BlondeGiraffe
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Q: I erased everything as in EVERYTHING, no software, completely. How do I install the OS software 10.7?

I erased everything on my computer hoping to start from scratch... I went too far.  Now I can't install 10.7 nor 10.6.  Background...  I received my Mac Mini from my son and want to put in my admin information on it.  Whenever I start it, it always go to the Disk Utility.   Even holding the option key...  There's no disk to boot from. I hit the recovery disk.... Nothing.  I've tried to reinstall 10.7 from the menu... Nothing.  I even purchased 10.7 and the code.   I even purchased the 10.6.3 install dvd... Nothing, it just keeps spitting it back out. My Mac mini is the early 2007 model,  so the highest OS is 10.7.  Please help or just te

Posted on Oct 3, 2014 9:08 AM

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BlondeGiraffe

Q: I erased everything as in EVERYTHING, no software, completely. How do I install the OS software 10.7?

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  • by lllaass,Helpful

    lllaass lllaass Oct 3, 2014 10:57 AM in response to BlondeGiraffe
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    Oct 3, 2014 10:57 AM in response to BlondeGiraffe

    - What exactly happens when you tried to reinstall? All you said was " I've tried to reinstall 10.7 from the menu... Nothing. "  What was "Nothing"?

    - What if yo boot to recovery partition?? It is not option key

    OS X: About OS X Recovery

    - You can true inserting a DVD cleaning disk.

    - Do you have an external USB or FireWire DVD drive? Not infrequently the internal DVD drive will die and show the symptoms of spitting out the disk. That happened with my 2009 Mini two years ago.

    - Do you have another Mac with FireWire? If so yo can boot yur MIni in Targe Disk Mode and install from the other Mac

    How to use and troubleshoot FireWire target disk mode

  • by BlondeGiraffe,

    BlondeGiraffe BlondeGiraffe Oct 3, 2014 12:34 PM in response to lllaass
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    Oct 3, 2014 12:34 PM in response to lllaass

    Thank you for replying.  Nothing as in when the computer tries to install Lion from the internet it says 'not available at this time' or something along those lines.

    How would I reboot to recovery partition?  When I click on the Recovery disk, it states it is unable to.

    I do not have an external drive.

    I do have an other Mac, but it's ancient... it is 2003 17" iMac with no Intel and the highest OS it has is 10.5.8.  It does have a Firewire, but in the article you stated, it said I needed to have 10.8 or higher as the host computer. :-(  I also tried to put the System on USB from the iMac and then try to install in the Mini... nothing.  But at the same token... I'm not 100% sure on everything I am doing.  LOL!

    If there is some way for me to start completely over from scratch and install an OS X in there, I am willing to do that.  But I need step by step instructions... when I say step by step, pretend I don't know anything about computers.  I have had Macs for many of years (20+ years), but have never had to go inside of it.

    I also forgot to mention...  before I erased EVERYTHING, I tried, okay I did go in to the root screen to try to copy what someone had posted to start for the install screen...  that's when everything went wrong.  I know...  I should never go in there.  Any help and input is greatly appreciated.  Thank you again!!!!

  • by lllaass,Helpful

    lllaass lllaass Oct 3, 2014 12:45 PM in response to BlondeGiraffe
    Level 10 (190,692 points)
    Apple Watch
    Oct 3, 2014 12:45 PM in response to BlondeGiraffe

    Try connecting the two Macs via FW and boot the old Mac in Target Disk Mode. Insert the " I even purchased the 10.6.3 install dvd.." in the old Mac

    Then boot the Mini with Option key. Can you see the old Macs HD and the 10.6.3 DVD as startup disks? If so then install on the Mini.

    Report back if still problem

  • by BlondeGiraffe,

    BlondeGiraffe BlondeGiraffe Oct 3, 2014 1:34 PM in response to lllaass
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    Oct 3, 2014 1:34 PM in response to lllaass

    How do I boot the old Mac in Target Disk Mode?  Sorry for the dumb question.  I have read so much information in the past two weeks that everything is blurring together.  Thank you again.

    I will let you know how things go when I get home from work.

  • by BlondeGiraffe,

    BlondeGiraffe BlondeGiraffe Oct 3, 2014 1:38 PM in response to lllaass
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    Oct 3, 2014 1:38 PM in response to lllaass

    Silly me, I reread your post about the Target Computer.  I will let you know how things go.  Thank you!!!!

  • by BlondeGiraffe,

    BlondeGiraffe BlondeGiraffe Oct 3, 2014 6:11 PM in response to lllaass
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 3, 2014 6:11 PM in response to lllaass

    Firewire worked,  with exception of I didn't see the 10.6 disc at startup.  I saw my screwed up HD, Recovery HD and old Mac FW.   What do I do next?  (I was laughing with joy,  to see this.)  Thank you again for any help.

  • by BlondeGiraffe,

    BlondeGiraffe BlondeGiraffe Oct 3, 2014 7:00 PM in response to lllaass
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 3, 2014 7:00 PM in response to lllaass

    I experimented and put the dvd in the mini and decided to erase again and verify and repair the screwed up HD.  Now it shows it's okay to install on the mini.

    Lllaass - I can't express it enough for all your help.  I'm not going to sign off on this yet...  It's still installing.  LOL!

  • by lllaass,

    lllaass lllaass Oct 4, 2014 3:49 AM in response to BlondeGiraffe
    Level 10 (190,692 points)
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    Oct 4, 2014 3:49 AM in response to BlondeGiraffe

    Glad you re getting it to work

  • by BlondeGiraffe,

    BlondeGiraffe BlondeGiraffe Oct 4, 2014 4:57 AM in response to lllaass
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 4, 2014 4:57 AM in response to lllaass

    The first time when it was finishing up installing, it said...  Installer couldn't install the necessary files.

    So then I tried installing again... I fell asleep and now it's stuck on the installing screen with 28 minutes left for the last hour.  LOL!

    Any suggestions?  We're so close. LOL

    Thank you again for any help or suggestions.

  • by lllaass,

    lllaass lllaass Oct 4, 2014 5:03 AM in response to BlondeGiraffe
    Level 10 (190,692 points)
    Apple Watch
    Oct 4, 2014 5:03 AM in response to BlondeGiraffe

    My experience is that the time remain is very inaccurate. When I have sone install it would say less than a minute for more 15 minutes.

    Next would be to clean the DVD drive and inspect the DVD for damage.

  • by BlondeGiraffe,

    BlondeGiraffe BlondeGiraffe Oct 4, 2014 7:25 AM in response to lllaass
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    Oct 4, 2014 7:25 AM in response to lllaass

    Is it okay to turn off both computers by their power buttons?

  • by lllaass,

    lllaass lllaass Oct 4, 2014 7:55 AM in response to BlondeGiraffe
    Level 10 (190,692 points)
    Apple Watch
    Oct 4, 2014 7:55 AM in response to BlondeGiraffe

    That is not desirable but something that is required

  • by BlondeGiraffe,

    BlondeGiraffe BlondeGiraffe Oct 4, 2014 9:21 AM in response to lllaass
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 4, 2014 9:21 AM in response to lllaass

    Understood.  Nothing bad happened. :-)

    I will get back to you later on this weekend...  I have a ton of things to do.

     

    Thank you again.

  • by BlondeGiraffe,

    BlondeGiraffe BlondeGiraffe Oct 5, 2014 4:58 PM in response to lllaass
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    Oct 5, 2014 4:58 PM in response to lllaass

    Problem is solved!!!  The solution...  what didn't I do. LOL!  Thank you to your help for tethering.  I ended up putting the 10.6.3 install disk in the Mini.  Then from my older Mac I moved over the system and system folder.  Then I did repair to the Mini HD.  Then I tried to have the 10.6 install disk for startup...  it ran for about 4 hours... then I shut it down.  Then I did an other repair on the Mini HD.  Then I was able to copy the old Mac HD to the Mini HD.  Then I did an other repair.  Then restarted again and had to put the 10.6 install disc back in a few times in a row while holding down the option key. Then I had it run the install disc again for about 3 hours.   Then did a repair again.  I also transferred over my Applications from old Mac to Mini... repair again. LOL!

    Reinstalled 10.6 install disc on startup...  SUCCESS!!!  It installed like it should have and then updated to my 10.7.5.

     

    It was a lot of little steps and perseverance.  I stopped reading all other articles from other websites, when you started to help me. 

     

    Thank you again for all your help and guidance!!!