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I have a Mac mini which appears to be a 2014 model with an Intel processor.

The internal disk has failed completely and has been replaced with a known-good 1 TB SATA SSD.

I have access to Linux hosts, a Windows VM, and an ancient 2007 iMac, but not a more-modern Mac with a working macOS (OS X) installed.

Linux and Windows do not give a download link, they say "use the App Store".
My old Mac says "this machine cannot run this version of macOS".
The instructions at the Apple website "How to create a bootable installer for macOS" assume one has a working Mac.

Is my only option to find someone else with a working modern mac who can download and create a disk for me? How can I generate an install disk?

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    Have you tried booting to Internet Recovery? If so, then which version and can you install from there? In other words, do you even need an installation disk to install some version of OS X or macOS? If so, explain why?
    – David Anderson
    Commented Jan 29, 2022 at 2:24
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    @DavidAnderson No - I was unaware of its existence, not being particularly au fait with the newer apple way of doing things. Last time I installed OSX it was off a CD! Now that I have the name, a google shows me what it is. You should definitely make that an answer, because while it doesn't answer the question, it solves the underlying problem perfectly. That would help future readers find an answer, who like me didn't know the right name but can describe the requirements.
    – Criggie
    Commented Jan 29, 2022 at 3:38
  • Only downsides so far - it uses up bandwidth every time I might want to install, and I don't get to choose what version. Right now its installing Sierra, presumably it will offer to upgrade later.
    – Criggie
    Commented Jan 29, 2022 at 3:39
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    Criggle: Under applicable circumstances, Apple has used Recovery, OS X Recovery and macOS Recovery to mean Internet Recovery. Apple has also used OS X Internet Recovery, macOS Internet Recovery, OS X Recovery over the Internet and macOS Recovery over the Internet to mean Internet Recovery. So, if you did not find "internet recovery", then look for one of the others.
    – David Anderson
    Commented Jan 29, 2022 at 8:23
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    Not sure I understand the problem. People who already know about "Internet Recovery" will most likely not benefit from the answer, people who don't know but can phrase their question to have either the one above or the one we linked to show up in search results will find everything relevant in the answer.
    – nohillside ♦
    Commented Jan 29, 2022 at 8:48

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