MacBook without an OS

Hi everyone.

I'm buying a used MacBook from a friend of mine.

She told me that there's no operating system on it (and she does not have the original CD that came with the mac when she received it new).

My question is this:

Can I use any Mac installation CD?
- I have an iMac of my own - could I use that installation cd?
- I would rather not buy a new installation cd, since I'm hard up for cash.

Anyway, any help I can get would be great.

Thanks so much!

Jenny

Just a guess, but you could buy the retail Snow Leopard CD for $29 (or cheaper) and that should work..

Regards

Really? It's that cheap?

Well it's the upgrade CD, but also just so happens to be a full installation CD as well. Hopefully others will confirm that this works..what are the specs on the Macbook?

Regards

I just called Apple and they said that since there's no OS that I would need the full installation CD, which is $169.

I have an installation cd that came with my iMac...could I use that? Or is that unique to my iMac only?


Thanks,
Jenny

Unique to your iMac I'm afraid.
You're best bet is to get a copy of Tiger or Leopard from eBay or the like. You will need a generic dvd though, not a machine specific disc.

So will my idea of using a retail copy of SL not work since it's not machine specific? Just curious..

Regards

Raz0rEdge said:

So will my idea of using a retail copy of SL not work since it's not machine specific? Just curious..

Regards

Click to expand...

Not machine specific no, but I am pretty sure it needs an OS installed to upgrade from, regardless of whether it's a full OS or not. It automatically uses archive and install.
I may be wrong, but I'm pretty sure that would be a very big loophole that Apple will have avoided.

why not just stick the disc in and find out? you've got nothing to lose really.

Hi.

Yeah, I "would" use my iMac disk, but I haven't bought the MacBook yet, still trying to get all my ducks in a row.

Hmmm...still have some research to do with this...thanks everyone who has responded so far...if anyone else knows anything I'm all ears!

Jenny

Raz0rEdge said:

Just a guess, but you could buy the retail Snow Leopard CD for $29 (or cheaper) and that should work..

Regards

Click to expand...

Sorry but I dont see a difference in using it to install over upgrading ! You would need to buy a full retail disc not an upgrade.

Apple?s EULA Forbids Direct Upgrade from Tiger to OS X 10.6 - Although, technically, it works like a charm - Softpedia

Just the way I see it
Clay

clayneal said:

Sorry but I dont see a difference in using it to install over upgrading ! You would need to buy a full retail disc not an upgrade.

Apple?s EULA Forbids Direct Upgrade from Tiger to OS X 10.6 - Although, technically, it works like a charm - Softpedia

Just the way I see it
Clay

Click to expand...

Amen. Follow the EULA, please.

Jenny said:

Hi.

Yeah, I "would" use my iMac disk, but I haven't bought the MacBook yet, still trying to get all my ducks in a row.

Hmmm...still have some research to do with this...thanks everyone who has responded so far...if anyone else knows anything I'm all ears!

Jenny

Click to expand...

Just some cautionary advice: I'm always a bit leery when someone has a notebook computer to sell without an operating system installed and has no disks for it. I have to wonder why?

You have absolutely no way of testing the machine until you install an operating system or can at least boot it from a correct working OS X disk and run the Apple Hardware Test.

You will need a retail (black) copy of OS X or a copy specifically for that model MacBook to do that. Your iMac disk set will not work.

Regards.

Have to agree with chscag - wouldn't pay anything for a computer that does not boot into an operating system.

Get your friend to call Apple and request a replacement set of discs for the MacBook. Have seen reports from our members here of anything from free to $20.