gabrielknight1
Level 1 (8 points)
Mac OS X

Q: is it safe to buy mavericks on usb from ebay

Hello, I dont have mavericks on a back up or cd disc and I need to install a fresh install of Mavericks I would rather download Mavericks but I cant find it so I have seen Mavericks on ebay selling on USB sticks are these safe to use and will they work? I cant re-download Mavericks as my imac when I got it had no OS or apple ID account with it, thanks all.

iMac

Posted on Sep 3, 2016 7:03 AM

by Drew Reece,Apple recommended
Drew Reece Drew Reece
Level 5 (7,451 points)
Notebooks
A:

Your iMac may support internet recovery mode…

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201314

 

If it boots when you hold cmd+alt+r at startup, connect it to an internet connection it can download the 'original OS'. It really depends on what model you have & what the original OS was. Use an ethernet connection if possible - wifi can be slow & unreliable with the large installer download. It may download Mavericks if that was the original OS.

 

Once that is installed you can sign in to the app store & purchase a newer compatible OS X version.

 

Internet recovery is built into the Mac's firmware on newer models, so it can work without a working OS.

 

You should probably identify the model if you want better help…

Identify the model of your iMac - Apple Support

Posted on Sep 5, 2016 10:49 AM

Close
gabrielknight1

Q: is it safe to buy mavericks on usb from ebay

  • All replies
  • Helpful answers

  • by Csound1,

    Csound1 Csound1 Sep 3, 2016 7:08 AM in response to gabrielknight1
    Level 9 (50,016 points)
    Desktops
    Sep 3, 2016 7:08 AM in response to gabrielknight1

    It is unlikely to be safe, it will be connected to another account which will cause problems for you in the future, it could also be infected with malware. In light of that I do not recommend it.

     

    How old is your iMac?

  • by Eric Root,

    Eric Root Eric Root Sep 3, 2016 8:00 AM in response to gabrielknight1
    Level 9 (69,536 points)
    iTunes
    Sep 3, 2016 8:00 AM in response to gabrielknight1

    If you have previously downloaded Mavericks, on another Mac, sign into the App Store using your Apple ID, then go to the Purchases tab, and download it.

  • by gabrielknight1,

    gabrielknight1 gabrielknight1 Sep 3, 2016 11:36 AM in response to Csound1
    Level 1 (8 points)
    Mac OS X
    Sep 3, 2016 11:36 AM in response to Csound1

    Well that sounds bad for ebay, do you know where a safe place is to buy it from perhaps from an apple store (not online)? Im looking to buy it so its not connected to another account. Its an iMac 24 inch I dont know the year sorry.

  • by Csound1,

    Csound1 Csound1 Sep 3, 2016 11:42 AM in response to gabrielknight1
    Level 9 (50,016 points)
    Desktops
    Sep 3, 2016 11:42 AM in response to gabrielknight1

    gabrielknight1 wrote:

     

    Well that sounds bad for ebay, do you know where a safe place is to buy it from perhaps from an apple store (not online)? Im looking to buy it so its not connected to another account. Its an iMac 24 inch I dont know the year sorry.

    You can only get it from The Mac App store online, no other source is legitimate.

     

    If you had previously got it from the App Store you can download it for free.

  • by BobHarris,

    BobHarris BobHarris Sep 3, 2016 3:21 PM in response to gabrielknight1
    Level 6 (19,257 points)
    Mac OS X
    Sep 3, 2016 3:21 PM in response to gabrielknight1

    It would be illegal to buy it from eBay, as Apple never offered it for sale in any way except via a download from the App Store.  The eBay version would be digitally Signed by the person that downloaded it.  You need their Apple ID to perform updates.

     

    As others have been trying to say, if you ever used the Applications -> App Store to download Mavericks, then if you look in the App Store -> Purchases tab, you should be able to download it again.

     

    If you never downloaded Mavericks, then it is no longer available for sale.

     

    You could try making a Genius Bar appointment at an Apple store and see if they will install Mavericks.  This may or may not work.

     

    In the future, I suggest you always download, and then "Quit" the install of every Major OS X (soon to be macOS) release, if you wish to have the option to install that release in the future.  You should do that "Now" for El Capitan, as there is a very good changed we are just days a way from the release of Sierra, and history says at that point, El Capitan will be removed from the App Store.  Again, if you have downloaded an OS release from the App Store, it will be in your App Store -> Purchases tab going forward.  Keep you options open, by doing a download for each Major OS X release..

  • by VikingOSX,

    VikingOSX VikingOSX Sep 3, 2016 3:49 PM in response to gabrielknight1
    Level 7 (20,544 points)
    Mac OS X
    Sep 3, 2016 3:49 PM in response to gabrielknight1

    You must acquire an OS X installer from what is available in the online Apple Store, or the OS X App Store. Any other OS X installer source is living in the danger zone, with considerable opportunity for regret.

  • by Drew Reece,Apple recommended

    Drew Reece Drew Reece Sep 5, 2016 10:49 AM in response to gabrielknight1
    Level 5 (7,451 points)
    Notebooks
    Sep 5, 2016 10:49 AM in response to gabrielknight1

    Your iMac may support internet recovery mode…

    https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201314

     

    If it boots when you hold cmd+alt+r at startup, connect it to an internet connection it can download the 'original OS'. It really depends on what model you have & what the original OS was. Use an ethernet connection if possible - wifi can be slow & unreliable with the large installer download. It may download Mavericks if that was the original OS.

     

    Once that is installed you can sign in to the app store & purchase a newer compatible OS X version.

     

    Internet recovery is built into the Mac's firmware on newer models, so it can work without a working OS.

     

    You should probably identify the model if you want better help…

    Identify the model of your iMac - Apple Support