Have you completed the setup of a *brand new Mac Mini with a *brand new wireless keyb

[patent10021]

All I needed was one person to say he was able to do it to prove you wrong. I don't mean to sound like an Apple apologetic but it's just common sense, no computer company would release a product that wasn't able to pair with their keyboard during setup.

That's why companies have this thing called V&V

We don't know that one person's setup. Was it a BRAND NEW APPLE wireless keyboard? Had it been paired with another Mini before he bought a new Mini? Was the mini new or had it been paired before then a Lion install where previous data WASN'T erased therefore previous pairing settings were saved? Many variables.

If you see my join date, you'd see I'm pretty familiar with Apple products. Not like the first time I've paired Apple devices. If I post a question it's usually for a good reason and last resort or new product I'm unfamiliar with. Apple has a new dual display F'up up going on that's all over the Apple sites. Not like they don't make mistakes. It would be nice to have it written somewhere that "it is recommended new devices be set up with a USB keyboard". To that effect.

 

[Evostar*]

i remember having similar problems but it seemed to pair in the end. as i don't even have a usb keyboard and yet here i am typing here. have you tried turning any wifi devices off. i remember reading something about this can inter fear with the bluetooth. depending on wifi channels. worth a shot

Just to Clarify! i did set up my mini from apple Wireless Keyboard

 

[JDLang]

I had the same problem with my Mini server. I tried every single combination of, pair, unpair, re-pair, get-a-pair, etc. etc.

My mini would not find the wireless keyboard. Had to find a USB keyboard to get it working.


*This is not suggesting that all mini's will definitely have this problem. Just stating that mine did have this problem. And there was no other solution besides find a USB keyboard.

 

[talmy]

I've had four Macs that have used wireless keyboards (three iMacs and a Mini). I was worried when I bought my first one that there would be problems as I didn't have a USB keyboard, but with my first iMac, when I turned on the power the *first time* it noticed there was no wired KB (or mouse) attached and walked me through the setup. I don't remember any issues at all with the other iMacs, and the mini paired up with no problems to a wireless KB (and mouse) from another system I switched back to wired.

Note that after the first time a Mac will successfully run without a KB or mouse, so I'm not sure how to pair one later on without connecting a wired KB/mouse first.

Frankly, at this point I'd call AppleCare. I'm sure they have a solution.

 

[patent10021]

Thanks guys. This could be a finicky Mac Mini + Lion + Apple Wireless keyboard issue too. Looks like the two people who solved the problem didn't have the EXACT setup. Who knows what's up.

@Evostar; 2011 Mac Mini Server / New Apple Wireless keyboard?

There's a different pairing window in Lion.

 

[Mr.C]

I had the same problem when I got my new 2011 Mini. The keyboard was previously paired with my late 2009 Mini but I had unpaired it before trying to use it to setup my new Mini. I tried countless times without success. In the end I had to pop out to a local store whilst the Mini was in setup mode and buy a wired USB keyboard to finish the setup. There are at least two threads in these forums with a number of people who had the very same issue. It has nothing what so ever to do with being paired to another device.

 

[suzehenry]

I got my mac mini to work with a bluetooth keyboard and majic mouse on setup.

but I had to use a usb keyboard/mouse to do it. cause my mac didn't like trying to pair both at once.

 

[Caterpod]

I as well had to go out and buy a USB keyboard in order to finish the pairing of the wireless keyboard. I like many others had thrown out my "ancient" peripherals. Just to illustrate the silliness that I put myself through... I actually concluded the initial setup using the track pad, by copying and pasting letters and or words. Then I got to the sign in screen where I had to input the password... IMHO this issue needs to be resolved at the top. I am a first time Mac user and the setup was not smooth by any standard. As such I found myself googling the issue and researching .... I guess in the end I learned something
Later

 

[748s]

I had the same problem with 2011 Mac Mini server
Tried everything, pairing, unpairing etc etc.
Called Applecare, was told because I have a server I had to speak with "Enterprise".

"Enterprise" confirmed the servers won't pair with wireless keyboards until an account was created (catch22).
I had to use a usb keyboard, luckily still had one.
Once the Admin account was created I was able to pair the keyboard.

2011 Mac Mini servers will not auto pair to create an account.
"Enterprises" work around was to plug into the network with ethernet cable and set-up the new server remotely.
Great if you already have a network.

 

[sascha h-k]

i got my mini i7 (mid august) and started ..
pairing with new bt keyboard/mouse was impossible, bt-pairing would turn around until today.

so i connected usb keyboard and mouse and went on; next problem was, that some letters where confused when typing the apple-registration so i let it open.

next, i migrated data from extern hdd and after restart i could pair keyboard/mighty mouse without problems.

until todays no problems.

 

[lfc321]

I couldn't start my 2011 mini (base model) with the wirless keyboard and trackpad. It just wouldn;t detect them during the setup process - had to use a usb kb and mouse. Once the mini was up and running with an account I could pair the kb and trackpad without any probs via system preferences.

I haven;t had any problems at all since: was just a problem with the first time setup process.

This was a brand new mini, keyboard and trackpad. All straight out of the box, all ordered on one order from Apple Store online.

 

[Mawal]

I couldn't start my 2011 mini (base model) with the wirless keyboard and trackpad. It just wouldn;t detect them during the setup process - had to use a usb kb and mouse. Once the mini was up and running with an account I could pair the kb and trackpad without any probs via system preferences.

I haven;t had any problems at all since: was just a problem with the first time setup process.

This was a brand new mini, keyboard and trackpad. All straight out of the box, all ordered on one order from Apple Store online.

same here, bluetooth trackpad and keyboard were not recognized.

I used a logitech wireless combo with a usb dongle, and that worked.

No problems with bluetooth ever since, so it is only an initial setup problem.

 

[sazaks]

I experienced some Bluetooth Keyboard and Track Pad issues during my installation as well. Turns out Migration Assistant (from Snow Leopard) imported some plist files (Preference files) that didn't jive in Lion. Apple Care tech support had me delete the Bluetooth preference files and everything started working.

 

[patent10021]

You see. This is an issue with a brand new Mac Mini Base/Server in combination with a wireless keyboard. (possibly brand new wireless keyboard). During the first time set up of the Mac Mini Server they DO NOT PAIR. We have all said it in this thread. THEY DO NOT PAIR. Anyone who says they go it to pair is using a different configuration and/or not the configuration all of us used and are explaining in this thread.

And to prove it one more time, I just got back from Yodobashi Camera here in Japan. I bought a $9.00 Buffalo USB keyboard (says only for Windows on the box but I know it would work) and now my Mini is working perfectly. I have FINALLY completed the Set Up Assistant garbage.

This issue really should be written somewhere i.e. How about THE BOX! Or at the very least educate the sales staff.

Thank god for $9.00 Windows only USB keyboards!


.

 

[Iamgort]

Got a brand new mac mini (cheapest model) 3 weeks ago and was unable to complete initial setup with the trackpad and bluetooth keyboard. I had to grab a microsoft keyboard and wired mouse I had in my closet to plug in to complete the setup. Was able to pair up the bluetooth peripherals once the setup was done.

 

[patent10021]

Got a brand new mac mini (cheapest model) 3 weeks ago and was unable to complete initial setup with the trackpad and bluetooth keyboard. I had to grab a microsoft keyboard and wired mouse I had in my closet to plug in to complete the setup. Was able to pair up the bluetooth peripherals once the setup was done.

Glad you got up and running.

Btw, my iPad's keyboard is also my Mini's keyboard thanks to TouchPad

p.s. I put my $9.00 USB keyboard in cold storage. Next friend who buys a Mini Server will owe me a beer

 

[MadDragon1846]

I had my apple keyboard paired with my pc, but I made sure I unpaired it before even turning on my mac mini.

My mini couldnt even see my keyboard during setup, so I had to use a usb keyboard. But even after it was all set up and running, it took me alot of time to get the dam thing to pair... It'd just stay searching for bluetooth devices.

After pairing and unpairing it a load of times from my pc, my mini finally found the keyboard, and then it was no trouble to pair.

I guess this info doesnt help you beings you wanted to know about a "new" keyboard. But thought I'd share anyway.

 

[mr.steevo]

Well, if it helps you sleep at night you can keep telling yourself that the Mini can't pair to wireless keyboards during set-up.

This goes against what others are saying on this thread.

Well, if it helps you sleep at night you can keep telling yourself that the Mini can pair to wireless keyboards during set-up.

 

[AuroraProject]

Wirelessly posted (iPhone 4: Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU iPhone OS 4_3_5 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/533.17.9 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/5.0.2 Mobile/8L1 Safari/6533.18.5)

I couldn't get it working either, I had to dig a wired keyboard out of the garage to complete initial setup.

 

[patent10021]

Well, if it helps you sleep at night you can keep telling yourself that the Mini can't pair to wireless keyboards during set-up.

This goes against what others are saying on this thread.

Well, if it helps you sleep at night you can keep telling yourself that the Mini can pair to wireless keyboards during set-up.

Bravo. What a DB hey. And that's not DB as in 'data base'



.

 

[alotlikehomer]

Couldn't get new mini to work with new apple wireless keyboard. Plugged in USB keyboard and got it done in a few seconds. No big deal as long as you have a USB keyboard around the house. Bigger deal if you just dropped $500-$1500 on a mini and have to go out and buy a wired keyboard.

 

[backward]

I got a Mac Mini 2011 a week ago and was able to pair with a brand new Magic Trackpad and wireless keyboard. Well, was using them for a few days with my old mbp but then unpaired them.

IIRC, the Mini detected only the trackpad, confirmed because the trackpad indicator light stopped blinking. The wireless keyboard light kept blinking though. I then clicked on 'OK' or some such button on screen to proceed to the next screen. There, I was asked to type in some random characters to pair the keyboard.

 

[snorkelman]

^^^^ what he said

Mac Mini 2011 2.3 2GB Ram base model, brand new magic trackpad and brand new wireless keyboard. Bought the three of them together this evening on way home from work.

powered on keyboard and trackpad first

Once I powered up the mini, setup wanted me to press power button on trackpad (or mouse) again

trackpad was detected the 'on to the next stage' arrow was now active and I clicked on that

at next screen Keyboard serial number was identified and I was then asked to key in 2 multi digit codes to confirm the keyboard I was pairing

so yeh it does work.

More I think about it the initial 'please press power' screens have been showing line drawings for the underside of mouse and a side profile of a magic trackpad? (rather than a mouse and keyboard)

ie all it wants at that stage is a magic trackpad or a magic mouse

Whereas folks might be thinking that line-drawn side profile of a magic trackpad is the side profile of the apple wireless keyboard? (the power button on each is in same place and the line drawing is pretty light on detail).

As a result aren't clicking the next button on screen as they think OSX is still demanding they hit power on their wireless keyboard..

 

[patent10021]

...SNIP

at next screen Keyboard serial number was identified and I was then asked to key in 2 multi digit codes to confirm the keyboard I was pairing

so yeh it does work.

More I think about it the initial 'please press power' screens have been showing line drawings for the underside of mouse and a side profile of a magic trackpad? (rather than a mouse and keyboard)

ie all it wants at that stage is a magic trackpad or a magic mouse

Whereas folks might be thinking that line-drawn side profile of a magic trackpad is the side profile of the apple wireless keyboard? (the power button on each is in same place and the line drawing is pretty light on detail).

As a result aren't clicking the next button on screen as they think OSX is still demanding they hit power on their wireless keyboard..

Yeah at first I was thinking the second line diagram was the keyboard like you said, but then I realized it was for a Magic Mouse and Magic Trackpad (Apple is a design company and can't make drawings that clearly define the two?) and nothing to do with the keyboard. (Interesting isn't it? The lack of a keyboard in the diagram screens shows that the keyboard does not pair the same way as the Magic Trackpad. Don't know why. Security?). I clicked the next arrow after it identified my Magic Trackpad and subsequently tried about 6 reboots etc to no avail. Was never asked/presented with a SN and neither were others. Who knows what's going on. But I can safely say that this setup is obviously not as straight forward as others have led on and should be changed somehow. That's the point here. This is all over the net.

I got a Mac Mini 2011 a week ago and was able to pair with a brand new Magic Trackpad and wireless keyboard. Well, was using them for a few days with my old mbp but then unpaired them.

IIRC, the Mini detected only the trackpad, confirmed because the trackpad indicator light stopped blinking. The wireless keyboard light kept blinking though. I then clicked on 'OK' or some such button on screen to proceed to the next screen. There, I was asked to type in some random characters to pair the keyboard.

But you had already used the keyboard right? Maybe that somehow does something to it to prepare it for a new Mac?



.

 

[jackiecanev2]

Just set up my Mac Mini Server out of the box with an Apple BT KB and trackpad; turned on the mini, and got the "turn on magic mouse/trackpad" screen - which I did. It self-paired to my trackpad, and I used the trackpad to proceed. The next screen said no keyboard was installed and that the computer would search for a keyboard. I turned the keyboard on, and the computer discovered it just fine; after typing the confirmation code, they paired and I finished the setup without any problems.