[JCasper]

If anyone can confirm his rundown of the steps that could prove to be very useful.

This looks like a great method for when all my stuff comes in.

[Matt Dawson]

Great Job on this guys.

The USB port was originally intended to make Windows cloning a breeze saving hours and hours of headaches reinstalling everything and migrating data and settings but now that you have gone this far with the OSX tweaks what is to stop you from using SuperDuper to clone OSX to the SSD directly from the Mac, then load the DellEFI file and then install the SSD?

If this works you would then get the same advantage as the Windows people get. All settings, programs, data etc would already be there for you. This would be an absolute dream for a novice who has trouble installing programs or someone that does not have an OSX CD or CD's with all of their programs on it.

If this works I will get SuperDuper loaded onto every Runcore SSD we ship.

Matt

BTW the President of Runcore is now also using a Dell Mini 9 for his primary work computer.

[wadek]

This is the method I'm planning on using when the Runcore arrives. Perhaps between steps 5 and 6 is when you would want to run the Software Update for OSX (possibly multiple times) until it is completely up to date.

[josephandrews222]

Originally Posted by NoahFuLing

Let me see if I understand.
Preliminary Steps:
i) Make sure your Dell works.
ii) Make sure legacy USB support is turned off in the BIOS.
iii) Make sure Wi-Fi and BlueTooth are turned on in the BIOS and in Windows/Ubuntu.

Installation Instructions:
1) Connect RunCore SSD to Mac via MicroUSB.
2) Insert OS X Install DVD.
3) Run the Install package.
4) Install OS X on the SSD.
5) Reboot into the SSD.
6) Copy JUST the DellEFI file (from http://mydellmini.com/forum/how-to-i...hod-t3925.html) onto the OS X install on the SSD.
7) Install the DellEFI package. Select Custom, select all of the options except the hardware-specific DSDT file.
8) Reboot, shut down.
9) Move the SSD into the Mini 9.
10) Turn on the Mini 9.
11) Run the DellEFI package again, select Custom, and only install the hardware-specific DSDT file.
12) Reboot.
You're done!

Is that right?

I echo a previous poster.

Can someone confirm these exact steps?

It is a go for me to buy not only another Mini9...but also a new Mac...if this is confirmed to work.

[dchao]

Originally Posted by josephandrews222

Can someone confirm these exact steps?

It looks like it can work. I just don't trust running (Step 7) from my working Mac, if you do, make sure you don't wipe out your working OSX. I have used the older syslinux method before, copy the DellMiniBoot123 onto the syslinux flash drive manually. Boot from the flash drive, and press ESC and type "81" to boot into the internal SSD. Then skip to (Step 11).

(make sure legacy support for USB devices is enabled, and turn it off after you're done)

EDIT:
Versions of software I used
DellMiniBoot123v8.01.iso
DellEFI Version 1.1 final

[cbdudley]

I followed this installation procedure today with good results. That being said, there were a few bumps along the road. Here are a couple of notes about my experience:

1) You have to use an Intel-based Mac to do the install. I first tried it on a iBook G4, and it wouldn't work because the startup partition type is different for PowerPC and Intel Macs. I was able to format the Runcore using the G4 machine, but when I tried to actually install OS X, I got a message that "Mac OS cannot be installed because it cannot be started from this volume".

2) My next attempt was using a unibody MacBook (Late 2008 model). This did not get very far, as the machine simply would not boot from my retail OS 10.5.4 disc. I got the startup chime followed by the gray screen, but then within a few seconds the machine would reboot. After 4 or 5 times through this endless loop, I gave up. I assume this has something to do with the newer hardware in this model (I believe that the machine shipped from the factory with 10.5.5).

3) Finally, I tried it on my primary machine, which is an older Intel-based iMac. I was a little nervous about this (especially about running DellEFI), but everything went smoothly and there were no problems. I ran Software Update and installed the 10.5.6 update along with several security and Java updates before moving the Runcore module to the Dell.

I will be glad to help with expanding the step-by-step procedure so it can be added to the FAQ. Compared to my first OS X install on the Mini, this worked like a dream. The previous install required two flash drives, a Mac, and a PC (along with some candles, incense, holy water and chicken entrails).

[josephandrews222]

Originally Posted by cbdudley

I followed this installation procedure today with good results. That being said, there were a few bumps along the road. Here are a couple of notes about my experience:

1) You have to use an Intel-based Mac to do the install. I first tried it on a iBook G4, and it wouldn't work because the startup partition type is different for PowerPC and Intel Macs. I was able to format the Runcore using the G4 machine, but when I tried to actually install OS X, I got a message that "Mac OS cannot be installed because it cannot be started from this volume".

2) My next attempt was using a unibody MacBook (Late 2008 model). This did not get very far, as the machine simply would not boot from my retail OS 10.5.4 disc. I got the startup chime followed by the gray screen, but then within a few seconds the machine would reboot. After 4 or 5 times through this endless loop, I gave up. I assume this has something to do with the newer hardware in this model (I believe that the machine shipped from the factory with 10.5.5).

3) Finally, I tried it on my primary machine, which is an older Intel-based iMac. I was a little nervous about this (especially about running DellEFI), but everything went smoothly and there were no problems. I ran Software Update and installed the 10.5.6 update along with several security and Java updates before moving the Runcore module to the Dell.

I will be glad to help with expanding the step-by-step procedure so it can be added to the FAQ. Compared to my first OS X install on the Mini, this worked like a dream. The previous install required two flash drives, a Mac, and a PC (along with some candles, incense, holy water and chicken entrails).

cbdudley: I very much enjoyed reading the specifics in your response, and even more look forward to reading your specific step-by-step procedure. Thanks.

[josephandrews222]

Originally Posted by dchao

I just don't trust running (Step 7) from my working Mac, if you do, make sure you don't wipe out your working OSX

What exactly do you mean here? Can you be more specific? Thanks for what is admittedly kind of a picky pair of questions.

[NoahFuLing]

Originally Posted by dchao

It looks like it can work. I just don't trust running (Step 7) from my working Mac, if you do, make sure you don't wipe out your working OSX. I have used the older syslinux method before, copy the DellMiniBoot123 onto the syslinux flash drive manually. Boot from the flash drive, and press ESC and type "80" to boot into the internal SSD. Then skip to (Step 11).

(make sure legacy support for USB devices is enabled, and turn it off after you're done)

I installed OS X on an iMac using Target Disk Mode from a MacBook Pro. The MacBook Pro was just fine. When you reboot after installing OS X, it automatically chooses the new boot disk. It's easy enough to tell - if the OS X intro video runs, it's the new disk. If none of your files are there, it's the new disk.

[ranathari]

Originally Posted by Matt Dawson

Great Job on this guys.

The USB port was originally intended to make Windows cloning a breeze saving hours and hours of headaches reinstalling everything and migrating data and settings but now that you have gone this far with the OSX tweaks what is to stop you from using SuperDuper to clone OSX to the SSD directly from the Mac, then load the DellEFI file and then install the SSD?

If this works you would then get the same advantage as the Windows people get. All settings, programs, data etc would already be there for you. This would be an absolute dream for a novice who has trouble installing programs or someone that does not have an OSX CD or CD's with all of their programs on it.

If this works I will get SuperDuper loaded onto every Runcore SSD we ship.

Matt

BTW the President of Runcore is now also using a Dell Mini 9 for his primary work computer.

This is fine with the 32 and 64gb RunCores but I would imagine most people have rather more on their existing Mac than will fit onto the SSD. I used Migration Assistant to copy over all my settings from my existing OS X install, partly because my MBP's HD is too big to be copied onto an SSD and partly because I didn't want stuff like my Mail.app inboxes being transferred over too.