Borralan

Q: Updating an Old iMac

I have an old iMac, Intel Core Duo, 2 Ghz, 512MB - can I install OSX 10.5 on to this machine?

iMac

Posted on May 25, 2012 7:23 AM

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Q: Updating an Old iMac

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  • by varjak paw,Helpful

    varjak paw varjak paw May 25, 2012 8:18 AM in response to Borralan
    Level 10 (169,890 points)
    May 25, 2012 8:18 AM in response to Borralan

    Yes, if you get a retail copy of 10.5 (the installation disk from another model of Mac won't work and wouldn't be legal). You could also upgrade to 10.6 Snow Leopard if you increase the amount of RAM to 1GB. More RAM is highly recommended in any case, even with 10.5.

     

    Regards.

  • by noondaywitch,Helpful

    noondaywitch noondaywitch May 25, 2012 8:28 AM in response to Borralan
    Level 6 (8,147 points)
    May 25, 2012 8:28 AM in response to Borralan

    Yes, if you can find a retail copy of 10.5! It's not available from Apple and prices on Amazon MP and eBay can be quite steep - $140 and up.

     

    Assuming you're on Tiger currently, it may be cheaper and easier to go straight to Snow Leopard (10.6.x) which is still available from the Apple Online store for $29. That would require more RAM than you currently have, though.

     

    If you particularly want 10.5, here's a guide from Texas Macman, updated by me for the latest part no. for 10.5.6.

     

    "Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard installation system requirements

    http://support.apple.com/kb/TA24950

     

    Leopard is no longer available at the Apple Store but may be available by calling Apple Phone Sales @ 1-800-MY-APPLE (1-800-692-7753).

     

    If you can't obtain a retail install DVD from Apple, look on eBay or Google the installer part numbers to possibly find at an on-line store. Here's what to look for:

     

    MB427Z/A  Leopard 10.5.1 install DVD

    MB576Z/A  Leopard 10.5.4 install DVD

    MB021Z/A , MC094Z/A  Leopard 10.5.6 install DVD (single user)

    MB022Z/A , MC095Z/A Leopard 10.5.6 install DVD (5-user family pack)

     

    Installing Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard

    http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1544

     

    Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard Installation and Setup Guide

    http://manuals.info.apple.com/en/leopard_install-setup.pdf

     

    After you install the base 10.5, download & install the 10.5.8 combo update at http://support.apple.com/downloads/Mac_OS_X_10_5_8_Combo_Update"

     

    Remember that there is no Classic support in Leopard and later.