mac Mini 2011 - how to get the lion installer/app?

[cooa99]

I have a new 2011 mac mini server.

How do I download the Lion installer or app?

i have read places where it says you can download it from the app store but i dont think that step works for mac mini's that come pre-installed with Lion

cheers

cooa99

 

[mdgm]

I have a new 2011 mac mini server.

How do I download the Lion installer or app?

i have read places where it says you can download it from the app store but i dont think that step works for mac mini's that come pre-installed with Lion

cheers

cooa99

The Mac will be pre-installed with Lion and has Internet Recovery Mode (CMD+R) if you ever replace the disk.

If you really want a downloaded copy of the installer, you can use Recovery Mode to download the installer.

Connect e.g. a USB disk, boot your Mac with a USB keyboard attached holding down option on boot. Select the Recovery Partition.

Open Disk Utility and format the USB disk (or partition on USB disk) to Mac OS X Extended Journaled.
Exit Disk Utility and then select to install Mac OS X.
Mac OS X will be downloaded.
Once Mac OS X has been downloaded the Mac will reboot.
Power off the Mac at this time.
Disconnect the USB disk
Boot up your Mac and once it has booted connect the USB disk again. The InstallESD.dmg file for Mac OS X Lion Server for the 2011 Mini Server will be on the USB disk.

 

[cooa99]

Thanks very much, that instruction worked.

Is there a way to tell what version of Lion it downloaded?

cheers

cooa99

 

[Mr. Retrofire]

Is there a way to tell what version of Lion it downloaded?

Mount the InstallESD.dmg and open
/Volumes/Mac OS X Install ESD/System/Library/CoreServices/SystemVersion.plist
with a PLIST editor.

Do not use the
/Install Mac OS X Lion.app/Contents/Info.plist
file! It shows the wrong version (11C72 instead of 11C74; Mac OS X v10.7.2 MAS version).

You can use also the defaults command line utility within the Terminal:

defaults read /Volumes/Mac\ OS\ X\ Install\ ESD/System/Library/CoreServices/SystemVersion ProductBuildVersion

and

defaults read /Volumes/Mac\ OS\ X\ Install\ ESD/System/Library/CoreServices/SystemVersion ProductVersion

 

[cooa99]

thanks very much, I'll give that a try

 

[mdgm]

Do note that on the server it will download Lion including the server app. One way to tell that is that the image is larger in size than Lion downloaded for an ordinary Mac via the App Store for the same version of Mac OS X.

If you want an installer for Lion without the server app you'll need e.g. a 2011 Mac Mini (non-server) or 2011 MacBook Air to get the download. Late 2011 MBP may also work.

 

[cooa99]

cheers it shows

11C74 Mac OS X v10.7.2


cooa99