Installing Mac OS on a Mac Pro 4.1 with no existing Hard Drives

[frozenile]

Hi

I recerece pupurchased a 2009 Mac Pro 4.1. Unfortunately it did not come with a Hard Disk. How should I go about installing an OS (any version) onto a new HDD. Would I need a disk to install or is there a way to use a bootable USB drive?

 

[tsialex]

Hi

I recerece pupurchased a 2009 Mac Pro 4.1. Unfortunately it did not come with a Hard Disk. How should I go about installing an OS (any version) onto a new HDD. Would I need a disk to install or is there a way to use a bootable USB drive?

Mac Pro, like any other Intel Mac, can boot from USB. You can download El Capitan from the Mac App Store and then create an 8GB pendrive with createinstallmedia. It's the newest supported macOS until you upgrade the firmware to 5,1.

 

[Synchro3]

Yes, but for downloading El Capitan he needs a functional Mac.

However, this could be useful in general for a Mac Pro 4,1:

- Mac App Store direct link for El Capitan 10.11.6: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/os-x-el-capitan/id1147835434?mt=12

- How to make a USB Installer: https://hackintosher.com/guides/make-macos-flash-drive-installer/

- How to upgrade the Mac Pro 4,1 firmware to 5,1: http://forum.netkas.org/index.php/topic,852.0.html

- Mac App Store direct link for Sierra 10.12.6: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/macos-sierra/id1127487414?mt=12

- How to change the CPU or repair other things: Mac Pro Technician Guide