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How to install OSX on a Windows Hard Drive

I was given an iMac 27" without a Hard Drive.

I put a Hard Drive that had windows 10 on it... weird it will boot to windows 10 too.

But I want to get Mac OSX on it.

I tried booting to Command+R and it just gives me the option to load Windows 10.

I don't have a disc. I don't have another mac either. Can I just wipe the hard drive and reinstall OSX, what ever version it is for this iMac via the internet?

iMac Line (2012 and Later)

Posted on Oct 7, 2019 1:28 PM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Oct 7, 2019 2:42 PM

If the Mac is a 2011 or earlier, you need a Snow Leopard DVD to boot it in Mac OS, then you will need to run Disk Utilities and do and erase on the HD which wipes it 100% clean. Next you can use the DVD to install Snow Leopard onto it, from there you can begin upgrade the OS to get to a more current version.


Here is the link to the DVD https://www.apple.com/shop/product/D6106Z/A/os-x-lion?fnode=bc01a8f88a7d4bdbedbf1843854a97729d6b6268a7bc0dc5df63bf8d3e364e597325ea33d59f1fb12e47ce3508d120a9d0237740b745ea7be99058eb40f15f9b90bd7f8ebcdb2eb74c8e8e82de36d9a1c0c3ec4bcbfd3067cf70169667917349


If it's a 2012 or later you can boot using Internet Recovery and install the OS that came on it when it originally shipped.


If you want to continue running Windows without Mac OS you can do that, however if you want to use both OS's you have to start over from scratch.

3 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Oct 7, 2019 2:42 PM in response to TheBasicPhreak

If the Mac is a 2011 or earlier, you need a Snow Leopard DVD to boot it in Mac OS, then you will need to run Disk Utilities and do and erase on the HD which wipes it 100% clean. Next you can use the DVD to install Snow Leopard onto it, from there you can begin upgrade the OS to get to a more current version.


Here is the link to the DVD https://www.apple.com/shop/product/D6106Z/A/os-x-lion?fnode=bc01a8f88a7d4bdbedbf1843854a97729d6b6268a7bc0dc5df63bf8d3e364e597325ea33d59f1fb12e47ce3508d120a9d0237740b745ea7be99058eb40f15f9b90bd7f8ebcdb2eb74c8e8e82de36d9a1c0c3ec4bcbfd3067cf70169667917349


If it's a 2012 or later you can boot using Internet Recovery and install the OS that came on it when it originally shipped.


If you want to continue running Windows without Mac OS you can do that, however if you want to use both OS's you have to start over from scratch.

How to install OSX on a Windows Hard Drive

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