2008 Mac Pro OSX question

[rickprice79]

Hello all, I picked up a 2008 8 core Mac Pro on ebay and it currently doesn't have a hard drive installed. I will need to install one (easy enough) and will need to install OSX. I helped a friend with a 2012 Macbook pro that crashed and discovered that we were able to perform a web install from the bios. My question is, will I be able to do this with a 2008 Mac? If not what are my options.

I do have access to a usb hard drive and 16gb usb thumbdrive if needed.

 

[Macschrauber]

Your Mac Pro 3.1 has no internet recovery. U may get a Snow Leopard DVD from Apple to start with an OS. Or install from another Mac via Fire Wire target mode.

 

[mfletcher]

Hello all, I picked up a 2008 8 core Mac Pro on ebay and it currently doesn't have a hard drive installed. I will need to install one (easy enough) and will need to install OSX. I helped a friend with a 2012 Macbook pro that crashed and discovered that we were able to perform a web install from the bios. My question is, will I be able to do this with a 2008 Mac? If not what are my options.

I do have access to a usb hard drive and 16gb usb thumbdrive if needed.

If you have access to another Mac thats fairly recent, you can download the El Capitan OS X installer and use it to create install media on a usb device, like your thumbdrive for example.

Mac Pro 3,1 supports installing OSX off a thumbdrive.

 

[rickprice79]

Thanks for the quick replies. I will see if I can get a hold of my neighbors Macbook pro. That sounds like the easier option.