User profile for user: EFMoura
EFMoura Author
User level: Level 1
9 points

Reinstalling Mojave

  • I have an old mac mini late 2012, which I wiped clean and reinstalled the original software.
    • It turned out to be Mountain Lion, which Apple no longer supports and consequently gives me very limited internet access including Apple's own support page.
  • I would like to upgrade to Mojave, however when I go into OS X Utilities by shutting down and rebooting with Command + R the Reinstall OS X menu does not give me option to reinstall from the external drive where Mojave sits, it only offers to reinstall Mountain Lion.
    • The file I downloaded in the external drive is named "Install mac OS Mojave".
    • I can't double click on the icon either, it's greyed out.


Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Mac mini, macOS 10.15

Posted on Aug 20, 2024 2:11 PM

Reply

Similar questions

9 replies
Sort By: 
User profile for user: g_wolfman
g_wolfman
User level: Level 4
3,436 points

Aug 21, 2024 6:18 PM in response to EFMoura

To reinstall Mojave you'll need to create a bootable installer and wipe the system again to use it. And, Mojave will keep telling you a Catalina update is available because it isn't the terminal OS for any Mac computer - as far as I know any computer that can install Mojave can install Catalina.


Why not just stay on Catalina?

Reply
User profile for user: theLMGN
theLMGN
User level: Level 1
56 points

Aug 21, 2024 1:17 AM in response to EFMoura

If you have another Mac, try following the instructions here to ensure the USB drive is bootable: Create a bootable installer for macOS – Apple Support (UK) (keep in mind this will erase all the content on the USB drive, so ensure all content is copied to another storage, like your Mac's internal drive)


If not, you can try Internet Recovery by holding Cmd+Opt+R when powering on the Mac (as detailed here How to reinstall macOS – Apple Support (UK)), if that fails, you might have to install Mountain Lion first and then upgrade to Mojave.



Reply
User profile for user: EFMoura
EFMoura Author
User level: Level 1
9 points

Aug 21, 2024 5:31 PM in response to EFMoura

Ok, restoring the system from the Time Machine, 12 hours later, did not solve the problem. Yes, I had every other file that existed in that TM update, so, there was fidelity there, but the restore did not restore me to iOS associated with that TM backup.


FINALLY, I found this article, How to reinstall macOS - Apple Support and the reboot CMD+OPTION+R allowed me to restore Catalina. Now, I will just downgrade to Mojave since the I have proper internet connectivity through Catalina. But that was 12 hours of Mac Mt Lion right there :)

Reply
User profile for user: EFMoura
EFMoura Author
User level: Level 1
9 points

Aug 21, 2024 10:13 AM in response to Owl-53

Thanks for your patience, let me try to be specific:


  1. Lion = no access to Apple Store to download anything.
  2. I did download Mojave from the Apple Store in an old MacBook.
  3. I copied it from the MacBook to an external USB hard drive.
  4. Plugged the external USB drive to Mac Mini.
  5. Mini recognized external drive but greyed out the icon for Mojave installation.
    1. I could neither launch the application from the external drive,
    2. nor was I allowed to drag it over to the desktop or the Applications folder.
  6. I know the download to the MacBook was a proper download because when I checked the Applications folder in the MacBook and "Install Mojave" was in fact in the folder.
  7. But again, Lion, major limitations.
  8. I am 3 hours away now from the complete reboot of the 2017 Time Machine backup. I believe the OS version being Time Machined "back to," (actually going forward in this case since the starting point is the older Lion) is Mojave. Even if it is not, providing I can access the Apple Store, I should be sorted.


Reply
User profile for user: Owl-53
Owl-53
User level: Level 10
99,439 points

Aug 21, 2024 9:53 AM in response to EFMoura

EFMoura wrote:

I tried, nope. Lion is very limited. I am reinstalling a 2017 time machine back just so I can have a properly operating system. I'll then move the os to an external bootable drive, reformat the internal Mac HD, and finally I'll have a 20 hour solution to what should have been a 2 hour problem. When Lion was restored, the computer basically died. It was wild though, seeing Lion and the interface from 12 years ago.

Nope, you can not Drag the " Install macOS Mojave " file into the Applications folder of the computer


Or, nope, the Install macOS Mojave in Application folder of the computer would not launch ?


Predicated on having Downloaded the FULL Version of macOS 10.14 Mojave the file should be about and this is a guess, about 8 - 9 GB


From what I do see from Apple Apps Store and related to Mojave


They Apple Offer only Mojave 10.14.6 and the File Size is ONLY 14.7 MB


That specific file is what we call a STUB.


Which, when launched will call back to Apple Servers and pull down the Balance of the Mojave


Then and only then would it actually commence the installation.



Reply
User profile for user: EFMoura
EFMoura Author
User level: Level 1
9 points

Aug 21, 2024 8:27 AM in response to Owl-53

I tried, nope. Lion is very limited. I am reinstalling a 2017 time machine back just so I can have a properly operating system. I'll then move the os to an external bootable drive, reformat the internal Mac HD, and finally I'll have a 20 hour solution to what should have been a 2 hour problem. When Lion was restored, the computer basically died. It was wild though, seeing Lion and the interface from 12 years ago.

Reply

This thread has been closed by the system or the community team. You may vote for any posts you find helpful, or search the Community for additional answers.

Reinstalling Mojave

Welcome to Apple Support Community
A forum where Apple customers help each other with their products. Get started with your Apple Account.
Learn more Sign up