Mac Mini - 10.6-10.8

[FireArse]

Hi all,

I have bought a legit copy of 10.6 Server to play around with.

I'd like to buy a second hand Mac Mini which can support 10.6 right the way through to 10.8

Can anyone with better knowledge of the subject list / highlight which models I should focus on in my eBay searches?

Thanks

 

[simsaladimbamba]

Any Mac mini from 2009 to 2010 will work, there are also reports of 2011 Mac minis being able to run Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard, but since they came with Mac OS X 10.7 Lion, it is a bit more complicated to get Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard onto them.

 

[Mr. Retrofire]

Any Mac mini from 2009 to 2010 will work, there are also reports of 2011 Mac minis being able to run Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard, but since they came with Mac OS X 10.7 Lion, it is a bit more complicated to get Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard onto them.

In that case MR user FireArse needs a MacBook Pro Early-2011 restore disk (the grey, machine specific DVD). As far as i know, Apple sells you the restore disk(s) for a little fee, if you “lost” the disk(s).

The grey installation DVDs contain Mac OS X 10.6.6 or 10.6.7, Thunderbolt drivers, kernel support for Sandy Bridge and so on.

I'm sure many Early-2011 MBP owners sell the grey restore disk(s), because they are almost useless, if the seller has OS X 10.7.x or OS X 10.8.x + a recovery partition + internet recovery in the EFI firmware.

With this guide
https://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?p=13000644#post13000644
you can remove the installation check from the machine specific DVD.

 

[blanka]

2009-2011 models.
Just go with the 2010 or 2011 radeon. 10.6 is easy to install on the 2011 too. No need for a Macbook disk. The 10.6.3 with kitty print and the server ones you can buy at Apple are fine. Only thing you need to install is a second mac that can boot from the install disk. Then you connect the Mini 2011 with firewire and target mode to the other mac, and do the install on it as if it was an install on an external disc. Don't forget to do the combo update as well, and to move the identifier files from lion to 10.6, otherwise it won't know the model.

 

[FireArse]

2009-2011 models.
Just go with the 2010 or 2011 radeon.

The 10.6.3 with kitty print and the server ones you can buy at Apple are fine.

I was a Mac Genius and I've never come across the term 'kitty print' care to expand?

Only thing you need to install is a second mac that can boot from the install disk. Then you connect the Mini 2011 with firewire and target mode to the other mac, and do the install on it as if it was an install on an external disc. Don't forget to do the combo update as well, and to move the identifier files from lion to 10.6, otherwise it won't know the model.

So 10.6 Server in DVD drive of Mac Pro. 2011 Mac Mini FW disk mode connected to Mac Pro. Boot Mac Pro off DVD and install the OS on the FW disk mode Mac Mini? Then install 10.6.8 combo through FW disk mode, then boot up Mini?

What identifier files do I need to setup (and how) to let 2011 boot 10.6?

F

 

[blanka]

I was a Mac Genius and I've never come across the term 'kitty print' care to expand?




So 10.6 Server in DVD drive of Mac Pro. 2011 Mac Mini FW disk mode connected to Mac Pro. Boot Mac Pro off DVD and install the OS on the FW disk mode Mac Mini? Then install 10.6.8 combo through FW disk mode, then boot up Mini?

What identifier files do I need to setup (and how) to let 2011 boot 10.6?

F

With OSX disks, you have machine disks (grey) and the universal ones: kitty print: lion, jaguar, leopard, hello kitty: they made the latter "mavericks" unfortunately, the board has less humour than Google who just signs a deal with Kit Kat Nestle.

I wrote it here in Dutch, but with translator you sure can make chocolate of it.
http://www.microsofttranslator.com/...y/topic/snow-leopard-op-een-mini-2011-zetten/

 

[FireArse]

With OSX disks, you have machine disks (grey) and the universal ones: kitty print: lion, jaguar, leopard, hello kitty: they made the latter "mavericks"

huh - i thought the Big Cat printed discs were just the Retail sold versions - furry muff