If you don’t have a bootable DVD-ROM — preferably a Mac OS X Snow Leopard Install DVD-ROM — call Apple or your Apple dealer to arrange for a replacement. To boot your Mac from a DVD-ROM installation disc, follow these steps: Insert the Mac OS X Install DVD into the DVD drive. Once we've set up this service, you'll be able to remotely connect and install or configure whatever you like without the need of a monitor connected to the Mac mini. Start System Preferences. Click Sharing.
If you already own a computer in the house, mac/PC as long as its USB you can use it to setup the Mini. If you live in a major city you can also look at craiglist for free keyboards and mice. Lots of people give them away. (Addition, just read you own a air, so I am assuming you might not have a keyboard or mouse in the house if that is all you have) If you have a firewire cable, you can target disk mode your Mac Mini then holding down the option key on your Macbook Air select it as the boot drive and boot off the Mac Mini's hard drive from the Air and run all the setup stuff from there. Oh wait, um ya the Air has no firewire. Im leaving this last comment up for any one that tries this with a Macbook Pro who runs into the same problem. I think you pretty much need to get a mouse for the setup.
Its not a total waste to buy a cheap 10.00 keyboard and 10.00 mouse because if the mini ever has a problem you will need them again later anywas. Target disc mode. That's an interesting idea.
I used it with an external drive to boot into Snow Leopard before I found a replacement for MacTheRipper (Rip It). I didn't know it worked on whole computers, not just external drives. I have a Macbook Pro too, as in my sig, but once the Mini is set up, that'll be sold. I don't have a firewire cable, either, but i may be able to borrow one.
I don't know much about firewire - the cable I can borrow had a small end to connect to a camcorder, and a big end to connect to a Mac. 400 and 800, I think. It looks like the small end will fit in the middle of an 800 port - will that work? If not, I might just as well buy a mouse, it'll be the same price.
Target disc mode. That's an interesting idea.
I used it with an external drive to boot into Snow Leopard before I found a replacement for MacTheRipper (Rip It). I didn't know it worked on whole computers, not just external drives. I have a Macbook Pro too, as in my sig, but once the Mini is set up, that'll be sold. I don't have a firewire cable, either, but i may be able to borrow one. I don't know much about firewire - the cable I can borrow had a small end to connect to a camcorder, and a big end to connect to a Mac.
400 and 800, I think. It looks like the small end will fit in the middle of an 800 port - will that work?
If not, I might just as well buy a mouse, it'll be the same price. Click to expand.this may work. For a lot of homes wireless works and for a lot of homes it does not. One reason is bad setup some box is not clicked or is clicked. Some homes like mine are near sources of interference. I happen to live near military airbases when they do maneuvers they screw with all wi-fi. Some of us are near a cell phone tower.
Sometimes inside your machine a cable popped loose and the connection stays dropped. Some times a software program kills off wi-fi.
And on and on and on. I have read more then 50 threads like this one the op wants a solution. Most likely the 2 best ways are don't run the programs or use hard wire. The op does not want to hear it. I don't blame him.
In your case the answer may be use hard wire or buy an air port extreme or try the gear i picked. I hope you can find a low cost way. Ps buy the low-cost mouse and keyboard keep them stashed away you will need them again.