Bought a Macbook that came without SSD, how to install OS X?

[sgrzelak]

I bought an used Macbook Air (Mid 2011) from a company that sold it without an SSD. Was a corporate clearout.

How do I go about getting the computer up and running.

I ordered an used SSD from eBay that will be formatted but how do I install the OS without any restore CDs?


Any help would be appreciated.

 

[cerberusss]

Create an installer on a USB stick:

http://osxdaily.com/2013/10/23/create-os-x-mavericks-install-drive/

 

[alex0002]

I don't think you will be able to create an OS X Installer on a USB stick, unless you already have a Mac running OS X.

If you do have another Mac, the instructions in the link above should work.

If you don't have another Mac, then first install your SSD, then use Internet Recovery to install the version of OS X that would have been delivered with your Macbook Air - most likely OS X Lion - some info here in these links.

http://support.apple.com/kb/ht4718
http://www.apple.com/osx/recovery/

Once you have OS X installed using OS X recovery, you can upgrade to Mavericks if you wish (and most people would recommend Mavericks as an improvement over Lion and Mountain Lion).

 

[chabig]

As Alex said, your Mac will boot over the internet if it doesn't have an OS. Then you can run the installer to put Mavericks on the machine.

 

[Bruno09]

Don't forget to use Disk Utility from the OS X Utilities window that will show up to format your new SSD.

"Erase" tab : Format : Mac OS extended (journaled), click the "Erase" button.

"Partition" tab : replace "Current" with "1 partition"
"Options" button : make sure that "GUID" est selected
Click OK, then Apply.

Quit Disk Utility.

Install OS X (Lion).

 

[sgrzelak]

Thank you everybody for the swift replies.

 

[alphaod]

If you have an Apple Store close by, you can take the computer (with the SSD installed) and ask them to reinstall the OS for you. They'll do it for free.

 

[cyber16]

Have you even tried to boot up the options screen?
Sometimes corporations efi password lock them
Until you get the ssd, you can always install osx onto a usb external hard drive just to test it out. It will not be a speed demon due to the slow usb interface