Boot up an Mac Pro using an 15" MBP??

Question

Can it be possible that I can hook up my 15" mid-2009 MBP to my early 2009 Mac Pro 4,1 via FireWire to install an OS onto the HDDs in my Mac Pro? If so, how can I go about doing so?

Answer 1

Yes, BUT**
**A very important issue is the SOURCE of the base version of the software. Only a "Purchased" version contains "Drivers for every appropriate Mac".
A "shipped in the box" version for a different model Mac does not have all the Drivers, and has no way to get them, and will not work for this purpose.
Mac Pro
Date introduced
Original Mac OS X included
(see Tips 1 and 3)
Later Mac OS X included
(see Tip 1)
Mac OS X Build(s)
(see Tip 2)
Mac Pro (Late 2013)
Dec 2013
10.9
10.9.2
13A4023, 13C64
Mac Pro (Mid 2012)
Jun 2012
10.7.3
10.8, 10.8.3
11D2001, 12A269, 12D78
Mac Pro (Mid 2010)
Aug 2010
10.6.4
10.7, 10.7.2, 10.7.3
10F2521, 10F2554, 11A511a, 11C74, 11D2001
Mac Pro with Mac OS X Server (Mid 2010)
Aug 2010
10.6.4
10.7, 10.7.2, 10.7.3 (Server)
10F2522, 11A511a, 11C74, 11D2001 (Server)
Mac Pro (Early 2009)
Mar 2009
10.5.6
10.6
9G3553, 10A432
Mac Pro (Early 2008)
Jan 2008
10.5.1
10.5.2, 10.5.4
9B2117, 9C2031, 9E25
Mac Pro
Aug 2006
10.4.7
10.4.8, 10.4.9, 10.4.10, 10.5
8K1079, 8N1430, 8N1250, 8K1124, 8P4037, 8R3032, 8R3041, 9A581, 9A3129
You MUST observe the original minimum builds in most cases. The 10.6.4 required for the 2010 model is a CUSTOM build, and that model cannot boot from the last available "Full Retail" 10.6.3 DVD. The 2012 model also requires this version at a minimum because it runs the same firmware on essentially the same Hardware as the 2010 model.