- Feb 01, 2011 Hi, I'm a developer who wants to port a Windows app to Mac. I have in mind to buy a MacMini but I want to know if it's possible to boot MacOSX from an USB stick.
- Apr 30, 2011 Here’s how I booted the mini from a USB key to reinstall Mac OS X. Building a Tiger’s bootable USB key. To build a bootable USB stick, you’ll have to copy the DVD’s content onto the USB key: Insert Mac OS X Install disc in the DVD tray; Plug the USB stick; Start the Disk Utility; Select the USB stick and click on the “Partition” button.
- I’m trying to get my Intel Mac mini to boot from it. I’ve tried plugging in the drive, then holding down alt as I start the Mac, but it doesn’t show up in the list of bootable drives. (I’ve got a working Windows XP Boot Camp partition on the Mac mini’s internal drive, as well as the Mac partition).
Active1 year, 8 months ago
Mac Mini 2010 Boot From Usb
A friend of mine gave me an old mac mini, the white one, i guess from 2007 or something. It has Mac OS 10.x installed (actually it has 3 versions installed for whatever reason).The problem is that he has no idea what his user name and passwords are.So I would like to re-install a fresh OS and setup the mac mini.It is not the first time, that I do this, so I do press for sure the right keys while starting up.I tried booting the system holding down the
apple key + r
without success. The system will boot into the primary installation.With Command + Apple + r
it is the same.I can reset VRAM using Command Command + Apple + r + p
and I hear the chime sound.Pressing any other combinations doesn't let me hear any sounds.So I wondered and created a bootable stick with MAC OS Sierra on it. Just to make sure my old mac mini can handle it. While booting up and pressing command
I can choose between the installed Versions of MAC OS or install Sierry from USB
.When I choose to install from USB the Mac Mini will simply boot into the installed Mac OS.Unfortunately, even though it seems to be available in target disk mode, the system won’t boot. On the new mac there is no firewire so I had to hook it up with USB 2. I suppose there could be 2 problems 1. It can’t boot from USB 2 2. It can’t boot since the OS was installed on the mini and not from the iMac.
I remember that on an old windows PC I wasn't able to install from USB even though he recognized the USB Stick. I had to do that from DVD / CD. What do you think, do I have to use a DVD/CD to finally install any OS?
Since I don't don't have the option to burn a disc here I wasn't able to try out yet. Maybe there is another solution?
RayofCommandRayofCommand
2 Answers
First step is to erase the non volatile ram (used to be called PRAM) by holding Command-Option-P-R and listen for two boot chimes in a row then release the keys and try the install.
For an erase install, you need to boot to the installer and then choose Disk Utility from the Utilities menu and literally erase the drive. I would physically disconnect my backup if any before doing the erase. At that point, NVRAM or not - the system can’t boot from the erased drive and will make your life easier to select the correct installer and get a clean new OS.
bmike♦bmike169k4747 gold badges310310 silver badges669669 bronze badges
Yes RayofCommand, after you release alt-cmd-P-R the machine goes on booting from whatever boot partition was selected, as usual. Cmd-R won't work on a Mac with an old version of OS X because the recovery partition is missing. I don't think a white mini will boot from USB, but you could connect it to another Mac thru a Firewire cable, boot this white mini holding the T key ('target disk mode'): the mini's internal hard disk will be mounted on the other mac's desktop. From there you can wipe the disk with Disk Utility. After that, the problem is installing an old version os OS X on the disk... old OS X installers won't work on the second Mac if it's on High Sierra or any recent OS X version. You could clone another disk (with the desired OS version installed) on mini's internal disk using Disk Utility (or Carbon Copy/Super Duper, that's what I usually do), or even create two partitions on it (one small, say 8 GB, and one with the remaining space) and clone the installer volume you have on the USB stick on this small partition. Then start the mini with alt pressed and boot from this partition, install on the other bigger partition. Hope this helps.
StevePSteveP