How do I install Mac OS 10 Tiger on a Mac Mini with no operating system currently installed and with only a PC keyboard and mouse?

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Level 1

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How do I install Mac OS 10 Tiger on a Mac Mini with no operating system currently installed and with only a PC keyboard and mouse?

Hi,

I bought an old Mac Mini (Late 2006) and when I turned it on, I discovered that it had no OS installed on it. After doing some research, I purchased OS 10 Tiger and tried to install it with my Mac keyboard and mouse. Then another problem. I found out that the Apple keyboard and mouse that I had no longer worked and the only other keyboard and mouse that I have are made by Dell. So I tried plugging them in to the device and they work so, at this point, how should I go about installing the OS on the computer and is it even remotely possible to do so?

Mac mini, Mac OS X (10.4)

Posted on Sep 1, 2015 2:58 AM

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Answer 1

Best reply

Gary Scotland

Level 7

25,862 points

Sep 1, 2015 4:19 AM in response to BKrepchin

how should I go about installing the OS on the computer

Insert the install disc in the DVD drive, shut down the Mac, press the C key and re-start the Mac, follow the on screen instructions.

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Answer 2

lllaass

Level 10

210,417 points

Sep 1, 2015 6:12 AM in response to BKrepchin

If necessary see:

Keyboard mappings using a PC keyboard on a Macintosh

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Answer 3

BKrepchin Author

Level 1

8 points

Sep 1, 2015 3:53 PM in response to BKrepchin

I Hate to say it, but neither of these helped/worked. All I'm getting Is a white screen with an icon of a folder with a question mark in it.

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Answer 4

lllaass

Level 10

210,417 points

Sep 1, 2015 4:00 PM in response to BKrepchin

The ? means that a bootable device can't be found.

You ore depressing and holding the C key when booting, right?

It could be that internal optical drive is not working. The one in my late 2009 Mini stopped working over two years ago.

Do you have an external USB optical drive you can try? I do not remember if the install disk ore CDs or a DVD.

What is written on the disk?

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Answer 5

BKrepchin Author

Level 1

8 points

Sep 1, 2015 4:09 PM in response to BKrepchin

yes I am depressing and holding the c button while booting.

I do have an external drive, but the disk wont eject so I couldn't tell you wheter it was a cd or a dvd

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Answer 6

lllaass

Level 10

210,417 points

Sep 1, 2015 4:13 PM in response to lllaass

Try:

Get help with the slot-loading SuperDrive on your Mac computer - Apple Support

How do I eject a defective DVD?

How force eject disc

Mac Mini

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Answer 7

BKrepchin Author

Level 1

8 points

Sep 1, 2015 4:18 PM in response to BKrepchin

I Got the disk out and it says it is a DVD

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Answer 8

BKrepchin Author

Level 1

8 points

Sep 1, 2015 4:20 PM in response to BKrepchin

I Tried placing it in the external drive but the press and hold trick didnt work

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Answer 9

lllaass

Level 10

210,417 points

Sep 1, 2015 4:29 PM in response to BKrepchin

Is the external drive powered by AC power?

I do not think the Mini will supply enough power for a self-powered (powered by USB bus)

What happens when you boot holding the Option key (Alt on PC KB)?

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Answer 10

BKrepchin Author

Level 1

8 points

Sep 1, 2015 4:37 PM in response to lllaass

I Tried the pressing and holding the alt button and it doesn't show the folder icon anymore. However, I just get a white screen with the cursor on it

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Answer 11

BKrepchin Author

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Sep 1, 2015 5:04 PM in response to BKrepchin

any more ideas as to where to go from here

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Answer 12

jbarley

Level 1

19 points

Sep 2, 2015 8:31 PM in response to BKrepchin

Unless I'm mistaken the retail version of Tiger 10.4 (black label) was PPC only, so for your Intel mac mini you'd need the specific install CD that was tailored to your computer.

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Answer 13

benwiggy

Level 4

1,473 points

Sep 4, 2015 9:14 AM in response to BKrepchin

You are best off buying the Snow Leopard DVD, which you can still get from Apple for $20. That is the latest OS that your Mini can run. Make sure you've got the maximum 2 GB of RAM, too.

However: bear in mind that this is nearly 10 years old: also, a lot of modern software will not work on Tiger: some won't work on Snow Leopard either. It's going to be slow and have not much disk storage.

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