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To Loner T... We were talking earlier about me getting Windows on my Mac Yosemite (2009)...

Hey Loner T,

Our conversation apparently timed out earlier & I wasn't allowed to post any more... I hope you can still help me...I'm SO CLOSE to completing this ongoing nightmare of a task!! As of right now, I've cleared out my "trash" and I still only have 36.82 GB of free space on my start up disc. You suggested I allocate at least 100 GB to Windows when I partition (which is the step I am at...) Is there a way I can use another HD (an external one) to install Windows on? Or does it HAVE to be my internal HD/start up disc??

iMac, OS X Yosemite (10.10.5)

Posted on Aug 28, 2015 4:41 PM

100 replies

jessdancer Author

Level 1

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Sep 2, 2015 1:15 PM in response to Loner T

No, I didn't see a spinning globe, but I did push Command + Option + R when it was in startup mode... What did I not do?

Loner T

Level 9

59,471 points

Sep 2, 2015 1:19 PM in response to jessdancer

Local recovery is what you are currently running. Connect to your Internet connection using a wired connection, shutdown your Mac, hold Command+Opt+R (all three keys together) and then press the power button. Make sure you see a spinning globe.

jessdancer Author

Level 1

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Sep 2, 2015 2:09 PM in response to Loner T

OK, it for sure has to be a wired connection? That's gonna be tricky. I'm gonna have to shut down my computer, unplug it & move it to the room with the modem. Will that mess anything up if I unplug it?

Loner T

Level 9

59,471 points

Sep 2, 2015 2:11 PM in response to jessdancer

A wired connection will be much faster and odes not require the additional steps you need for WiFi and Internet Recovery.

jessdancer Author

Level 1

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Sep 2, 2015 2:38 PM in response to Loner T

OK, here goes nothin! Be back after I've done all this so far!

jessdancer Author

Level 1

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Sep 2, 2015 3:34 PM in response to Loner T

OK I'm plugged directly into Internet. WiFi is unplugged. I restarted, pushed "Command + Option + R" & STILL NO SPINNING GLOBE!!!!!

Loner T

Level 9

59,471 points

Sep 2, 2015 3:48 PM in response to jessdancer

Your Mac may not support Internet Recovery. What year/model is your Mac? If it is older than Macs listed in Computers that can be upgraded to use OS X Internet Recovery - Apple Support, then it will not run Internet Recovery.

1. Do you have Grey disks that came with your Mac?

2. The other option is How to install OS X on an external drive connected to your Mac - Apple Support .

jessdancer Author

Level 1

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Sep 2, 2015 4:16 PM in response to Loner T

It's a 2009 something or other... Not sure if it was a Mountain Lion, Snow Leopard... Now when I go to "About this Mac" it says OS X Yosemite 10.10.5. So I don't know what I had before...(can't remember 😟) What should I do now??

jessdancer Author

Level 1

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Sep 2, 2015 4:17 PM in response to Loner T

Ok, apparently mines a year too old bc when I just went to that sight all the compatible Macs were 2012 and 2011, at least... 😟

Loner T

Level 9

59,471 points

Sep 2, 2015 4:19 PM in response to jessdancer

FInd the grey disks or install OS X on an external disk.

jessdancer Author

Level 1

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Sep 2, 2015 4:23 PM in response to Loner T

Ok, I'm reading the link now that you sent me on how to install OS X on an external disk. What are the grey disks you're talking about? And am I safe to reconnect to WiFi now? The rest of my family is on baited breath with no WiFi, hahahaha

jessdancer Author

Level 1

0 points

Sep 2, 2015 4:47 PM in response to Loner T

Should I choose...

- Install from OS X Recovery (on an external drive)?

- Install from your normal startup disk (by downloading the OS X installer from App Store)?

I've done the first one before. (The "install from OS X Recovery on an external drive)...I think... 😝

Loner T

Level 9

59,471 points

Sep 2, 2015 4:56 PM in response to jessdancer

This one.

jessdancer wrote:

- Install from OS X Recovery (on an external drive)?

jessdancer Author

Level 1

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Sep 2, 2015 4:58 PM in response to Loner T

Ok, will do now! Once I've restarted my computer and installed OS X on an external drive, what's my next step??

Loner T

Level 9

59,471 points

Sep 2, 2015 5:20 PM in response to jessdancer

Boot from the external drive, and erase your internal drive, and then restore from Time Machine.

To Loner T... We were talking earlier about me getting Windows on my Mac Yosemite (2009)...