Mac Mini SL Server Upgrade to Lion Non-Server

[geltab]

Hi All, I was trying to update my Mac Mini Snow Leopard server to a non-Server version of Lion. I went to the app store and when I click on buy, I get this message saying I need to purchase both the standard and server edition for $79.00. Is there a way just to downgrade to standard Lion? I don't need the server software.

Thanks

 

[LeiQQ]

me too

I'm looking to do the same thing as you. I bought the mini server but never used the server utilities. I just want to upgrade to regular lion. Have any luck?

 

[Tulpa]

You could actually save $11 off that by downgrading to regular SL and then upgrading to Lion. Well, assuming it lets you downgrade to regular SL that is.

 

[REK]

I don't think that there is an easy way to downgrade to SL. What I did was install Lion on the second HDD then transfer my data and erase the server HDD. I was able to do this by downloading the Lion install on my other Mac and creating an install drive.
Lifehacker has some instructions for doing that here.
Note - the server will not let you install Lion from the install drive unless you boot from it, otherwise it will ask you to get the server app first.

 

[geltab]

thanks for the replies

thanks for the link and information. just one question. once I get the usb bootable lion disk made, how do I install it without SL Server trying to load up? I know you can hit option or something when starting up, but that usually defaults to the main drive, right? Also, once I get Lion on the second drive and have moved all my files over, how do I erase the entire disk with SL? When this original SL drive is deleted, will the system just default to the drive with the freshly installed Lion? Thanks again.

 

[REK]

Yes you can hold option while starting up and that will give you the option to choose your startup disk. You can also attach the drive then go into System Preferences > Startup Disk > choose the thumb drive and then restart (this is also where you set the default drive to startup on).
Once everything is installed I think it will reboot into the lion partition automatically (but you can double check the default as mentioned above).
Once you move over all of your files you can erase the hard drive running SL with disk utility. Once this is deleted the mini physically cannot boot from it and so that is no longer an issue.
Let me know if you run into any issues, I think you will find its surprisingly easy though, good luck.

 

[LeiQQ]

Can I do this with a DVD? Will the Lion disc boot up from an external drive? I
am using a non-Apple drive.

Yes you can hold option while starting up and that will give you the option to choose your startup disk. You can also attach the drive then go into System Preferences > Startup Disk > choose the thumb drive and then restart (this is also where you set the default drive to startup on).
Once everything is installed I think it will reboot into the lion partition automatically (but you can double check the default as mentioned above).
Once you move over all of your files you can erase the hard drive running SL with disk utility. Once this is deleted the mini physically cannot boot from it and so that is no longer an issue.
Let me know if you run into any issues, I think you will find its surprisingly easy though, good luck.

 

[REK]

I would think it would work just the same