IMYB

Q: Ebay seller didn't install the OS - please help recovery

This is all I know about the machine...

 

iMac (27-inch Late 2009)

Build Year:- This unit was built in 2010.
Build Week- Your Mac was built in week 22 of that year (May).
Production Nr.:- This unit was number 601 to be built that week.

 

 

I love MAC, my imac screen died and bough a new (old 27") on ebay. The seller didn't re-install the OS before shipping it. I was expecting to see the WELCOME, BIENVENUE, BIENVENIDO screen.... But no such luck!!!

 

I am used to the "old" way of installing from the DVD but this machine has no DVD. When it starts it goes right to the OS X UTILITIES SCREEN.

 

- I tried to click the REINSTALL OSX but it's asking me for an APPLE ID & PASSWORD and I tried mine and it's telling me "it's not available at this time". From what I read online it's because I was not the one that purchased the iMac so it's not in my account that I can install OS 10.9

 

- Then I tried the COMMAND+OPTION+R and I go to the same screen "OS X UTILITIES"

 

- Then I tried the COMMAND+OPTION and I go to the same screen "OS X UTILITIES"

 

- Then I looked in the DISK UTILITIES and took pictures in case it can help you guys help me. It shows a HD called MAVERICKS 10.9.2 but only has 2 files on it. Then it shows something called DISK1 which could be an OS system because it has lots of files but I have no idea what it is and what to do with it.

 

All I want is to install the original OS 10.9 MAVERICK that came with the machine originally.

 

NO, I do not want the free El Capitan since I work with ADOBE CS6 SUITE (photoshop, illustrator...) and was told that it will not work properly. So, I need to be on 10.9

IMG_3355.JPG

 

IMG_3356.JPG

iMac, 3.06GHz, MB952LL/A (October, 2009)

Posted on May 14, 2016 9:57 PM

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Q: Ebay seller didn't install the OS - please help recovery

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  • Helpful answers

  • by QuickTimeKirk,

    QuickTimeKirk QuickTimeKirk May 15, 2016 4:21 AM in response to IMYB
    Level 9 (53,240 points)
    May 15, 2016 4:21 AM in response to IMYB

    Apple removed both Mavericks and Yosemite from the App Store so there is no way for you to install it.

    You should be able to use internet recovery (command, r at boot) to reinstall the original version of OS X that shipped with your machine which should have been 10.7.5 Lion.

  • by BobHarris,

    BobHarris BobHarris May 15, 2016 8:07 AM in response to IMYB
    Level 6 (19,621 points)
    Mac OS X
    May 15, 2016 8:07 AM in response to IMYB

    The late 2009 27" iMac came with Snow Leopard, which was NOT downloadable.

    <http://www.everymac.com/systems/apple/imac/specs/imac-core-2-duo-3.06-27-inch-al uminum-late-2009-specs.html>

    Down near the bottom of the long list of features is the original Mac OS X this Mac shipped with

     

    You can contact Apple with the serial number and get the original install DVD or you can just buy a Snow Leopard retail DVD from the on-line store.

     

    Unless you previously downloaded Mavericks or Yosemite and have them in your App Store -> Purchases, these 2 releases are not available any longer for new downloads.  You can try going to an Apple Store and asking the Genius Bar if they will install Mavericks.

     

    Otherwise after you have Snow Leopard installed via the DVD, you can go to Lion ($20), Mountain Lion ($20), or El Capitain (free)

     

    I am running El Capitan on my Late 2009 27" iMac, but I also have installed an SSD and increased the amount of RAM in my system.

  • by Eric Root,Apple recommended

    Eric Root Eric Root May 15, 2016 8:55 AM in response to IMYB
    Level 9 (72,844 points)
    iTunes
    May 15, 2016 8:55 AM in response to IMYB

    Snow Leopard Purchase


    You can use the combo update to save time in Software Update.


    10.6.8 Combo Updater

  • by IMYB,

    IMYB IMYB May 15, 2016 1:21 PM in response to IMYB
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Desktops
    May 15, 2016 1:21 PM in response to IMYB

    Wow, what a mess. The seller told me when I purchased it that it was 10.9 and he upgraded to 10.10 but the original system was 10.9 which now that I looked at the serial number it's not true it's telling me:   Original OS: - 10.6.1 Snow Leopard

     

    I have another 27" iMac and I have the 2 DVD's that came with it. One is the MAC OS X INSTALL DVD 10.6.2. My question is can I use that to install the OS on this iMac?

  • by IMYB,

    IMYB IMYB May 15, 2016 1:23 PM in response to Eric Root
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Desktops
    May 15, 2016 1:23 PM in response to Eric Root

    Thanks for the info. I am sure it's a silly question but how can I download and install this 10.6.8 combo updater when I can't get the computer to start?

  • by TechnoRaptor,

    TechnoRaptor TechnoRaptor May 15, 2016 1:25 PM in response to IMYB
    Level 1 (55 points)
    Mac OS X
    May 15, 2016 1:25 PM in response to IMYB

    Try doing this.

  • by BobHarris,

    BobHarris BobHarris May 15, 2016 1:47 PM in response to IMYB
    Level 6 (19,621 points)
    Mac OS X
    May 15, 2016 1:47 PM in response to IMYB

    Yes, you can install the DVD's, then either apply the updates until you get to 10.6.8, or get the 10.6.8 combo updater and do it all in one shot.  gave you a pointer the 10.6.8 combo updater.

     

    Once you have 10.6.8 installed you will have the App Store (actually you would have the App Store at 10.6.6).  Now you can choose to install any version of OS X you previously downloaded, or you can purchase an on-line redemption code for Lion or Mountain Lion, or just go to El Capitan (free)

     

    Try doing this.

    Since the 2009 27" iMac did not come with a downloadable version of OS X it might be difficult using Internet restore to get back to the original software.

  • by IMYB,

    IMYB IMYB May 15, 2016 2:01 PM in response to BobHarris
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Desktops
    May 15, 2016 2:01 PM in response to BobHarris

    Just to double check... The DVD I have di NOT come with this iMac. I have 2 other iMacs and I have the DVD's for those iMac but NOT the ones that came with the "problematic Mac". I am only asking because someone told me that the DVD's I have only work on the machine they were made for, but I don't know if it's true.

     

    Now, if this iMac came originally with "10.6.1 Snow Leopard" how come when I do disk utility I see something called DISK1 (see pictures on my 1st post) that looks like it has a OS X BASE SYSTEM?

     

    Lastly, If this system didn't originally come with the "internet recovery", how come when the iMac starts it goes right to the OS X UTILITIES screen and offers me to install the OS which I can't do? I am trying to understand why the HD is called 10.9.2 if it's not there and if that DISK1 is something that can help me install the OS on the computer.

     

    Thanks everyone, I greatly appreciate all the help.

     

    I know El Capitan is FREE but I heard that PHOTOSHOP CS6, ILLUSTRATOR CS6 and others do not work on it...

  • by BobHarris,

    BobHarris BobHarris May 15, 2016 2:11 PM in response to IMYB
    Level 6 (19,621 points)
    Mac OS X
    May 15, 2016 2:11 PM in response to IMYB

    DVD's that came with Macs only work with the same model number Mac.  So while you can try, it is unlikely to work.

  • by IMYB,

    IMYB IMYB May 15, 2016 2:45 PM in response to BobHarris
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Desktops
    May 15, 2016 2:45 PM in response to BobHarris

    Thanks, Then it will not work. One of the iMac is an i5 and the other an i3 and the problematic one is a "Intel Core 2 Duo". So no luck there.

     

    I just don't understand that if the computer starts without me doing anything, not holding any keys, it starts to the OS X UTILIIES screen how come I can't get the internet recovery. If there is no operating system, where does this OS X UTILITIES screen come from?

     

    ANYONE KNOWS WHAT that DISK1 shown on my picture is?

     

    When I do COMMAND + R  or  COMMAND + OPTION + R I get every time to the same screen "OS X UTILIIES"... Is it normal?

     

    Then when I click the REINSTALL OS X it's telling me it will install 10.10 YOSEMITE but it stops after it's ask me the apple id & password says that it's not available at this time. I love MAC, but getting very frustrated. I really wish Apple just let anyone use this internet recovery to download anything even 10.6

     

    IMG_3356.JPG

  • by BobHarris,

    BobHarris BobHarris May 15, 2016 6:28 PM in response to IMYB
    Level 6 (19,621 points)
    Mac OS X
    May 15, 2016 6:28 PM in response to IMYB

    When it did have Mavericks on it, a Recovery partition was installed.  It is a minimum OS X with a minimum amount of features.

     

    A network recovery is based on firmware in the Mac and the Mac model being associated with downloadable restorable image.  But the 2009 27" iMac did not come with a downloadable system.  It came with DVDs

     

    As has been mentioned above, you can get the original installation DVDs from Apple, or you can get a retail Snow Leopard from Apple.  Pointers have been provided above.