Question Can I install OS X on one mac to a wiped mac using thunderbolt/firewire?

[DPaid]

Hey guys, I rarely know anything about Macs, but my dad's friend needs me to install OS X on one of his macs. However, the mac is wiped clean, and it would not detect my external hard drive when I press and hold the option button when booting. I know my dad's friend has a second mac, and was wondering, is it possible to connect the two macs (mac1 = mac with os. mac 2=wiped mac) with a thunderbolt/firewire cable and select the HDD of mac1 through mac2 while booting and holding the option button and install the os that way?

I know this may seem a bit confusing but feel free to reply so I can clear up any confusion.

 

[sna]

Hey guys, I rarely know anything about Macs, but my dad's friend needs me to install OS X on one of his macs. However, the mac is wiped clean, and it would not detect my external hard drive when I press and hold the option button when booting. I know my dad's friend has a second mac, and was wondering, is it possible to connect the two macs (mac1 = mac with os. mac 2=wiped mac) with a thunderbolt/firewire cable and select the HDD of mac1 through mac2 while booting and holding the option button and install the os that way?

I know this may seem a bit confusing but feel free to reply so I can clear up any confusion.

MAc allows you to install OSX Directly from the internet without the need of anything but internet connection.


connect the machine with empty hd to the internet.

hold command option and R button wile booting .

 

[McHenryB]

Internet installation only works with newer Macs.

Yes - you can connect two Macs with a firewire cable and use the disks in the way you want to. It's called "target mode" - http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/answers/how-to-use-target-disk-mode-to-boot-from-another-macs-hard-drive

 

[amylu11]

How old is your Mac ?-- you can also make an installable boot drive of Lion and newer . That's on a usb drive -- i think it's the easiest way. you can do it either with the recovery hardware with your mac , or in terminal using create install media. Once you get booted you can also do a time machine bg. I run both yosemite and el capitan on my 2011 MBP, no problems. i do like Yosemite better, btw. Good luck!

 

[amylu11]

ps - here's an article about downgrading in case you want to go back down to an OS you prefer:

http://www.gottabemobile.com/2015/09/30/how-to-downgrade-to-os-x-yosemite-from-el-capitan/

 

[JustSomeJoe]

You can boot from another Apple using Target Disk Mode, but installing would require some for of 'installer' (if you see what I mean); you may be able to 'Clone' from one Mac to another using Target Disk Mode (depending on hardware and OS X version).