HT201475: Upgrade to OS X El Capitan

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TSDorn
Level 1 (4 points)
Mac OS X

Q: failed hard drive out of warranty

I want to install a new hard drive in my 4 yr old Mac Mini. It is out of warranty. The hard drive has failed.The install looks pretty easy, but once I change out the old hard drive with the new one, how do I get to the internet recovery of the OS system. I do not have a recovery disk.

Mac mini, null

Posted on Jun 14, 2016 9:50 PM

by theratter,Apple recommended
theratter theratter
Level 4 (3,907 points)
Desktops
A:

Assuming your model never came with a recovery DVD:

 

Clean Install of El Capitan on a New Disk

 

  1. Restart the computer. Immediately after the chime hold down the Command-Option-R keys until a globe appears.
  2. The Utility Menu will appear in from 5-20 minutes. Be patient.
  3. Select Disk Utility and click on the Continue button.
  4. When Disk Utility loads select the drive (usually, the out-dented entry) from the side list.
  5. Click on the Partition tab in Disk Utility's main window. A panel will drop down.
  6. Set the partition scheme to GUID.
  7. Set the Format type to Mac OS Extended (Journaled.)
  8. Click on the Apply button, then click on the Done button when it activates.
  9. Quit Disk Utility and return to the Utility Menu.
  10. Select Reinstall OS X and click on the Continue button.

 

This should install the version of OS X that was pre-installed when the computer was new.

 

[Permission to use part or all of the above has been granted by Kappy, exclusively, to theratter.]

Posted on Jun 17, 2016 1:13 PM

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TSDorn

Q: failed hard drive out of warranty

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  • by theratter,Apple recommended

    theratter theratter Jun 17, 2016 1:13 PM in response to TSDorn
    Level 4 (3,907 points)
    Desktops
    Jun 17, 2016 1:13 PM in response to TSDorn

    Assuming your model never came with a recovery DVD:

     

    Clean Install of El Capitan on a New Disk

     

    1. Restart the computer. Immediately after the chime hold down the Command-Option-R keys until a globe appears.
    2. The Utility Menu will appear in from 5-20 minutes. Be patient.
    3. Select Disk Utility and click on the Continue button.
    4. When Disk Utility loads select the drive (usually, the out-dented entry) from the side list.
    5. Click on the Partition tab in Disk Utility's main window. A panel will drop down.
    6. Set the partition scheme to GUID.
    7. Set the Format type to Mac OS Extended (Journaled.)
    8. Click on the Apply button, then click on the Done button when it activates.
    9. Quit Disk Utility and return to the Utility Menu.
    10. Select Reinstall OS X and click on the Continue button.

     

    This should install the version of OS X that was pre-installed when the computer was new.

     

    [Permission to use part or all of the above has been granted by Kappy, exclusively, to theratter.]

  • by TSDorn,

    TSDorn TSDorn Jun 14, 2016 11:13 PM in response to theratter
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jun 14, 2016 11:13 PM in response to theratter

    Thank You! I will try it! It will give me great satisfaction to fix it myself! Genius Bar wants $140 to replace the hard drive. But not sure I wanted to pay that when a new Mac Mini is only $500. I appreciate your help.

  • by Leopardus,

    Leopardus Leopardus Jun 15, 2016 12:13 AM in response to TSDorn
    Level 4 (1,087 points)
    Desktops
    Jun 15, 2016 12:13 AM in response to TSDorn

    It all depends which Mini exactly you have from 2012. The 2.5 and especially the 2.6 are more than worth it, having lots of upgrade potential which were highly sought after.

     

    Leo

  • by Lexiepex,

    Lexiepex Lexiepex Jun 15, 2016 12:59 AM in response to theratter
    Level 6 (10,477 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jun 15, 2016 12:59 AM in response to theratter

    You forgot the X in the format

    Give my greetings to Kappy, glad he is still there !!

    Lex

  • by TSDorn,Helpful

    TSDorn TSDorn Jun 17, 2016 1:13 PM in response to Leopardus
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jun 17, 2016 1:13 PM in response to Leopardus

    HI Leo,

    Where do I look to find this info (2.5 or 2.6) on my Mac Mini?

    And do you mean worth having them fix it? or

    Doing an upgrade myself?

    Thanks!   

  • by TSDorn,

    TSDorn TSDorn Jun 15, 2016 1:24 PM in response to TSDorn
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jun 15, 2016 1:24 PM in response to TSDorn

    It is the 2.5 GHz dual core Intel Core i5 processor. with a 500GB hard drive

  • by leroydouglas,

    leroydouglas leroydouglas Jun 15, 2016 1:32 PM in response to TSDorn
    Level 7 (22,895 points)
    Notebooks
    Jun 15, 2016 1:32 PM in response to TSDorn

    Look at OWC(MacSales) for your replacement and how to

    https://www.macsales.com/

     

    Do you have any type of backup?

  • by Leopardus,

    Leopardus Leopardus Jun 15, 2016 1:41 PM in response to TSDorn
    Level 4 (1,087 points)
    Desktops
    Jun 15, 2016 1:41 PM in response to TSDorn

    If you look at https://www.ifixit.com/Device/Mac_Mini_Late_2012 and use the procedures to max out the RAM to 16GB, as big a SSD that you can afford, attach all the storage that you need as time goes by, you can have another year or two to save up for your next new purchase. Meanwhile this one will motor along quite fast, you will think it is a new Mini with the SSD. Even if you wait with the  RAM a bit at first.

     

    Your Mini

    Screen Shot 2016-06-15 at 22.38.29.png

    Screen Shot 2016-06-15 at 22.38.49.png

    Screen Shot 2016-06-15 at 22.39.06.png

     

    HTH

     

    Leo

  • by TSDorn,

    TSDorn TSDorn Jun 15, 2016 1:54 PM in response to Leopardus
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jun 15, 2016 1:54 PM in response to Leopardus

    Wow! Thanks Leo!

    Seems like I have quite the adventure a head of me!

    I'll let you know how it all goes.

    Thanks again!

    TSDorn

  • by TSDorn,

    TSDorn TSDorn Jun 15, 2016 1:58 PM in response to leroydouglas
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jun 15, 2016 1:58 PM in response to leroydouglas

    Thanks! and no, I don't have any backup. The Mac Mini was hooked up to our kitchen tv. No files had been saved on it. Mostly just used for music, videos (cooking videos) and looking things up. So the hard drive mostly only had the OS X system on it.

  • by Leopardus,

    Leopardus Leopardus Jun 15, 2016 2:09 PM in response to TSDorn
    Level 4 (1,087 points)
    Desktops
    Jun 15, 2016 2:09 PM in response to TSDorn

    Pleasure is all mine.

     

    Leo

  • by TSDorn,

    TSDorn TSDorn Jun 18, 2016 7:48 PM in response to theratter
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jun 18, 2016 7:48 PM in response to theratter

    Hi Theratter. I have replaced my hard drive. After step one of your directions... Instead of a globe appearing I am getting a flashing file folder.

    What do I do now, or did I do something wrong?

    TIA, Tammi

  • by Eric Root,

    Eric Root Eric Root Jun 19, 2016 1:43 PM in response to TSDorn
    Level 9 (70,068 points)
    iTunes
    Jun 19, 2016 1:43 PM in response to TSDorn

    Try again and make sure you are holding down the command - option/alt - R keys.

  • by TSDorn,

    TSDorn TSDorn Jun 22, 2016 12:37 AM in response to TSDorn
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jun 22, 2016 12:37 AM in response to TSDorn

    Thank you everyone that helped me! I was successful in installing a 1TB hard drive. It is running so quiet and FAST! One thing on directions though. After installing the new hard drive, the first directions were hold down Command + option +R keys after the chime. All I got from doing that was a blinking file folder. So just because I can... I only held down the option key after the chime. Then I got a "choose your internet" Then the recovery came up! I was able to format the hard drive a load OS Lion 10.7. I will update that... tomorrow! Anyways, thanks for all of your help! Tammi

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