Issue now solved...see last post..Thanks for all help....Ok really need some help with reinstalling OSX..

[Dudgeman]

i all

Ok so I have a Mac mini 2010 core duo at the moment 5 gb of RAM running El Capitan via an external HDD as the internal tried to lunch itself and nearly succeeded before I managed to get a clone to the HDD. The clone was running Mountain lion originally (as was the internal HDD) I made the clone so I could update OS to see what issues my favourite programs would have with El capitan and beyond before committing to upgrading my internal hard drive (So logic/Adobe master suite etc)

The internal is unstable and so I have removed it and so as I have the clone running (Slowly via USB) as the operating system. I decided to get a new SSD (Samsung 860 Pro) to install internally. I have watchched and followed every Youtube video and read nearly all forum discussions on how to get a clean (This is the important bit..I don't want any of my old files on the new drive) Sierra install on the, now, Internal SSD but all have failed. In fact now I would happily get any OSX on the internal SSD. I have 2 8gb USBs and a 64 GB SD card to act as potential bootable disks. I have tried

Making a bootable USB of Sierra...wont let me as I am missing firmware partition
Making a bootable copy of El Capitan. Says USB isn't big enough to run OSX
Making a bootable copy of ElCapitan to the SD card but it won't give me that option, greys out drive and says it can only be installed on disk with OSX..
I have tried Alt + R, CMD +R on start up and through internet recovery option it gets me to Mountain lion download. I agree to terms go for download "Sorry not available at the time" error. I have formatted USB's as guid with Mac OS Extended journal in Disk Utility. I have formatted SSD correctly. I have tried internet downloads of just about every OSX I can think of and also done the same from the App store. The computer knows it is me (I have had it from new with the same Apple ID) It will let me download the installers but they all fail at USB stage. I can even go to my purchase history and it allowed me to download Mountain lion from there but then failed on install.

I have tried installing OSX to the new SSD extranally but unbelievably the SSD reader packed up (Power brick failed) so

1. Is the only option to try and re install OS or OSX to new SSD externally and is there any reason that won't work?
2. I believe that the Mac mini 2010 is USB2 so if I buy a USB to SATA cable does it need to be powered or will a standard cable with a USB3 end work (There seem to be many of these but I can't find a USB2 to SATA)
3. Are there any ways you know of to install any relatively recent OSX to a bootable USB and if so can you let me know how and where to download from as the App store ones all fail? I have also followed The tech guys video on youtube using the correct code in terminal to install Sierra to USB, but again this didn't work..either not enough space on USB (Says it needs another 10,8GB hence trying with the SD card)
4. On trying re install OSX in Utilities it sees all the devices without an issue but will only let me install on the external hard drive and that is no good to me. It greys out the other drives.
5. Will my MM run Sierra or do I need to just get any OSX on there and try and update my way to Sierra or High Sierra?

I am almost at my wits end with this. I must have tried 20 times over the last 4-5 days to install an OSX on my SSD.... I just want the internal SSD up and running so I can get on with my life and I can get back to using the external drive as the storage medium it should be....

Please help.....I love this MM and just want it back up and running!..... Thanks



















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[Fishrrman]

At 10 years old, it's past time to be spending much (any?) money on it.

Having said that...

You are saying that you CAN boot the Mini, using an external drive with El Cap on it?
And at this point, you'd be happy to get ANY OS on the new SSD, just to get it up and running?

Then...
Have you tried this?

You'll need either a USB3 2.5" enclosure like this:

SABRENT 2.5 Inch SATA to USB 3.0 Tool Free External Hard Drive Enclosure [Optimized for SSD, Support UASP SATA III] Black (EC-UASP)

SABRENT 2.5 Inch SATA to USB 3.0 Tool Free External Hard Drive Enclosure [Optimized for SSD, Support UASP SATA III] Black (EC-UASP)

tinyurl.com

Or... a USB3/SATA "adapter/dongle" (also cheap).

Then...
a. boot your Mini using the El Cap drive
b. once running, put the SSD into the enclosure or adapter, and connect it
c. open disk utility and erase the SSD to Mac OS extended with journaling enabled, GUID partition format
d. use CarbonCopyCloner to clone the contents of the El Cap boot drive to the SSD (You don't have to clone everything if you don't want to -- you can use the "some files" option of CCC to limit what gets copied over).
e. once done, reboot and hold down the option key to invoke the startup manager
f. do you now see the SSD as a boot drive? If so, try it.

If the SSD is now bootable, then install it inside the Mini and see what happens.

 

[Dudgeman]

Hi

Thanks
I can boot from the external hdd...its just sloooowwww. I will inevitably end up getting a new Mac...just at the moment I want to get the mini up and running clean so I can record music, in the middle of a project, until I can raise the required to get either a pro or MBP....like many I have a greater need for the funds at the moment and I have only spent about £90.00 for SSD and new Ram so it is essentially a cheap fix.

With regards to the connector cable...is it best to get an enclosure type with power ...as in do i need one with external power as it is only USB 2 on the 2010 or will a straight USB to SATA dongle like this work or does it actually make no difference?

Kasstino USB 3.0 To SATA 22 Pin 2.5 Inch Hard Disk Drive SSD Adapter Connector Cable Lead

Features: *Transfer rate of Super-Speed USB 3.0 interface can be up to 5Gb/sec (Max) *Connects 2.5" 7+15pin SATA HDD/SSD to computer via USB port for easy test and data transfer. *USB Y cable supports up to 7200rpm SATA HDD or more, When lack of power, please plug the additional USB connector ...

www.amazon.co.uk

Not sure why some have an external power source and some don't appear to? I do think I will have more joy installing externally.... I really do want a completely clean install if possible. Something was trying to corrupt the original hard drive and I am lucky that I cloned it before it failed...That is another reason I moved up to El Cap from ML....new OS and RAM has made a world of difference...gutted I can't just pull the external to bits and shove that into the Mac...lol.

Thanks again. Let me know on the cable and I will get one ordered from Amazon.

 

[Fishrrman]

"With regards to the connector cable...is it best to get an enclosure type with power ...as in do i need one with external power as it is only USB 2 on the 2010 or will a straight USB to SATA dongle like this work or does it actually make no difference?"

For SSDs or smaller HDDs (2.5"), the enclosure I posted above should work fine. This would be my choice.

I think that adapter you posted above will work, too.
But... I should mention that I have one like that, and it can be finicky -- works ok most of the time, but once in a while, will get balky and refuse to mount -- seems to depend on the drive.
But again, my guess it will work. Another adapter/dongle I have works fine.

You just need to have a way to connect the drive.
Get it initialized/erased
Get an OS onto it (clone from the 2015)
Test it on the 2015 to see if it's bootable
Take it to the 2010 and boot from it.

 

[Dudgeman]

"With regards to the connector cable...is it best to get an enclosure type with power ...as in do i need one with external power as it is only USB 2 on the 2010 or will a straight USB to SATA dongle like this work or does it actually make no difference?"

For SSDs or smaller HDDs (2.5"), the enclosure I posted above should work fine. This would be my choice.

I think that adapter you posted above will work, too.
But... I should mention that I have one like that, and it can be finicky -- works ok most of the time, but once in a while, will get balky and refuse to mount -- seems to depend on the drive.
But again, my guess it will work. Another adapter/dongle I have works fine.

You just need to have a way to connect the drive.
Get it initialized/erased
Get an OS onto it (clone from the 2015)
Test it on the 2015 to see if it's bootable
Take it to the 2010 and boot from it.

Thanks. Really helpful. Will see if i can get the housing here in the uk.

 

[Fishrrman]

If you can't get that specific enclosure, just get one that is:
- USB3
- Is advertised to have "UASP" support (USB attached SCSI protocol).

 

[Dudgeman]

If you can't get that specific enclosure, just get one that is:
- USB3
- Is advertised to have "UASP" support (USB attached SCSI protocol).

Thanks have one coming today..will let you know how I get on

 

[Dudgeman]

SOLVED............... Couldnt be happier. So what happened.... Every time I tried to download any OS or OSX from Apple it would go through the install process and then say that OSX was damaged. As advised above I bought an external carrier for my new SSD and rather than boot from my full external Clone i took a punt, crossed my fingers and reinstalled the original HHD into the Mac itself. I disconnected my Clone....tried to boot from the original hard drive...took 2 goes but once that was re installed I went through the download process for Sierra. It opened no problems...and once SSD was formatted it installed without any issues. I checked it..pulled the old drive out..fitted the new SSD and its like....so what was the problem?? Lol. In fact from not having an OS I have now upgraded to High Sierra and am tempted to see how far I can go with installing Moave etc...
But no matter what I did...it would categorically NOT let me install anything while I was booting from the clone. Took a long time to sort but my music is flowing , now with a new install of Logic Pro x....next is importing old tunes from Logic Pro 8.......

Just want to say a massive thank you for the advice on here...Mac Mini flying, I have gained yet more knowledge and now am free to concentrate on the fun stuff, oh and I have 2 spare bootable devices should I need them..in the end..thats what I call a result.