Boot from a flash drive - Mac Mini

[Stillie]

Hi Guys,

I'm relatively new to MAC and i want to reset a MAC Mini to "Factory Defaults". The client does not have the discs. i believe you can boot from a flash drive but i pressed everything on the keyboard with no luck? please help!

Once we get it booting off the flash drive, is there somewhere i can grab a copy of the Install Files for this Mac Mini?

Thanks

 

[Noseworthy]

Google for the files needed. its easy to do

 

[[)roi(]]

Here's how to make a bootable USB drive that can be used to reinstall OS X:
http://arstechnica.com/apple/2013/1...otable-os-x-10-9-mavericks-usb-install-drive/

Here's the keystroke to press to boot up from USB:
http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1533

 

[ponder]

Just download an install image from one of the more dubious sites...

 

[GreGorGy]

OP: Which MacMini?

The key to select another startup volume is OPTION (aka ALT). To my knowledge, any and all MacMinis will start from the Mavericks method linked by Droid above.

If the machine starts normally into its OS, you can also use system preferences to select the startup volume. Bare in mind that newer Minis did not come with original install media but rather a recovery partition that downloads and installs the OS when accessed using the OPTION method.