Build a GREAT sounding music server - 101 (part 2)

[Dj_AmTraX]

Connect the HDMI cable from the Mac Mini to your TV.

Now that you have your new Mac Mini upgraded with 8GB of RAM and a SSD, let's remove the software that you will not be using in a music server and tweak the OS for audio playback.

Your new SSD doesn't have an operating system so we're gonna do a clean install. Turn on the Mac Mini and insert the OS X DVD that came with your Mac. The Mac will take a few minutes to scan the DVD and boot into OS X install.



When you get to this screen, you want to click "Customize".



On this screen, you want to uncheck everything EXCEPT "Additional Fonts" and click Continue.



The install may take up to an hour. After the install the Mac will reboot and you will be greeted with a Welcome video. Follow the Apple ID set up process until you see the desktop.



Now that you have a clean OS, we are going to remove the software you will not need. Go to Safari and Google AppCleaner.
AppCleaner



After the install, open AppCleaner and go to Preferences. Here you want to Uncheck the "Protect Default Apps. Close Preferences after you do that.

[Dj_AmTraX]

Now click on Applications in AppCleaner and Uncheck everything EXCEPT the following apps.

- AppCleaner

- Font Book

- iTunes

- Preview

- QuickTime Player

- Safari

- System Preferences

- Activity Monitor

- Airport Utilities

- AudioMidi Setup

- Bluetooth File Exchange

- BootCamp Assistant

- ColorSync Utility

- Console

- Disc Utility

- Java Preferences

- KeyChain Access

- Network Utility

- System Profiler

- Terminal



AppCleaner will search for all the related files and will spin into another screen. Here you can click "Delete" to move the apps into the Trash. You may be prompt to enter your password.

Now, let's remove the Widgets. In AppCleaner under Widgets. Uncheck ALL the Widgets. You don't need Widgets on a music server.



Quit AppCleaner and let's go to the Trash in your Dock. Go ahead and "Empty" the Trash.

[joeinid]

Awesome Mike! Thank you. Keep it coming ....

Joe

[Dj_AmTraX]

Now we are going to Update the operating system. We didn't do this earlier because there was no need to update the apps you were going to remove so this is a better time.

Go to the Apple Logo in the upper left corner and drop down to "Software Update". OS X will search for the latest updates and resent you with the results.



Go ahead and click Install. OS X will take a few minutes to install the updates and reboot the system.





After the reboot, check Software Update again to ensure everything was installed. You should see this screen if all went well.

[Dj_AmTraX]

Plug in the Lacie FireWire hard drive. We're gonna Partition the drive and rename it.

Go to Finder, Applications, Utilities, and open Disc Utilities.

Select the Lacie Drive and go to Partition. Select "1" partition and rename the drive to "Music Server" or "Music Drive".



Let's start tweaking the OS. Go to Apple Logo and drop down to System Preference.





Energy Preferences: Disable Sleep and other Energy saving Preferences.
Slide the slider to the right where "Never" is.



Spotlight: Disable Spotlight
Uncheck ALL the boxes under Search Results.



Under Privacy, click on the "+" and add your internal HD and the Lacie FireWire HD. This is stop Spotlight from searching your hard drives.



Time Machine: Disable TimeMachine on your media drives.
Turn OFF TimeMachine



Software Update: Turn OFF Auto Software Update
Uncheck "Check for updates"

[Dj_AmTraX]

Now we're going to set OS X to boot in 64bit mode. Go to Finder, under Applications, Utilities, and open Terminal.



Copy and Paste this command into Terminal and hit Enter.

sudo systemsetup -setkernelbootarchitecture x86_64

Now close all apps and reboot the Mac. After the reboot, check and see if the Mac is in 64bit mode by going to Apple Logo and About this Mac.



Click on "More Info" and go to Software. You should see this screen.



Let's take a break and have a beer. Part 3 we will set up iTunes for proper playback and ripping CDs.

[TommyC]

Very informative. Can we put this as sticky?

['cisco]

Originally Posted by TommyC

Very informative. Can we put this as sticky?

+1 on a sticky ....keep it up Mike

I guess this means I would have to switch from a PC to a Mac

not the greatest vid quality...

YouTube - ‪"Get a Mac" Collection‬‏

[Dj_AmTraX]

Thanks for the support guys. I'll post Part 3 this weekend.

[f1 fan]

Originally Posted by TommyC

Very informative. Can we put this as sticky?

+1 on the sticky...

Dave

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