Which installation disk version is the right one?

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Level 1

8 points

Which installation disk version is the right one?

Since Apple started making the iMac a generic identifier, I have had a lot of trouble keeping track of which disk to use for repairing or reinstalling the many macs at my company. The disks have no clear identification as to which iMac they are for. Even putting the GHz of the machine would help narrow things down, but all I have to go by is the cryptic AHT version 3A111 or 3A118, which means squat to me. I have probably a hundred sets of disks to look through, and so far 4 different AHT versions have all refused to install a system on my Intel Duo 2.4 GHz iMac.

Is there any guide to which disk came with which machine, so I can go through all these disks and label them so when I need them, I can easily find them?

various, Mac OS X (10.4.10)

Posted on Apr 15, 2009 12:15 PM

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Answer 1

a brody

Level 10

85,314 points

Apr 15, 2009 1:58 PM in response to Brooklyn Jim

This article allows you to find out which Macs came with which operating system:

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1159

These articles let you identify iMacs:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1758 - newer than mid-2007
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1463 - earlier iMacs

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Answer 2

Brooklyn Jim Author

Level 1

8 points

Apr 17, 2009 12:08 PM in response to a brody

Thanks, but what I really need is a list of what machine each installation disk is good for. In other words, when it says on the disk "2Z607-00110A iMac Media," what iMac is that designed to work with? Or is that number irrelevant? What about the line that says "AHT version 3A111"; is that any indicator of what iMac it came with?

Does anybody know?

I really miss the days when the Mac said something right on the front of the case like "PowerMac 7200/66," and the disk said something along the lines of "PowerMac 7200/66." Kinda made things easier for the user. Including the admin user.

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Answer 3

a brody

Level 10

85,314 points

Apr 17, 2009 12:26 PM in response to Brooklyn Jim

Call AppleCare to inquire. Those serial numbers are not published anywhere on Google that I can find. Occasionally someone sells these discs, and you get info about which Mac they came with, and then you luck out.

I really miss the days when the Mac said something right on the front of the case like "PowerMac 7200/66," and the disk said something along the lines of "PowerMac 7200/66.

Those days though did get harry. You needed such specific markings. Back then you didn't have just 5 series of Macs going around. At one point the 7200 was out at the same time as the 5200, 6100, 7200, 7500, 8500, 9500, 280c, 150, 520c, 540c, LC580, and Color Classic II. There were no less than 68030, 680LC40, PowerPC 601, PowerPC 603, and PowerPC 604 processors out at the same time. It got real messy. At least now we are done to 3 processors and 5 models. Much simpler that way, if you ask me. Oh and the operating system on the disc in question can usually help identify which Mac it came with.

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