How to make bootable USB stick for Mac Mini 2011

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How to make bootable USB stick for Mac Mini 2011

I made a bootable USB stick with a Lion installer, so that I can install Lion on my Mac Mini 2010. I can use the USB stick too to start up with Lion on my Mac Mini 2009. But I just bought a Mac Mini 2011 and it is not possible to start up my Mac Mini 2011 with that USB stick. When I try this using the Alt-key while starting up I see a 'forbidden' mark and the Mac Mini 2011 goes off.

I want to make a clean install on the internal HD and make three partitions: System, Documents and BOOTCAMP. It was no problem using a Mac Mini 2009 or 2010, but it appears not to be easy using my Mac Mini 2011.

Mac mini, Mac OS X (10.7), Mac Mini 2011

Posted on Aug 26, 2011 5:36 AM

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Answer 1

Aug 27, 2011 3:04 AM in response to Ton Haarmans

What was the process you used to make your

USB installer stick? Depending on how it was done,

you could end up with one that will only work with certain

models.

Try this method:

http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-13727_7-20080989-263/how-to-create-an-os-x-lion-ins tallation-disc/?tag=mncol;title

This one created a USB stick that will boot on my 2009 iMac,

2010 Mac Mini, and 2011 MBP.

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Answer 2

samberl

Level 4

2,007 points

Aug 27, 2011 3:41 AM in response to Ton Haarmans

The problem is that the version of Lion on the 2011 Mac Mini is not the version that is available for download from the Mac App Store. This is also true for the 2011 MacBook Air.

You will have to make a USB Install Key using Lion Recovery Disk Assistant.

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Answer 3

Ton Haarmans Author

Level 1

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Aug 27, 2011 12:55 PM in response to woodmeister50

Woodmaster50 wrote:

"Try this method:

http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-13727_7-20080989-263/how-to-create-an-os-x-lion-ins tallation-disc/?tag=mncol;title "

On my Mac Mini 2010 with Mac OS X 10.6.8 I have bought Lion in the App Store. And I made the USB stick with the method you mentioned above. I can use the USB stick to start up a Mac Mini 2,1, 3,1 and 4,1. But I can't use this USB stick to start up a Mac Mini 2011.

I also have installed Lion 10.7.1 on a USB HD. I can use the USB HD with The Mac Mini 2,1, 3,1 and 4,1.

But I can't use it as a start up HD with The Mac Mini 2011. I can choose the external HD as start up disk, but in practice I see the "forbidden" mark

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Answer 4

Ton Haarmans Author

Level 1

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Aug 27, 2011 4:02 PM in response to samberl

samberl wrote:

"You will have to make a USB Install Key using Lion Recovery Disk Assistant. "

Thanks, you gave the right answer. I did it and I can use that USB stick with the Alt-key starting up.

On my external HD I have now three partitions: Lion1, Lion2 and Documents. Lion1 was made using my first USB stick using the installer I got with the version of Lion that I bought in the App Store. Lion2 was made using the second USB stick I made using the Lion Recovery Disk Assistant.

With the external HD attached on the Mac Mini 2011 and Alt-key pressed during startup I can now choose 'Macintosh HD' , 'Lion1', 'Lion2' and three Recovery HD's. When I choose Lion1 or the Recovery HD that belongs with Lion1 I can't start up, but all other choices: 'Macintosh HD' , Lion2 and the Recovery HD's that belong with them are able to startup from.

I now have two possibilities to start up my Mac Mini 2011 without using the internal HD: the USB stick and the external HD. With the use of BOOTCAMP I can make a third USB stick with 'Windows Software' (drivers for Windows 7). With the use of mij Mac Mini 2010 I can make an ISO file of a Windows 7 system disk on a fourth USB stick. In the near future I will make three partitions on the internal HD of the Mac Mini 2011: 'Lion', 'Documents' and 'BOOTCAMP'. I expect no difficulties anymore.

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