

Model Identifier: PowerBook5,6

Processor Name: PowerPC G4 (1.2)

Processor Speed: 1.67 GHz

Number Of CPUs: 1

L2 Cache (per CPU): 512 KB

Memory: 512 MB

Bus Speed: 167 MHz

Boot ROM Version: 4.9.1f3

Success! Be well [namaste']

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