Updating Mac mini 2,1 to Snow Leopard - how?

[BanjoDudeAhoy]

Hello, everyone!
I've got an old Mac mini 2,1 sitting around here, 2GHz Core 2 Duo. It's been upgraded to 3GB RAM and a 200 GB SSD.
The only thing not running great is the DVD drive which sounds eerily similar to a chainsaw.

It's currently running Leopard (10.5.8) and I would like to update it to Snow Leopard. I have one of those official Apple USB installers for 10.6.5 Snow Leopard. I tried running it from within Leopard but it just says, "You cannot use this version of the application install Mac OS X.app with this version of Mac OS X."

Booting from it results in it telling me, "Mac OS X can't be installed on this computer."

EveryMac says this Mac mini can definitely run Snow Leopard.

Does anyone have an idea what I can do to get this installed?
I'm starting to think that maybe those installers are locked to only work with specific hardware somehow?

 

[Boyd01]

It used to be the case that you had to purchase MacOS 10.6 from Apple on DVD, it was not a free upgrade from 10.5. I did this myself many years ago and think it was still available until recently, but now it seems to be gone. I see people selling used DVD's on Amazon and eBay... not sure how legit that is.

Sorry, don't know why your USB installer doesn't work.

 

[DeltaMac]

If, in fact, you have a 10.6.5 installer, then the error that you get "... Can't be installed on this computer" is correct. That version of the installer would be one that is a special build designed for installation on one Mac model, and won't install on any other Mac model.
You will need to find a disk image (or a DVD) for 10.6.3, which is the last version that Apple provided that will install on any supported Mac.

 

[Boyd01]

Moderator Note: I am moving this thread to our Early Intel Macs forum where I think you'll get more responses. A permanent re-direct will remain in the original forum.

 

[Amethyst1]

I have one of those official Apple USB installers for 10.6.5 Snow Leopard.

This was delivered with a different Mac (quite possibly a Late 2010 MacBook Air) and the installer is keyed to that specific model. It won’t work on any other Mac unless you patch it.

 

[BanjoDudeAhoy]

If, in fact, you have a 10.6.5 installer, then the error that you get "... Can't be installed on this computer" is correct. That version of the installer would be one that is a special build designed for installation on one Mac model, and won't install on any other Mac model.
You will need to find a disk image (or a DVD) for 10.6.3, which is the last version that Apple provided that will install on any supported Mac.

This was delivered with a different Mac (quite possibly a Late 2010 MacBook Air) and the installer is keyed to that specific model. It won’t work on any other Mac unless you patch it.

This is great information, thanks a lot
Now I wish I'd bought the disc version of Snow Leopard that I found around the same time I found (and bought) the USB drive

 

[BanjoDudeAhoy]

I made a USB installer of Leopard for the mini now, but it still asks for the second install disc during the setup process.
Is it possible to get those on the same USB installer?
I tried simply copying the contents of the 2nd disc to the USB drive but that didn’t work.

 

[Amethyst1]

Is it possible to get those on the same USB installer?

Here’s how to do it for Panther. No idea if it still works like that for Leopard.

However, if you perform an optional/custom install and only select the “bare” Mac OS X to be installed but none of the included applications like iLife, trials, etc., it may not need — and not ask for — the second disc.
This is also where you can deselect localisations and printer drivers you don’t need, saving quite a bit of disk space and time when installing Mac OS X.

 

[BanjoDudeAhoy]

However, if you perform an optional/custom install and only select the “bare” Mac OS X to be installed but none of the included applications like iLife, trials, etc., it may not need — and not ask for — the second disc.
This is also where you can deselect localisations and printer drivers you don’t need, saving quite a bit of disk space and time when installing Mac OS X.

Yeah, I disabled everything it would let me, leaving just the base install, but it still asked for the 2nd disc for some reason.

Here’s how to do it for Panther. No idea if it still works like that for Leopard.

Thanks, I’ll give that a read

 

[Amethyst1]

Thanks, I’ll give that a read

Alternatively, making a USB installer using a retail 10.5.6 image may be easier since that is a single disc to begin with.

I thought you want Snow Leopard though, so why Leopard?

 

[BanjoDudeAhoy]

I thought you want Snow Leopard though, so why Leopard?

Yep, a retail (or so the seller says, anyway) copy of Snow Leopard is on the way, I just wanted to try out the process out of curiosity 😅