Install OSX on a new drive (2009 MacMini)

[theeicebear]

So I got a new HD as the old one failed after 6 years. It's plugged in and works, as I get a folder with a question mark.

But any time I try and reboot it holding down Option or Command R, it switches it self off.

Any clue as what I am doing wrong here?

 

[theeicebear]

apparentely it cant see the new hd. well thats always fun!

 

[CoastalOR]

So I got a new HD as the old one failed after 6 years. It's plugged in and works, as I get a folder with a question mark.
But any time I try and reboot it holding down Option or Command R, it switches it self off.
Any clue as what I am doing wrong here?

How is the new HD "plugged in" (external or internal)? How is it partitioned and formatted? Does the drive show in Disk Utility? Which OS version are you trying to install? How are you trying to install the OS on the new HD?

Option key will not show the new HD in the boot manager until the OS is installed on it. Command R can only bring up the Recovery partition after it is installed which is done during the OS install. If the Recovery partition is not available then internet recovery is attempted, BUT your system is too old to support internet recovery. It shipped with OS 10.5 (early 2009) or OS 10.6 (late 2009). Do you have the install disks that shipped with you mini? Do you have a bootable backup drive (Time Machine or clone)?

 

[theeicebear]

The new HD is plugged in, internally. I can get into recovery mode but it cant see the new HD. I havent formatted it as I have no way to (no 2.5 sata carrige).

My Mini is from May 2009. I have no idea where the install disks are and the superdrive failed years ago. I have a recovery USB stick and I'm making a El Capitan install USB. But, as mentioned it cant see the new HD at all.

 

[CoastalOR]

The new HD is plugged in, internally. I can get into recovery mode but it cant see the new HD. I havent formatted it as I have no way to (no 2.5 sata carrige).
My Mini is from May 2009. I have no idea where the install disks are and the superdrive failed years ago. I have a recovery USB stick and I'm making a El Capitan install USB. But, as mentioned it cant see the new HD at all.

What kind of HD are you installing? Recovery mode (though I do not know how you are getting into it) allows access to Disk Utility which will be how you would format it. How "but it cant see the new HD", could you supply more details of what is being done and what you are seeing (maybe the USB installer)?

My impression at this point is that you have a bad mini internal HD connection or a bad new HD. The only way to test for a bad internal mini connection is to install the new HD in an external enclosure, connect to the mini and see if the drive is accessible that way. If this method does not allow you access to the new HD then it would point to a bad new HD.

 

[Celerondon]

The only way to test for a bad internal mini connection is to install the new HD in an external enclosure, connect to the mini and see if the drive is accessible that way. If this method does not allow you access to the new HD then it would point to a bad new HD.

This option has other benefits. Once you connect a drive in this fashion, you can prepare it and test it. With USB 2.0 your boot speed will be moderate but the drive should function fine.

 

[mcnallym]

A new disk comes unpartitioned so the installer won't see it. Boot off the USB installer, select the Disk Utility and see if can see the disk there, will likely need to create a partition first to be able to install OSX onto.