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Possible to create 2011 Mac Mini Lion (build:11A2061) install media?

Crunch said:
Yes, I realize all of that, as I have done it about five times already to get my SSD RAID going. And why wouldn't Apple give us iLife '11 as part of new Mac's that come with Lion pre-installed? iLife '11 is very much a part of new Mac's, whether it's Lion or Lion Server.
Click to expand...
They have given it in the past on install DVDs but they haven't given a copy of it that counts as purchased on the App Store and that can legally be used by your other Macs in the past.
Crunch said:
I find it annoying that I can't just download OS X Lion (the NON-server version) from the AppStore and make my own bootable USB Flash drive, nor can I specifically choose OS X Lion as opposed to OS X Lion Server using Internet Recovery. I had to go through not-so-legit channels to accomplish exactly that. Also, when you look at the Mac mini server page on Apple's Online store, it clearly states that the Mac mini server comes with OS X Lion, OS X Lion Server, as well as iLife '11.
Click to expand...
Yes it is annoying. I'm running Mac OS X Server on my 2011 Mini Server and it's working fine for me. I would probably have rather not had the Server component as I don't need them, but so far they don't seem to be causing much trouble.

Apple obviously chose to do it this way. Older gen Mac Mini Servers came with OS X Server install disks only so it's not unexpected.
 
I'm having a lot of trouble with this at the moment.

I'm trying to get an installable USB of Lion Server that came on my mac mini. I followed Ryan's instructions from the previous page and the first time I tried, I was able to download Lion (except instead of downloading it to the internal drive I downloaded it onto a USB external drive instead- and then when the computer rebooted I just took the external and hooked it up to my laptop to grab the InstallESD.dmg

The problem is that I created the USB drive by "restoring" the InstallESD.dmg onto it, and I can successfully boot from it, but once it boots from the USB drive and it starts the Lion installer, it stops saying "there was a problem installing Mac OS X"

I even tried running OS X install again from the internal recovery partition but it comes up with the same error (strange since the first time around it worked okay?). I even deleted the recovery partition using the terminal, and downloading it again using Apple's Internet Recovery (spinning globe) but even a fresh download of that came with the same error "there was a problem installing Mac OS X. Try reinstalling."

Any idea what's going on? I have a working install of OSX on the hard disk that came with the system (As well I have a clone of the HD that I took before I even booted the mac mini) but I want to be able to wipe it and reinstall (especially because I have an SSD on the way that I want to install Lion fresh)

Ruahrc
 
Ruahrc said:
I'm having a lot of trouble with this at the moment.

I'm trying to get an installable USB of Lion Server that came on my mac mini. I followed Ryan's instructions from the previous page and the first time I tried, I was able to download Lion (except instead of downloading it to the internal drive I downloaded it onto a USB external drive instead- and then when the computer rebooted I just took the external and hooked it up to my laptop to grab the InstallESD.dmg

The problem is that I created the USB drive by "restoring" the InstallESD.dmg onto it, and I can successfully boot from it, but once it boots from the USB drive and it starts the Lion installer, it stops saying "there was a problem installing Mac OS X"

I even tried running OS X install again from the internal recovery partition but it comes up with the same error (strange since the first time around it worked okay?). I even deleted the recovery partition using the terminal, and downloading it again using Apple's Internet Recovery (spinning globe) but even a fresh download of that came with the same error "there was a problem installing Mac OS X. Try reinstalling."

Any idea what's going on? I have a working install of OSX on the hard disk that came with the system (As well I have a clone of the HD that I took before I even booted the mac mini) but I want to be able to wipe it and reinstall (especially because I have an SSD on the way that I want to install Lion fresh)

Ruahrc
Click to expand...

Zap your PRAM :
Hold down Apple + Option + P + R simultaneously on startup and do not let go until you have heard the start up chime several times. Then try again, this may fix your issue.
 
Now that the App Store has been updated to 10.7.1 - if I download that version and create a bootable USB will it work with the 2011 Mac mini? I am planning on ordering the server version for the quad core i7 but don't want the server OS. I already purchased Lion on the App Store for upgrading my MacBook Air
 
mrwonkers said:
Zap your PRAM :
Hold down Apple + Option + P + R simultaneously on startup and do not let go until you have heard the start up chime several times. Then try again, this may fix your issue.
Click to expand...

Yep this seemed to do the trick, I was able to successfully reinstall with the USB stick I created. And, as I guessed in a different thread, there is a benefit to wiping and doing a fresh install over the factory installed one, at least if you have no interest in the iLife apps since they do seem to come preinstalled on the machine. Now with my fresh install of Lion it doesn't have that (and Lion is actually pretty trim at only about 6-7GB... I heard others say as much as 13GB).

Ruahrc
 
mrwonkers said:
Zap your PRAM :
Hold down Apple + Option + P + R simultaneously on startup and do not let go until you have heard the start up chime several times. Then try again, this may fix your issue.
Click to expand...

You trick fixed my problem of always showing a failed-to-install message when entering the recovery mode, as well as making installing from a restored InstallESD.dmg possible for me again, after a series of failed install attempts.

How did I forgot to do this one simple thing... man...
 
belltree said:
Has anyone figured out how to make install media (DVD/USB memory) for the 2011 Mac Mini Lion build (11A2061)? This would involved capturing the Internet recovery image downloaded from Apple to the system recovery partition. I imagine this is somehow possible but I have yet to see any information about this. Hopefully soon!
Click to expand...

Yeah. I followed the following guide: http://hints.macworld.com/article.php?story=20110831105634716

Worked like a charm. I now have the InstallESD.dmg for my mini nice and safe. Used it to completely redo my system once already and it worked perfectly.
 
Legit Copy is Possible.

All Steps are from within a booted up copy of Lion on the the Target Machine you wish to have the Lion Build

1. Mount Recovery Partition in Lion OS
2. Run Recovery Installer
3. Reinstall Lion (Separate Media/Partition)
4. Whilst Downloading the OS/Install Open the Installer Log (Prevents Auto Restart)
5. Once downloaded go to the Install Location and copy its contents "InstallESD.dmg" (3.7GB) to Desktop
6. Use disk Utility restore feature to create backup Media with correct Build for your hardware you just downloaded.

* Steps are to the best of my memory i did this a few months back.
 
Evostar* said:
Legit Copy is Possible.

All Steps are from within a booted up copy of Lion on the the Target Machine you wish to have the Lion Build

1. Mount Recovery Partition in Lion OS
2. Run Recovery Installer
3. Reinstall Lion (Separate Media/Partition)
4. Whilst Downloading the OS/Install Open the Installer Log (Prevents Auto Restart)
5. Once downloaded go to the Install Location and copy its contents "InstallESD.dmg" (3.7GB) to Desktop
6. Use disk Utility restore feature to create backup Media with correct Build for your hardware you just downloaded.

* Steps are to the best of my memory i did this a few months back.
Click to expand...

That is a GREAT tip to open the Installer Log to prevent auto-restart, if it's true.

I did similar steps but had to keep a hawks eye on the computer to manually shut off immediately after rebooting so it wouldn't go into the install, which deletes the InstallESD.dmg file after install is completed. First time I tried this, I actually grabbed a bite to eat downstairs and came back with the install finished, so had to do the recovery all over again which re-downloads the entire dmg. :)
 
hi

i noticed now in app store there is only lion osx 10.7.3
is this version's InstallESD.dmg can be used to install mac mini?

regards,
 
I think from 10.7.2 onwards the build's been the same for both 2011 Mac Minis and older Macs if I remember correctly.
 
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Thanks for your reply mdgm.

So i think it is safe to say that starting from 10.7.2 there is only one version for
Mac mini, mba and other macs

I also believe that i can force download the installer from app store. If i do that, will app store charge me for the download?

Thanks
 
just to update my mac mini's 10.7.3 build is 11D50b
meanwhile my friend's macbook pro 10.7.3 build is 11D50

I'm planning to clean install my mac mini to 10.7 11A2061

would anyone be willing to share the InstallESD.dmg for 11A2061 ?

thanks.
 
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Apologies for necroposting, but, did anyone ever saved any of these 11A2061 and 11A2063 installers? If so, please, don't trash them, or, better yet, upload them to archive org or some other place. They are so rare, that they are probably a collector's items now along the various Developer Previews and Betas.

(If one does a "factory restore" on 2011 Mac Mini / Mini Server, for example, all he/she gets from Apple is 10.7.5)
 
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