install clean OSX on xserv?

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install clean OSX on xserv?

Hi I am relativley new to the Mac world. I am getting ready to reformat xserv and I want to reinstall Mac OS X 10.8.2 I dont have the discs. Can this be done through disk recovery?

Xserve, OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.3)

Posted on Apr 26, 2013 10:43 AM

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Answer 1

mende1

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93,624 points

Apr 26, 2013 10:49 AM in response to mhess38

Welcome to the Apple Support Communities

You can reinstall OS X from OS X Recovery without any problem. To do it, start the computer holding Command and R keys, so Recovery HD will start up. Then, use Disk Utility to format "Macintosh HD" and finally, reinstall OS X. This is valid for all Macs.

As you have started from Recovery HD, you can only erase the OS X volume and not the whole hard drive, because you are using it

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Answer 2

mhess38 Author

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Apr 26, 2013 10:53 AM in response to mende1

Thanks! Well that brings up another question, the xserv is headless can I still reinstall from another mac?

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Answer 3

Eric Root

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685,257 points

Apr 26, 2013 10:55 AM in response to mhess38

Please do a backup before reinstalling.

Apple support article covering what mende1 suggested.

OS X Recovery

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Answer 4

mende1

Level 10

93,624 points

Apr 26, 2013 11:06 AM in response to mhess38

You can put the Xserve in target disk mode and reinstall Mountain Lion from another Mac, connecting both with a FireWire cable. When you do it, the Xserve hard drive will appear on the other Mac as an external hard drive where you will be able to install OS X

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