I got an old mac mini i dont really use anymore, and wanted to turn it into a nas. How to install usb wifi adapter manually without a cd. To actually boot the drive, reboot your mac and hold down the option key while it boots. Many mac computers have usba ports sometimes referred to as usb 3 ports, which look like this. The drive has great build quality and comes with a removable usb cable that comes with one mini usb connector at one end and two usb typea connectors at the other for connecting to pc or laptop.
How to get my mac to recognize an external dvd drive quora. Whatever your use of the mac mini, be it media server or desktop computer, the one upgrade that will make the biggest impact is a ssd. Connects via usb, plays and burns both cds and dvds. I did some searching and found freenas, wanted to give it a shot. The apple usb superdrive adds dvda readwrite capability to the macbook air superdrive repertoire, but remains mechanically the same. Apple usb superdrive 2019 unboxing and demo how to use it. Usb is an industry standard for connecting computers and other devices. So, even in 2019, there are still situations when you need an external optical drive.
Even if the hard drive wont boot, it may still be possible to read it. Mac mini 2,1 uses an 64bit efi firmware but also support bios boot compatibility. Apple and the incredible vanishing cd drive macworld. Find low everyday prices and buy online for delivery or instore pickup. Use the cd or dvd drive from another computer with your mac. How to use mini or other nonstandard optical discs on your mac. There are many options in upgrading a mac mini, and. Having this external drive you will be able to play and burn cds as well as dvds. How to upgrade your mac mini with an ssd 2019 updated. I downloaded the iso image, burned it to cd and i booted from the cd. If you think youll need an external drive mostly for bluray discs, most of them will also play dvds and cds but are not readablewritable. The owc ministack is the compact, stackable, external hard drive solution designed to complement the look and feel of the latest mac lineup. Macbook, macbook air, and macbook pro models with usb c ports require a usb c to usb adapter sold separately to use apple usb superdrive.
Apple claims that its usb superdrive has everything you need in an optical drive. I am dead in the water because cannot reload adobe software from original disks. Need an optical drive for your mac or windows system so you can read audio cds, watch dvd movies or just read and write data disks. For example, if you install macos or microsoft windows on a usb drive, your mac can recognize that drive as a startup disk. Is this about what i should expect, or should i have done something different. Shop for external cd dvd drive for mac at best buy. This has to be done with another mac, as the mac file system is not very compatible with windows computers. Optical drives went the way of the dodo bird a few years ago on mac computers due to most software, movies, and music all moving online, but sometimes you still need a good old fashioned cd drive. How to install os x on new hard drive on a late 2012 mac mini. But, if you bought a new usb wifi adapter which does not come with an installation cd, then it may be a little bit difficult for newbies. For new 2018 mac mini, what cddvd drive will work with.
If your mac just boots to the login screen and you dont see the boot options menu, reboot your mac again and hold. I was a little concerned the 2011 mini no longer had an internal optical drive but since i infrequently use optical discs, driveless is acceptable, plus the external drive is inexpensive and easily replaced. One more representative of the best cd and dvd drives is apple usb superdrive. For new 2018 mac mini, what cd dvd drive will work with the usb c connector. Another option is to have a tech remove the hard drive from the mini, and connect it to another mac, using an adapter kit. Bootcamp without optical disc drive apple community. Be sure to use the latest versions of both the studio manager v2 host and editor available on this yamaha pro audio site. Have run across many caveats regarding 2011 mac mini vs new one os maybe, so need to be certain what peripheral reader will work. The apple usb superdrive is compatible with mac models from 2008 and later that dont have a builtin optical drive.
While removing the optical drive saves spacecds and dvds dictate the minimum size of such drivesit also means that. The mac will boot the linux system from the connected usb drive. Novastor novabackup windows nti dragonburn 4 dvdcd authoring software for mac 10 pieces of 8x dvdr media with minijewel cases note. First plug in the external drive to a usb port that you know works with other devices now insert a dvd movie that you know w. Per fishrrman suggestion, leave the stock hdd internal for my media, but get a usb 3. Compatible with the driveless macbook air, as well as macbook pro retina, imac and mac mini. Actually, it is possible to boot mac from external drive or a hard drive, but there are a few specific requirements needed for your mac to become eligible for that process. Asus asus 24x write16x rewrite24x read cd 8x write dvd external usb 2. An ultraslim mm form factor external dvd writer from asus that supports mdisc and other variety of cd and dvd formats. If youve recently upgraded to a new imac or macbook pro, youre probably going to need an optical drive if you want to continue importing your movies and music to itunes, or just access the content on your discs. Macbook, macbook air, and macbook pro models with usbc ports require a usbc to usb adapter sold separately to use apple usb superdrive. I had a similiar problem where i wanted to install windows on a macbook pro early 2009 that had a broken optical drive, using a bootable windows 7 usb, but the mac wouldnt recognize the usb because it only checks in the optical drive. By default, mac starts from its builtin hard disk, but a startup disk can be any storage device that contains bootable contents that compatible with your mac. They are a hackers delight, in the true sense of the word.
Buy a data doubler cable, add the ssd drive internally as the os drive and make the stock hdd the secondary drive internal to the mac mini. The last apple mac to ship with an optical cd or dvd drive was a in macbook pro, originally released in june 2012, but on sale until october 2016, when apple discontinued that model, more. How to start up your mac from a bootable cddvd, usb thumb. The remote disc feature of your mac lets you use files stored on a cd or dvd hosted from another computer. With a footprint identical to the 2010 and later mac mini, the two stack together for seamless desktop integration. This guide provides 2 ways to boot a mac from a usb flash drive. Installation of a wireless usb network adapter would be an easy task if you got an installation cd with it.
Symptoms a message says that the device needs more power, the operation cant be completed, or usb devices are disabled until you unplug the device using too much power. If your mac doesnt have a builtin optical drive and you need to use a cd or dvd, you can connect an external drive like the apple usb superdrive. This means that booting via a usb port does not work. Macbook air with retina display macbook pro with retina display imac late 2012 and later. The usbmidi driver is for use with studio manager v2 host and editor.
It should just work, i have been doing exactly that for many years and external dvds have always worked on my macs. I got an 850 evo 500 gb, external, formatted it, and used carbon copy to clone my late 2014 mac mini hd to it. You can also share discs from the optical drive of another mac, or from a windows computer. The drive came with a double usb cable in case necessary for enough power but it also works ok on the mini with a single generic usb cable. Owc ministack the external drive with a mac mini footprint. If a mac accessory needs more power or is using too much. You can connect this superdrive with your macbook pro with retina display, macbook air, imac, or mac mini with a single usb type a cable, which is built into this. Apple usb superdrive with attached usb typea connector cable. Asus powerful bluray drive with 16x writing speed and usb 3. Apple advises against booting from external storage containing a version of mac os x earlier than the one your mac shipped with. With simplicity, this external drive has stateoftheart technology. Its portable design is great for mobile workstation. Drives, cameras, keyboards, hubs, and other devices that plug into your usb a, usb c, or thunderbolt 3 usb c port can request a limited amount of power from your mac.
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