[blueyeguy]

Does anyone have a recommendation for an external USB DVD burner for the Mini 9 that allows an easy install of OS X? I've read that it's mostly hit or miss whether it's recognized during install or not and I'd like to save myself the headache and buy one that's been known to work.

Thanks in advance for any help or suggestions.

[flimflan]

I was successful with a Samsung external (non-slim) DVD writer - I'm pretty sure this is the one:
http://www.samsung.com/us/consumer/deta ... S184M/AMBN

I dont know if it is the best drive for the job as it seemed really slow, and at the initial boot of the Leopard retail DVD I didn't get any response for 1-2 minutes, causing me to think the drive was not compatible and the install wouldnt work... and then it started installing. Maybe that's normal for all drives.

This is the one I have: (LG GP08LU10)

http://us.lge.com/products/model/detail ... LU10.jhtml

I did have to unplug it and plug it back in at the '9f' prompt like in the How-To's

[CyG]

OS X plays well with any drive I've ever seen. One drive to definitely avoid is Apple's companion drive to the Air-- it needs more power from the USB than the Mini can provide.

[leksluthah]

I have this one on order. I will report my findings on Tuesday, after it arrives:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6827151178

[frank]

Originally Posted by CyG

OS X plays well with any drive I've ever seen. One drive to definitely avoid is Apple's companion drive to the Air-- it needs more power from the USB than the Mini can provide.

That's not true. Instead, the USB/IDE board is programmed to only accept the MacBook Air as a host. The solution is to replace the USB/IDE board. Tnkgrl did it first:

http://tnkgrl.wordpress.com/2008/06/...drive-for-all/

HardMac found a smaller board that's easier to fit, no crystal moving here:

http://forum.hardmac.com/?showtopic=5553&pid=10759

HardMac's solution uses this USB/IDE board from IDOTPC:

http://www.idotpc.com/thestore/pc/vi...?idproduct=484

I did this mod myself, it is real simple: unsolder four wires from old board, solder wires to new board, done. It is recommended to plug this, as well as any other USB bus-powered drive, into the USB port closest to the power connector.

There's also some information on this forum:

http://mydellmini.com/forum/macbook-...ive-t1754.html
http://mydellmini.com/forum/macbook-...=t&sd=a#p21437

[s7y92wb3]Insert search nazi comment here.[/s7y92wb3]

Originally Posted by CyG

OS X plays well with any drive I've ever seen.

I just want to comment that I have about 4 external USB 5 1/4 cases and I've tried them with 3 DVD drives (LG/BENQ/SAMSUNG). Not all combos work! Yes, all drives did work, but it depended on the external USB interface. The older versions refused to boot the OS X dvd. Then I tried the newer USB interface by Vantec (I think has a J-Micron controller) and all 3 drives worked on the OS X dvd. Mind you they all booted the Boot-132 disc and worked IN OS X.

So:

1. Almost ALL DVD drives should read the OS X dvd
2. Make sure you have a newer USB interface. Like: http://www.vantecusa.com/front/product/view_detail/266

P.S. The same goes for external Hard Drives. My first OS X install is on to an external HD (I only have 8GB STEC SSD) If I used my older drive cages, I would get a read/write error in OS X Disk Utility when trying to partition a GUID HFS+ setup. I didn't have that problem with the Vantec interface.

[compulady]

I used this Rosewill, installed OS X on Dell Mini 9 and a MSI Wind:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6827190020

[piano08man]

FYI, microcenter.com is selling an external Dual Layer Slim Burner for $65 at the moment... it's in their online weekly magazine if you're interested. It's looking pretty appealing to me

[THams]

Originally Posted by leksluthah

I have this one on order. I will report my findings on Tuesday, after it arrives:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6827151178

I'm in the market for an external DVD drive as well, mainly for installing OS X. I'm split between the Samsung you ordered and the Rosewill compulady ordered. They're both slim and black, to match my Mini, but the Samsung $8 cheaper so, I'd love to hear your findings, leksluthah.