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Jacob
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Asked
Cannot redownload Mountain Lion after SSD installation.
I installed an empty Samsung 830 SSD and 16GB of Kingston Ram into a Mac mini late 2012 i7 2,3. I never booted the original configuration which my have been a mistake.
I could not install Mountain Lion (ML) from a USB installer, even after the SSD had been initialized and formatted. I had to put the original HDD into an external enclosure, boot from it and then clone ML from the external drive to the installed SSD. This works woth both Carbon Copy Cloner (CCC) and SuperDuper. CCC lets you create a recovery partition in addition to the ML partition.
However, when I try to re-download ML from the Mac App Store (honestly purchased) on the Mac mini late 2012, I get an incompatibility message. Also, the system still does not accept the ML USB installer.
Apparently, the Mac mini is not recognized by the Mac App store after the hardware changes (SSD + Ram).
What can I do to get the Mac app store to recognize my Mac mini?
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Dan
6.3k
Answered
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Answered
Hey! same thing happen to me with my new Mac mini, I even tried downloading it before the upgrade, and got a same message (not compatible)
Also couldn't boot via USB, what I did do was booted via recovery HD & reinstall ML over the Internet, it works. I'm using it with no problems, But I still can't download ML, I same error massage.
Hope this helps, cheers.
Mac mini 2012 2.3GHz i7, intel 128ssd 520 series, 16gb ram G.Skill,
Have you tried putting back the HD and try setting it up first with it, then use a external Firewire or USB3 enclosure to house the SSD to then copy the OS files across?
Dan,
No, I have not and I would rather not b/c I find the procedure pretty tedious and, most of all, I don't want to break anything. But I agree: if it were easy and risk-free that is the first thing I would try. Thanks.
Jacob,
I fully understand it's a bear redoing things. Have you tried putting the HD into an external Firewire case to try doing it that way?
Dan,
I do not have a firewire enclosure. I used a USB 3 enclosure. I have now reinstalled ML using the cmd-r recovery method. The Mac mini downloaded and installed ML 10.8.1 from Apple servers just fine. However, the Mac mini is still not recognized. I cannot install ML 10.8.2. I don't get it!
Jacob,
I suspect Apple is using the drives serial number as an ID on in this case the HD's so when you change it over to the SSD and you hadn't finished the install on the HD their systems were confused. I've noted downloaded App Store Apps need to be reverified when you switch HD's. So it appears Apple has likewise done this with the OS. At this point I see no way other than plugging in the HD in some way so it's seen.
Dan,
Apparently, the Mac Mini 2012 does use a special build of ML which is currently not available from the Mac app store. Various posters in other fora report that a special 10.8.2 version of ML for late 2012 models was available for download for a short time but has since been been pulled by Apple. Currently, the latest official version for these models seems to be 10.8.1. That is what I got via cmd-r recovery. I guess this is a typical early adopter problem where you can waste a lot of time searching for an answer only to find out that Apple is not quite finished with its work but will not inform its customers. Of course, I could be mistaken.
Jacob,
But, the hidden recovery volume you have on the HD should be 10.8.2 as it was shipped with it correct? If you plug in your HD (via FW or USB3 or re-installed inside) you should be able to access the recovery partition to correctly install the OS onto your SSD.
Dan,
The recovery partition on the original HDD of my Mac mini late 2012 is version 10.8.1. But I do not think that matters b/c the Mac mini would still download 10.8.2 from Apple servers if it were available. You can do an internet recovery without any recovery partition. When I did that with the empty SSD it downloaded 10.8.1 which is not updateable. The combo update for 10.8.2 will not install on the Mac mini late 2012, presumably b/c it requires a special build. [But I could apply an update to 10.8.2 to the original HDD in the external encloure. Confusing.] http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.p...
Jacob,
Doesn't help when the wrong version for the system is on the recovery partition on a new system! Did you see the link below to 10.8.2 it downloaded for me so I'm not sure why people had problems with it.
Dan,
Here is an article about the problem: http://9to5mac.com/2012/11/19/2012-mac-m... It seems to be a general problem. I think Apple should communicate these problems more openly. There is so much time wasted by letting your customers search for answers individually.
Jacob,
http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-13727_7-575...
Jacob,
http://twitter.com/RealAngel/status/2706...
Jacob,
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