Unable to install Mac Mini a1347

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Level 1

4 points

Unable to install Mac Mini a1347

Hi. I'm trying to install a Mac Mini a1347 but I have a very strange problem. None of the Apple distributions, not even the online Recovery sees the 1Tb disk inside. When the distributions start, they only see a 1.3Gb partition but there is no way to see the entire disk.

I tried all the combinations: Command + Alt + p + r but there is no way. However, if you start the mac with a Windows USB Key (Mbr) this distribution sees the disk correctly.

In the end I decided to change the disk with another, used, 256Mb .... same situation.

I tried to delete all the partitions with Minitool Partition, same situation. I converted the partitions from MBR to GPT, same situation.

Is it possible that the Apple installer never sees the disk but the Windows one ... YES ?? If you install Windows, everything works correctly.

Could it be that this macMini wants a disk formatted in a certain way?

Posted on Oct 22, 2024 5:18 AM

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Answer 1

varjak paw

Level 10

178,408 points

Oct 22, 2024 6:51 AM in response to AC_SESTECH

Did your mini have just a magnetic 1TB hard drive? Or was it in actually a Fusion Drive, where there was a small SSD and then the much-larger hard drive? If it was actually a Fusion Drive, then the drive has become split and probably needs to be remade. See:

How to fix a split Fusion Drive - Apple Support

In any case, you need to make sure that the drive is formatted either as Mac OS Extended or APFS. Windows won't work on a drive formatted with either, so I'm pretty sure that the drive isn't formatted correctly for macOS. See:

File system formats available in Disk Utility on Mac - Apple Support

Hope this helps. Regards.

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Answer 2

varjak paw

Level 10

178,408 points

Oct 22, 2024 7:53 AM in response to AC_SESTECH

Of course the drive needs to be prepared - that's true for any computer - but you don't need to format it in another device. You can use Internet Recovery Mode:

Use macOS Recovery on an Intel-based Mac - Apple Support

to get to Disk Utility and other tools to format the drive and reinstall macOS.

Regards.

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Answer 3

AC_SESTECH Author

Level 1

4 points

Oct 22, 2024 7:38 AM in response to varjak paw

So, for the Mac Mini the disk must be "prepared" first. If it finds a "virgin" disk it risks not seeing it. Before installing it it must be formatted with another Mac.

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Answer 4

BDAqua

Level 10

245,507 points

Oct 22, 2024 7:53 AM in response to AC_SESTECH

Yes, & GUID Partition scheme.

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Answer 5

lanstrad1

Level 2

480 points

Oct 22, 2024 9:48 AM in response to AC_SESTECH

Normally, when launching install, you should see an option for disk utility. From there, yes you can prepare the disk. You don’t need another mac to prepare the disk.

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