Mac Mini 5,3 2012 Server: Has Windows on it--Need to install macOS again

Smiley_lauf said:
Yes...it booted into Internet Recovery...see above

Time remaining is just going up (I am editing my post with times)

Is the Internet Recovery downloading the whole 8GB DMG image..is that why the progress is getting slower and slower?? or is it just stuck??
Click to expand...

It depend on your internet connection, because you wiped HDD, the recovery util need to re-download the recovery image, after this the recovery partition on the disk will have the files on hand for next fresh install.

I have started the download arround 8, and seems it is another 10min
Screenshot 2020-04-21 at 08.07.58.JPG
I have a 100mbps connection
 
I am also on 100mbps connection and I am sitting next to the router.

It is stuck at 24:00 for the last 10 mins or so...I will leave it on..

need to get home schooling started...eish..be right back. Thanks
 
Smiley_lauf said:
Transmac only sees DMG files, not ISO; trying to make a bootable Catalina USB drive from DMG I downloaded now...the burn process is so slow....I hope it does not bomb out.
Click to expand...
DMG downloads here
May be the previous DMG did not work well. Trying again.
What software do I use--do not want to try Transmac again--seems too long. Acronis?? Let me download trial version so long.
 
Last edited:
waited until Transmac...error...could not write to disk...

now I am trying cable ethernet and internet recovery...

It was obviously a internet connection problem--using ethernet cable directly to the router--the download has started and time remaining is 0:23 (so I guess WiFi did not work previously--lesson learned).

The grey bar below the globe is moving
 
Last edited:
Ok...the recovery process completed in about 30 mins or so....and Utils loaded; I erased both the drives and am now re-installing OS X Lion ( that is the option it gave me)--no catalina. I guess I will have to up(d/gr)ate after the installation?

Let me see how far I go now...
Edit/Update:
Lion OS X could not be installed...some error about not being able to download files to install it. Now this is baffling.
 
Last edited:
@Smiley_lauf How is it going? the easiest would be the build-in recovery util, I made a USB stick with OS on because I wanted to re-install without internet.

So how did it go with your efforts? I can make you an older version, create image for USB, you can useutil to makeUSB stick and boot from it.

Just let me know what I can help with. Otherwise I'm waiting to hear from you.
 
Mornings and evening are terrible for me...

Anyway...we also had power failure for half the day.

I am back now. getting back where I left off at 2pm.
 
gfmalan said:
@Smiley_lauf How is it going? the easiest would be the build-in recovery util, I made a USB stick with OS on because I wanted to re-install without internet.

So how did it go with your efforts? I can make you an older version, create image for USB, you can useutil to makeUSB stick and boot from it.

Just let me know what I can help with. Otherwise I'm waiting to hear from you.
Click to expand...
Hey @gfmalan thanks for the offer...I am now at my wits end...I think this machine does not like me, or is upset I made it fulltime Windows PC ;-)

Can you now guide in on how you will make me create a Lion OS X bootable USB..I am downloading the Lion DMG from ISORIVER..half way there.

I need to make bootable USB in Windows, and I have a 16GB USB stick ready for this. Then I need to make sure that USB can be seen by the Mac mini at boot up (option key pressed)...all my attempts to create USB with macOS have failed.

Show me how to use Util to make USB bootable....I am at your mercy now.
 
I tried. but failed.

I then decided to try Kubuntu 20.04LTS daily release. Worked flawlessly, including Broadcom wireless drivers installed via additional drivers.

All good now...machine is usable. and is silent. Windows 10 fan was always on.

Will try and tweak this Kubuntu to work like this video...Youtube
 
Restart holding Apple + R.

Restore it to MacOS straight from the internet.

Pretty simple, no USB required.

****

I see you managed that. Would recommend using Disk Utility and nuking the current partitions and starting fresh it’s likely getting stuck with the disk.
 
SauRoNZA said:
Restart holding Apple + R.

Restore it to MacOS straight from the internet.

Pretty simple, no USB required.

****

I see you managed that. Would recommend using Disk Utility and nuking the current partitions and starting fresh it’s likely getting stuck with the disk.
Click to expand...
Thanks I have nuked the drives using Disk Utility..formatted macOS journalised/ and made them primary--and I have tried the Internet recovery process...it load Lion and I am able to reinstall Lion...but then it tries to download additional software to get this installation started..it bombs out at that point.
 
To be honest the least painful option then simply going to a Mac to make it.

The decent shops like Digicape will happily make one for you for free.
 
Thanks Guys...I just checked my macmini--it is actually a mid-2011, mac mini 5,2--so it maxes out to High Sierra--not even Mavericks. Can you upload a Lion OS X? in this way, I will have the base system running, then I can upgrade to Sierra (low then high).

BTW--how do I use those images?? I still need to grab them into a usable format on USB??
 
Last edited:
Installed El Capitan...took a while but got it up and running.

Now need to install all my productivity apps..office365..but it is complaining that El Capitan is not compatible..I need minimum 10.13...

I have seen a few posts on how to get Catalina on old hardware...dosdude1...

Next mission...
 
Ew...just throw Office 365 away and use iWork.

Can’t you just force install older versions of office inside O365?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top
Sign up to the MyBroadband newsletter
X