resinstalling Mac OS X Snow Leopard

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Level 1

10 points

resinstalling Mac OS X Snow Leopard

My mother recently bought herself another Mac and gave me her old MacMini Model no. A1347. I would like to restore the Macmini back to store settings so that i can set it up with my apple id and remove hers.

Things you should know:

1. I don't (she doesn't) have the original CD.

2. I don't have any of the original external hardware. i.e. Keyboard, mouse, monitor. I am using a wireless PC keyboard (no options key) and mouse.

3. I do have pc laptop that I can use if I need to for anything.

If you know another (simpler) way that I can completely erase all the content so that I can start over as new, feel free to mention.

Mac mini, Mac OS X (10.6.8)

Posted on Aug 28, 2017 1:00 PM

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Answer 1

Eric Root

Level 10

685,305 points

Sep 14, 2017 1:29 PM in response to Sycosolis

One option would be to use your Mom's computer to download Sierra from the App Store using your Apple ID. Once the installer downloads, quit it. You can make a bootable USB stick to install using this free program which will do all the work for you. Insert the Flash Drive in the Mini and reboot holding down the option/alt key. Select the USB drive. When booted, use Disk Utility to erase/reformat the disk using Mac OS Extended (Journaled) with option GUID. Once the disk is erased, install Sierra.

Bootable USB Flash Drive – Diskmaker X oruse Apple’s method Create a bootable installer for OS

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Answer 2

Sycosolis Author

Level 1

10 points

Sep 14, 2017 1:38 PM in response to Eric Root

Five Stars Eric! This advice worked perfectly! I now have this computer without any of my mothers accounts on here.

One word of advice that I think you should have included, though. Where you said, "Once the disk is erased..." you should have included that I should close the window. lol. I spent about an hour trying to figure out how to install Sierra from that window. I was afraid to close the window because the disk had already been erased. I finally gave up and closed the window with a "F*** It! I'm going to bed" attitude. The window that had "Install Sierra" was perfectly hidden behind the disk utilities. *sigh*.

Alas, Sierra has been installed. This computer is now mine and I have you to thank for that so, Thank You!

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Answer 3

Eric Root

Level 10

685,305 points

Sep 15, 2017 9:41 AM in response to Sycosolis

You are welcome. Thank you for the feedback. I will update to include your suggestion of quitting Disk Utility.

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Answer 4

macjack

Level 10

111,242 points

Aug 28, 2017 1:09 PM in response to Sycosolis

If you no longer have the CDs you can purchase Snow Leopard here:

Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard - Apple

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Answer 5

Niel

Community+ 2026

Level 10

743,153 points

Aug 28, 2017 1:07 PM in response to Sycosolis

Phone Apple and order replacement original disks. There isn’t any other way to do a erase and reinstall of Snow Leopard on that Mac model.

macjack: That article isn’t applicable to people using Macs which shipped with Snow Leopard or earlier, and the DVD you linked to isn’t compatible with that model.

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