Help obtaining OS X 10.6.6 Installer Disk for mid-2011 iMac

Forums › Mac OS › Help obtaining OS X 10.6.6 Installer Disk for mid-2011 iMac

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willyzz

29 posts

Geek

#2629946 3-Jan-2021 23:18

I have just been using the downloaded .dmg file. Am I meant to use something else?

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Shapenz

518 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2629947 3-Jan-2021 23:24

So if you open the image - then open the "Install MacOS Lion/whatever" package - then go to Contents/SharedSupport/ and there is a .dmg in there called 'InstallESD.dmg"

Snow Leopard is different because it was available on DVD - but all subsequent versions of MacOS were App Store Downloads only.

Since you are trying to do this on a PC I'm guessing maybe it isn't copying the correct files from the .dmg onto your USB stick.

TheoM

228 posts

Master Geek

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#2629948 3-Jan-2021 23:25

Shapenz:

When you are creating the USB installers you are using the InstallESD.dmg file from 'shared support' right? Not the App Store download .dmg ?

He shouldn't need to worry about that till 10.8 Mountain Lion. Anything below that is a copy of a retail DVD

EDIT: I stand corrected. Lion was the first app store only system image

Hi! I'm TheoM, but you know that already. I run Linux mirrors in NZ together with 2degrees. Like a mirror added? PM me!

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willyzz

29 posts

Geek

#2629949 3-Jan-2021 23:32

Ahh okay, so I use TransMac to create a bootable USB using the InstallESD.dmg file with Lion and Mountain Lion, and hopefully it should work

Shapenz

518 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2629950 3-Jan-2021 23:32

Haha - all good you had me scratching my head there for a minute....

willyzz

29 posts

Geek

#2629951 3-Jan-2021 23:34

Just wanted to check. Will attempt tomorrow morning and update with results. Thanks heaps for the continued help.

willyzz

29 posts

Geek

#2629976 4-Jan-2021 08:19

Update:

Made a bootable USB using the OS X 10.7 InstallESD.dmg. Disk recognised, booted into Apple logo with the spinning wheel, only for it to cut to a black screen, and then a continuous blank white screen. Tried the same image on another USB stick, same result.

The blank white screen is appearing after most attempts at an install from various images. Therefore I think that the video card might have failed. I will remove the video card and take a look, and perhaps attempt the trick where you bake it in the oven. Continued thanks.

willyzz

29 posts

Geek

#2630213 4-Jan-2021 13:37

SOLVED!!!!

I completely disassembled my iMac, gave it a much required clean, removed the video card, and baked in the oven at 200 degrees celsius for 8 minutes. Applied some homemade thermal paste (will probably have to change later) and reassembled. I then plugged everything in and booted from the OS X 10.8 InstallESD.dmg, which to my delight brought up the recovery options, I am now happily installing Lion.

Issue: HDD failure and faulty graphics card.

Solution: Replacing HDD and Baking video card in oven at 200 degrees celsius for 8 minutes.

PS, I am aware that the oven baking of the video card is a temporary fix. When I next go into the Mac to apply some proper thermal paste, I plan to swap in an SSD too.

Thank you everyone for your continued support, and help throughout this process, especially to those who supplied me the .dmg files.

FineWine

2973 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Nurse (R)

Lifetime subscriber

#2630221 4-Jan-2021 13:54

Been following this with keen interest for interest sake. 😀

Congratulations and well done. 🥂

May you have many more hours of iMac pleasure. 🖥

PS: I miss out on Big Sur by one minor model number (have 14.2 need 14.4) which apparently has to do with the graphics card and WiFi not supported in 11.*.*

Whilst the difficult we can do immediately, the impossible takes a bit longer. However, miracles you will have to wait for.

willyzz

29 posts

Geek

#2630223 4-Jan-2021 14:11

Hahaha, took a bit of perseverance, but my instinct said video card, and they were right. Thankfully, after 5 days I am satisfied.

RE Big Sur: That is a real annoyance, does dosdude1 patcher allow you to get Big Sur?

TheoM

228 posts

Master Geek

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#2630228 4-Jan-2021 14:18

willyzz: Hahaha, took a bit of perseverance, but my instinct said video card, and they were right. Thankfully, after 5 days I am satisfied.

RE Big Sur: That is a real annoyance, does dosdude1 patcher allow you to get Big Sur?

Nope, it doesn't. Apple changed a few things, resulting in a much harder to patch system

e: I'll leave the DMGs available for the next week. Past that, no guarantees

Hi! I'm TheoM, but you know that already. I run Linux mirrors in NZ together with 2degrees. Like a mirror added? PM me!

https://theom.co.nz | https://theom.nz | https://mirrorlist.mirrors.theom.nz | Providing Free Mirrors Since Ages Ago™

willyzz

29 posts

Geek

#2630232 4-Jan-2021 14:26

I downloaded them all, just in case, and I am keeping the Lion USB as it is, as I know it works. Thanks again for your help.

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