Copying system discs

Not sure if this is the right place or not, but I have a question about copying the gray system discs that come with a Mac. I just bought my daughter a Macbook as an early HS graduation present. When she goes off to college, I would like her to have the restore discs just in case, but would prefer her to have a copy of them (the originals kept in a safe place) just in case she were to lose them. I would also like to make her a backup copy of the iLife '11 disc. Can the disks be copied for backup purposes and what would be the best way to burn a copy?

Yes they can be copied no problem, I have done all of mine.
I used Toast to do it, which is the easiest way if you have it, but you can d it in Disk Utility too.

Thanks for the quick response. I do have toast on my iMac. Just wanted to make sure it would make bootable copies of the install disc, and that Apple allowed them to be copied for backup.

And a DL capable burner and DL media, DVD+RL DL

harryb2448 said:

And a DL capable burner and DL media, DVD+RL DL

Click to expand...

I didn't think about that. I know the iMac superdrive will do the trick, but I need the right discs. Guess I have to make another trip to BestBuy before I head to NC tomorrow.

WOW this is a great post as i didnt think it was allowable ........ Ill be backing up my Install disks today onto a 8GB thumb drive.
Put it with my keys and then no matter where i am ill have a bootable OS

Thanks for the thread Chef

Cheers

The other method for "backup" gray system disks could be to call Apple...and for somewhere around $15-$20 bucks they'll send you another set.

Folks usually do this when they loose their original gray disks (or didn't get them when they purchased a used computer)...but this would seem to be an ok method to get "backup disks" as well (especially since they can only be used on that particular MacBook model).

- Nick

Section 2F of the OS X Snow Leopard EULA:

You may make one copy of the Apple Software (excluding the Boot ROM code and other Apple firmware that is embedded or otherwise contained in Applebranded hardware) in machine-readable form for backup purposes only; provided that the backup copy must include all copyright or other proprietary notices contained on the original. Apple Boot ROM code and firmware is provided only for use on Apple-branded hardware and you may not copy, modify or redistribute the Apple Boot ROM code or firmware, or any portions thereof.

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Section 2A of the iLife 09 EULA (they don't seem to have the iLife 11 EULA up) has a similar clause which states that you can make a copy for backup purposes.

Just in case you wanted the "official word".

vansmith said:

Section 2F of the OS X Snow Leopard EULA:
Section 2A of the iLife 09 EULA (they don't seem to have the iLife 11 EULA up) has a similar clause which states that you can make a copy for backup purposes.

Just in case you wanted the "official word".

Click to expand...

Thanks for that too. This is her first Mac, so I know she will want to play and experiment, so I want her to have the discs just in case she has to reinstall, but don't want to chance her losing the originals...I know how she is...she needs a GPS to get around the corner.

Chef_eam said:

Thanks for that too. This is her first Mac, so I know she will want to play and experiment, so I want her to have the discs just in case she has to reinstall, but don't want to chance her losing the originals...I know how she is...she needs a GPS to get around the corner.

Click to expand...

If she's like a certain female I know, a GPS doesn't help either.

bobtomay said:

If she's like a certain female I know, a GPS doesn't help either.

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You may be right about that...she is blonde after all...and 17.....'nuff said.