What is the highest version OS X I can upgrade my mac mini to?

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My current Version: OS X 10.5.8
1.66Ghz Intel Core Duo Processor and 2Gb Ram

I know I can upgrade to Snow Leopard, but is there a certain version I am limited to (i.e 10.6.3) or can I go higher?

Sorry if this sounds like a stupid question but I'm a music producer who is pretty familiar with software but a little amateur about Operating systems. My reason for upgrading is to download "Maschine" software, but am currently running 10.5.8 which maschine can not run on.

Please help and thank you in advance!!
 

chscag

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You should be able to upgrade to Snow Leopard 10.6.8 from 10.6.3 and then to Lion 10.7.5 if you so desire.
 

pigoo3

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Sorry to butt in.;) But I just looked...and a "Core Duo" 1.66mhz Mac-Mini can certainly be upgraded from 10.6.3 to 10.6.8...but it is not supposed to be able to run anything higher/newer than 10.6.8 (unfortunately no 10.7.5).:(

If this Mac-Mini had a "Core 2 Duo" cpu...then it would be capable of 10.7.5.

- Nick
 

chscag

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Good catch Nick. You're right, according to Mactracker a Core Duo can only go to 10.6.8.
 
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Sorry to butt in.;) But I just looked...and a "Core Duo" 1.66mhz Mac-Mini can certainly be upgraded from 10.6.3 to 10.6.8...but it is not supposed to be able to run anything higher/newer than 10.6.8 (unfortunately no 10.7.5).:(

If this Mac-Mini had a "Core 2 Duo" cpu...then it would be capable of 10.7.5.

- Nick

Ah okay yes that cleared a lot up for me. Thankfully my software doesnt require any higher than 10.6 ;D

Additional question: Is there anyway to purchase and download 10.6.8 directly online? Or does it require the physical install DVD/CD? :Confused:
 

chscag

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It can only be purchased direct from Apple as a DVD disk. Here's the LINK. ($19.99)
 
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Additional question: Is there anyway to purchase ... 10.6.8 directly ...?

No. If you order the disk as suggested above, you are likely to receive 10.6.3 on it. To get to 10.6.8 you'll have to download the update, which you can easily do using Software Update. I just went through this process in January myself.
 
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Cant seem to pull up drives at start up.

I've been doing research and have been trying to boot up Snow leopard with my flash drive because my DVD drive does not work. I have gone thru the entire process of restoring my drive with the OS X Install I want but when I hold "Option" at start up, nothing happens.

So my question is, when exactly do I hold "option", and if I'm doing this right and its still not working, what are my options?

Sorry if this sounds confusing :/
 
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Start up Disk Manager

To simplify my previous thread... How do I bring up my Start Up Disk Manager? I would like use to use my flash drive as my start up volume.
 

pigoo3

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Sorry if this sounds confusing :/

Why are you trying to boot this computer from a USB flash drive...instead of the computers internal drive? If you've done a successful restore...I wouldn't think you would need to boot the computer externally (unless there is an issue).

- Nick
 

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Merged threads - so that we can keep track of what has gone before and where in the process you are.

How did you get Snow Leopard "installed" on a flash drive?

You press the option key as soon as you hear the startup chime (or me - I don't even wait for that chime) and hold it down until you get the menu with the available boot options. If there are no bootable partitions - then you're not going to get any options.
 

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