[ronlaporte]

Many of you may be familiar with this OS X capability. If not, if you have a networked Mac in addition to your Mini 9, you can use the 'Sharing' preference pane in the OS X preferences to allow your Mini 9 to share a DVD/CD drive from your other Mac computer. In my case I am using a Mac Mini to upload programs and files from the Mac Mini to the Mini 9.

Open the 'Sharing' pane on your Mac and checkmark the DVD/CD sharing box and then look in a 'Finder' window on the Mini 9 for the shared drive. A dialog box on your Mac will ask you if want to accept a user to share the drive. After accepting, the drive icon appears on your Mini 9. Clicking it opens the CD/DVD on the Mini 9.

A full explanation can be accessed in the Finder bar help button by typing DVD/CD sharing in the search box.
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Dell Mini 9 | OS 10.5.7 | DellEFI 1.2a5 | Bios A04 | 32 GB ST | 2 GB ram

[underwhelmed]

I this is also possible with a Windows machine if you download the proper program from Apple.

Support article

MacBook Air: Sharing DVDs or CDs with Remote Disc

Windows Sharing App. Download and Information

DVD or CD Sharing Update 1.0 for Windows

[antar05]

LOL!

No way...

And this works right out of the box?

[underwhelmed]

Yep. Works great. My mini thought it was a mac air anyway when I finished the install.

I have used my XP DVD drive to install to my mini.