[dchao]

Originally Posted by josephandrews222

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

After you install OSX on the SSD via USB, you will two copies of OSX on your Mac, a working OS X on the hard drive, and image of a newly installed OS X on the SSD, I was concerned about DellEFI would not be able to tell the which bootloader to zap. Looks like my concern is not valid.

[rawlus]

could you get up to the process of putting OSX onthe SSD while connected to your mac, then disconnecting the SSD, connect it to the mini9 and then boot the mini 9 with dellEFI on a USB thumbdrive?

[NoahFuLing]

Originally Posted by rawlus

could you get up to the process of putting OSX onthe SSD while connected to your mac, then disconnecting the SSD, connect it to the mini9 and then boot the mini 9 with dellEFI on a USB thumbdrive?

So install OS X, and then before installing DellEFI, you'd put it in the Dell? I think you'd basically need the DellUSBBootloader, and the DellEFI. That basically negates all benefits of installing directly on a Mac. Why would you want to do that.

[tetany]

Originally Posted by NoahFuLing

UNCONFIRMED METHOD
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.
iv) Make sure you are using an Intel Mac.

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) Install all updates for OS X on the SSD. Run the Software Update utility and reboot until no more updates show in the utility.
7) Copy JUST the DellEFI file (from http://mydellmini.com/forum/how-to-i...hod-t3925.html) onto the OS X install on the SSD.
8) Install the DellEFI package. Select Custom, select all of the options except the hardware-specific DSDT file.
9) Shut down.
10) Move the SSD into the Mini 9.
11) Turn on the Mini 9.
12) Run the DellEFI package again, select Custom, and only install the hardware-specific DSDT file.
13) Reboot.
You're done!

Edited on Sunday, April 19, 2009. Will be confirmed once my Dell Mini 9 arrives.

I basically used these directions (actually received from khyron), and it worked perfectly. Be sure to use disk utility before the install and partition the ssd as a GUID partition. I used a MacBook Pro Intel machine, and the only other issue was how to format the ssd and I chose HFS journaled. Very easy to do. WORKS LIKE A CHARM, AND I AM A TOTAL NOOB!

[fidett]

for step 7....what does it mean to copy the dellefi ONTO the osx install? not sure if thats a stupid question....

[tetany]

Originally Posted by fidett

for step 7....what does it mean to copy the dellefi ONTO the osx install? not sure if thats a stupid question....

After you install OSX on the SSD, download DellEFI 1.1 to the desktop. Also download any other programs you want and be sure to upgrade to 10.5.6 if necessary using software update. When you're all ready to switch over to the Mini, close all open programs and run DellEFI. Be sure to uncheck the box about the hardware specific DSDT file. (This info from khyron - MANY THANKS!!)

Deborah

[NoahFuLing]

Originally Posted by fidett

for step 7....what does it mean to copy the dellefi ONTO the osx install? not sure if thats a stupid question....

dellefi-1-1-final-t5498.html
Once you've passed step 6, download that .zip file onto the SSD. Unzip it, and run it.

[itesseract]

This method sounds great! I'm glad I stumbled across it, as I was planning to buy a suitably large USB stick to do the standard DellEFI method. Now I won't have to...

Someone should add this method to the FAQs and How-Tos so it doesn't get lost in the forum... Perhaps it will still need tweaking, but I think it should be there. I'm quoting the method below, having added the point about partitioning the SSD as a GUID partition as step 2:

Originally Posted by tetany

I basically used these directions (actually received from khyron), and it worked perfectly. Be sure to use disk utility before the install and partition the ssd as a GUID partition. I used a MacBook Pro Intel machine, and the only other issue was how to format the ssd and I chose HFS journaled. Very easy to do. WORKS LIKE A CHARM, AND I AM A TOTAL NOOB!

[wadek]

This method seems to work great. Got everything installed last night on a RunCore 32GB and have been paring the OS and doing some app installations while waiting for my Mini to ship. The only prob I had was that my install DVD was 10.5.1, and that wasn't sufficient to boot my newer iMac, but it worked fine from a late 2006 black MacBook.

[NoahFuLing]

Originally Posted by itesseract

This method sounds great! I'm glad I stumbled across it, as I was planning to buy a suitably large USB stick to do the standard DellEFI method. Now I won't have to...

Someone should add this method to the FAQs and How-Tos so it doesn't get lost in the forum... Perhaps it will still need tweaking, but I think it should be there.
-snip-

Thanks! I was having trouble piecing together what people were saying, so I created a little guide for everyone! As soon as my Mini 9 arrives, I am going to go through the process step-by-step, and edit it to be as clear as possible. Until then, thanks for helping, guys!