Steve Arscott

Q: Preparing a hard drive on a Macbook for a Mac Mini

Hi there,

 

I'd like to prepare a new SSD hard drive that's in a USB external enclosure, using my Macbook.

i.e. I'd like to install MacOS, various software packages etc, and then put this into a Mac Mini.

  • Can one do this?
  • When you install an operating system via a Macbook, is it specific to a Macbook?

 

The Mac Mini is at another location and I'd like to prepare the SSD at home, hence using my Macbook.

  • Macbook Pro (Retina, 13-inch, Late 2013)
  • Mac Mini (2.6ghz Late 2014)

 

Thanks for any help.

Mac mini, iOS 10

Posted on Sep 14, 2016 6:07 AM

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Q: Preparing a hard drive on a Macbook for a Mac Mini

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  • Helpful answers

  • by Limnos,

    Limnos Limnos Sep 14, 2016 6:12 AM in response to Steve Arscott
    Level 9 (54,245 points)
    Mac OS X
    Sep 14, 2016 6:12 AM in response to Steve Arscott

    Common lore is a system gets installed with the resources needed for the installing computer.  I don't know if this is more than lore.  I have occasionally moved drives between machines with no issue but that was on older machines.  I could see it making sense doing a custom installation to save putting a bunch of useless files on a model.

  • by lllaass,

    lllaass lllaass Sep 14, 2016 6:33 AM in response to Steve Arscott
    Level 10 (189,375 points)
    Desktops
    Sep 14, 2016 6:33 AM in response to Steve Arscott

    The only problem you may have is with app licences. Some licences are locked to the hardware they are installed on and you may have to reactivate when you use that disk for the Mini

  • by Csound1,

    Csound1 Csound1 Sep 14, 2016 6:35 AM in response to Steve Arscott
    Level 9 (50,786 points)
    Desktops
    Sep 14, 2016 6:35 AM in response to Steve Arscott

    Steve Arscott wrote:

     

    Hi there,

     

    I'd like to prepare a new SSD hard drive that's in a USB external enclosure, using my Macbook.

    i.e. I'd like to install MacOS, various software packages etc, and then put this into a Mac Mini.

    • Can one do this?
    • When you install an operating system via a Macbook, is it specific to a Macbook?

     

    The Mac Mini is at another location and I'd like to prepare the SSD at home, hence using my Macbook.

    • Macbook Pro (Retina, 13-inch, Late 2013)
    • Mac Mini (2.6ghz Late 2014)

     

    Thanks for any help.

    Yes you can, OS X is OS X, it's the same on all machines.