2008 or 2009 iMac OS X install question

Hello everyone! So I just picked up an 08 or 09 iMac last night off Facebook with no keyboard/mouse/power cord for $15. Turns out a standard pc power cord works just fine, and the computer turned on. But it gave me a folder with a ? In it. It looks like this was purchased from a school and was wiped clean, so it has no OS on it.

My question is, is the only way for me to get an OS X CD to buy it from apple and have them ship it to me? Seeing as I don't have access to the apple store on another apple computer, I can't download the file that way. I would like to just download it on my pc and burn the disc if possible.

I suppose it's possible to transfer from Windows to the Mac using a flash drive, but I don't know the procedure.

You can probably purchase a disc from Apple. With the info you've given, I'm sure that 10.6 Snow Leopard would work. I'd stay off the internet on that machine however.

Apple still sells 10.6 on disk. Here is a link to the Apple site for it. US$20

https://www.apple.com/shop/product/MC573Z/A/mac-os-x-106-snow-leopard

Thanks guys. I was hoping to avoid having to buy the discs and waiting for shipping. But if that is my only option then I guess I'll have to do that.

I also saw on "other world computing" that they have my imac listed as being able to use el Capitan, and even high Sierra if it's the 09 model. I should be able to upgrade to whichever once I get a version of OS X on there right?

Correct. You need a version of OS X with the Mac App Store (10.6.8 is where it came in) to able to upgrade. The 09 iMac can go up to High Sierra, while the 08 iMac might be able to go up to El Capitan.

Thanks guys. I was hoping to avoid having to buy the discs and waiting for shipping.

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I believe the last time I ordered an OS X install disk from Apple it arrived the next day or at least the second day after the order.

That was in Canada.




- Patrick
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Once you get an OS installed, then you can find out what model year it is. You might have a little life on the internet left after all.

That's what I'm hoping for toM. I really just want to learn the OS as best I can.

I also got an old imac g3 in the deal. Where can I download os x 10.3? Or can I not download that either?

You can't download any Mac OS prior to Lion OS X.7. Unless of course you pirate it. Go to eBay and search to buy. You know that spend money business?

Once you get an OS installed, then you can find out what model year it is.

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You don't even need to do that.

Just use a computer to look up the model and serial number on the bottom stand of the non-working iMac and all such specs and info will be displayed.

Even a rough set of info or detailed can be found at evertmac.com




- Patrick
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So before I go out and buy OS X 10.3 for my iMac G3, I want to make sure its going to solve my issue.

It currently has an administrator account on it, that I do not know the password to. My windows/linux brain tells me, just reinstall a fresh OS and that will fix your problems. But will it? Before I go spend another $20+ on 10.3, will I be able to install over top of the existing installation?

So before I go out and buy OS X 10.3 for my iMac G3, I want to make sure its going to solve my issue.

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Wow, I must have really missed something, but where did this "iMac G3" suddenly come from, and it sure ain't a 2008 or 2009 iMac!!!
https://everymac.com/systems/apple/imac/index-imac.html

We need some actual facts and specs of the iMac model involved here.




- Patrick
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lol, a few posts ago I said I also got the iMac G3 with the other iMac that I started this thread about. I cant remember exactly, but its specs are either 200 or 300 something mhz, and it has 320mb of ram and a 10 gig hd. It currently has 10.3.9 on it, but has an administrator account on it that i dont have the password for, so I cant install anything on it. I am looking to do a fresh install. I am guessing installing 10.3 would be best, seeing as thats what is on there already.

These are the first mac's I have ever owned so this is all new to me. Makes me really appreciate how easy it is to just download windows 10/linux and install it lol.

I am looking to do a fresh install. I am guessing installing 10.3 would be best, seeing as thats what is on there already.

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As already mentioned, try the 'net and ebay etc.

Or start googling for some other methods with something like:
How To Create A New Administrator Account
or
https://www.google.ca/search?client...F-8&gfe_rd=cr&dcr=0&ei=11-GWv_VIaiQ8QeLr6KYBw

Or you could try calling Apple Customer Service. You never know who you'll get on the other end.




- Patrick
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Makes me really appreciate how easy it is to just download windows 10/linux and install it lol.

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What you want is a version that is now 10 versions old (the current version is 10.13). So the better comparison would be to see how hard it is to get a legal copy of Windows XP. Those two were contemporary in 2003.