Install OSX From recently erased Hard drive

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Install OSX From recently erased Hard drive

So here's the situation. I have 2 macs. 1 fully functioning, another with a completely blank hard drive (i.e. can't do anything cause there's no operating system). I can plug the blank internal hard drive from the down computer, into the working mac and transfer files to it.

I have downloaded mountain lion for $20 from the app store on the working mac.

Is there any way to start the second computer and install mountain lion from the internal hard drive?

MacBook

Posted on Mar 1, 2013 2:52 PM

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Answer 1

Niel

Level 10

726,629 points

Mar 1, 2013 2:55 PM in response to stephencurto

Install it normally, but specify the blank drive as the target. If you don't have a copy of the installer, either redownload it for free or run the installation from the recovery partition.

If you want and have a compatible setup, you can use FireWire or Thunderbolt target disk mode instead of moving the drive around.

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Answer 2

stephencurto Author

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Mar 1, 2013 3:07 PM in response to stephencurto

Ok, but how do I specify that? I copied the installer onto the blank drove already... How do I tell the os-less Mac to look for the mountain lion installer on the new hard drive?

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Answer 3

Niel

Level 10

726,629 points

Mar 1, 2013 3:09 PM in response to stephencurto

You can't boot it straight from the installer. You need to double-click the installer on the working Mac and specify that drive as the installation target.

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Answer 4

Mar 1, 2013 3:43 PM in response to stephencurto

Be sure that your other MacBook can run 10.8.

The Early 2006 model 1,1 Core Duo can only run a maximum of 10.6 Snow Leopard.
The models Late 2006 Core 2 Duos 2,1 through Early 2008 4,1 can only run a maximum of 10.7 Lion.
The Late 2008 model 5,1 Aluminum Unibody through the Mid 2010 White Unibody model 7,1 can run 10.8 Mountain Lion.

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