Mac mini - Setting Up DVD or CD Sharing

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Setting Up DVD or CD Sharing

For direct access to CDs and DVDs, you can attach an external optical drive to a USB
port on your Mac mini.
You can also partner your Mac mini with another Mac or Windows computer that has
an optical disc drive and is on the same wired or wireless network.

The computer with the optical drive can be a Mac with Mac OS X v10.4.10 or later, or a
Windows 7, Windows XP, or Windows Vista computer. If the Mac has Mac OS X v10.5.3 or
later, DVD or CD Sharing is already installed. You can partner with more than one other
computer, but you can use only one partner computer at a time.

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21

Chapter 1

Ready, Set Up, Go

Mac or Windows computer

Mac mini

Wireless base station

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If the other computer is a Windows computer or a Mac with a Mac OS X version
earlier than 10.5.3, download the DVD or CD Sharing Setup software for your
partner computer:

If the other computer is a Windows computer, go to
http://support.apple.com/kb/DL112 and download the DVD or CD Sharing Setup
For Windows Installer.

If the other computer is a Mac with Mac OS X v10.4.10–10.5.2, go to
http://support.apple.com/kb/DL113 and download the DVD or CD sharing Setup
for Mac Installer.

Important: 

After you install the DVD or CD Sharing Setup package on your other Mac,

make sure you have the latest software by choosing Apple () > Software Update.
Install any available Mac OS X updates.

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22

Chapter 1

Ready, Set Up, Go

You can enable DVD or CD Sharing on a Mac or Windows computer and then use the
Remote Disc feature of Mac mini. Remote Disc allows you to share the discs you insert in
the optical disc drive of the other computer. Some discs, such as DVD movies and game
discs, may be copy-protected and therefore unusable through DVD or CD Sharing.

Note:  Instructions for enabling DVD or CD Sharing are also available at:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT177

To enable DVD or CD Sharing, if your other computer is a Mac:

1

Make sure your Mac mini and the other Mac are on the same wireless network.
Check the AirPort status icon (Z) in the menu bar to see what network you’re
connected to.

2

On the other Mac, choose Apple () > System Preferences and then open Sharing.

3

In the Sharing pane, select “DVD or CD Sharing” in the Service list. If you want other
users to request permission to share a DVD or CD, select “Ask me before allowing others
to use my DVD drive.”

To enable DVD or CD Sharing, if your other computer is a Windows computer:

1

Make sure your Mac mini and the Windows computer are on the same wireless network.

2

On the Windows computer, open the DVD or CD Sharing control panel.

3

Select “Enable Remote DVD or CD.” If you want other users to request permission to
share a DVD or CD, select “Ask me before allowing others to use my DVD drive.”

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23

Chapter 1

Ready, Set Up, Go

To use a shared DVD or CD:

1

On the other computer, insert a DVD or CD in the optical disc drive.

2

On your Mac mini, select the remote disc when it appears under Devices in the Finder
sidebar. If you see the “Ask to use” button, click it.

3

On the other computer, when prompted, click Accept to allow your Mac mini to use the
DVD or CD.

4

On your Mac mini, use the disc as you normally would, once it becomes available.

If you try to shut down the other computer or eject the shared DVD or CD while
your Mac mini is using it, you see a message telling you that the disc is in use.
To proceed, click Continue.