How to build a Runcore drive with OS X for a Dell Mini 9 using a real Intel Mac.

You will need
OS X Retail DVD
Runcore SSD (16Gb or larger)
A real Apple Mac (I used a Mac Pro)
USB key, 128Mb or larger
Access to a PC to create the USB key (you could use the Dell Mini 9 with XP on it for this)

How to do it
Download Syslinux 3.63 from here using the PC.

Format the USB key using the fat32 method

Unzip the file you downloaded in the first step into a directory of your choice. In the win32 directory there will be an executable file called syslinux.exe. Open a command prompt, change into that directory and type the command

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syslinux -ma d:

(this is assuming the USB drive letter is d:, if not then substitute with the correct letter).

Download v7.7 of the miniscript from here. I’ve found this to be the most straightforward version which works well with this install method.

Copy the contents of the iso (not the actual iso file) to the USB key ensuring that you don’t overwrite the single file that was copied by the syslinux command, it only copies one file which by default is a hidden system file so you may not see it.

Put your retail DVD into your Mac, connect the Runcore to it via the USB cable and restart the Mac while holding down the option key. Select the DVD and install OS X onto the Runcore

Use English for the main language
At the Welcome screen, click Utilities/Disk Utility
Select the SSD
Click on the Partition tab
Use the drop down to select 1 Partition
Click Options to ensure that the partition table is GUID
Format the SSD with Mac OS Extended (Journaled)
Apply this
Close Disk Utility
Continue… Agree
Select the disk for install
Click Options and choose Erase and Install… Continue
Click Customize and untick Printer Drivers, Addition Fonts and Language Translations.
Done… Install
Skip the DVD check
Wait. OS X will install, this will take 20-30 minutes
After install, select Country and Keyboard settings.
Enter your Apple ID if you have one then go through the registration info.
Create your user account and select a picture.
OS X will start

Note that you should ensure you hold down the option key each time you boot your real Mac to make sure the computer boots from the correct device. First time as mentioned above you should use the DVD but from then on you should select the SSD.

Open System Preferences, select Software Update and untick ‘Check for Updates’. We don’t want it checking for updates while we’re manually working on the system.

Click Check Now. Select the Combo Update only
Enter your password and let the combo update download and install.

Once the 10.5.6 update has installed, reboot into the system to ensure it’s all good then shut down the Mac.

Boot the Dell Mini 9 and press 2 to get into Setup.

Move to the Advanced screen and ensure that USB BIOS Legacy Support is Enabled

Press F10 to save and exit and switch off the Dell.

Install the Runcore into the Dell, connect the USB key and reboot the netbook. Press 0 as it boots to select a boot device and choose the USB

Press enter at the boot screen

Double click the mounted drive, then double click install.dmg

Double click installer

Open a terminal from /applications/utilities and type the following

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diskutil eraseVolume "HFS+" "EFI" /dev/disk0s1

Close the terminal

Double click the miniscript, make the selections of your choice and run the script.

Shut down the Dell, unplug the USB key.

Boot the Dell Mini 9 and press 2 to get into Setup.

Move to the Advanced screen and ensure that USB BIOS Legacy Support is Disabled

Press F10 to save and exit and switch off the Dell.

Restart and OS X will start from the Runcore. You can then run Software Update again to pick up all the other updates that are available.

The total procedure should take less than an hour and a half from start to when you run the manual Software Update. I’ve done this a couple of times now and it’s worked like a dream each time.