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How to get back to Mac OS

I bought a couple used iMacs 2009 I think? The previous owners installed CHROME OS FLEX and I hate it! How do I get back to MAC OS?? 😫 I’ve searched and searched and haven’t found much and don’t really wanna pay to have someone do it if I can do it myself! Thanks in advance

iMac

Posted on Dec 4, 2022 1:33 PM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Dec 4, 2022 1:42 PM

The iMac model number is located on the bottom of the foot.


That model number can be used to determine which macOS versions can be used.


In general, you’ll need another Mac to build a bootable installer here, as you’re very likely too old for Internet recovery from firmware. As far back as these iMac models seem to be, recovery was booted from a partition on the internal storage, and yours here has likely been wiped to make more room for the other operating system.


The assisting Mac will need to be old enough to run whatever the newest macOS for your iMac, or Apple won’t download the macOS version you need to the assisting Mac.


Once downloaded, build a bootable installer, then transfer to the target Mad, boor the installer, wipe the the storage, format the storage as GUID partitioning and with Apple Journaled (HFS+) file system, and then install macOS into the partition.


Links:

Create a bootable installer for macOS - Apple Support

How to download macOS - Apple Support


3 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Dec 4, 2022 1:42 PM in response to Crazy_cat_dude_2000

The iMac model number is located on the bottom of the foot.


That model number can be used to determine which macOS versions can be used.


In general, you’ll need another Mac to build a bootable installer here, as you’re very likely too old for Internet recovery from firmware. As far back as these iMac models seem to be, recovery was booted from a partition on the internal storage, and yours here has likely been wiped to make more room for the other operating system.


The assisting Mac will need to be old enough to run whatever the newest macOS for your iMac, or Apple won’t download the macOS version you need to the assisting Mac.


Once downloaded, build a bootable installer, then transfer to the target Mad, boor the installer, wipe the the storage, format the storage as GUID partitioning and with Apple Journaled (HFS+) file system, and then install macOS into the partition.


Links:

Create a bootable installer for macOS - Apple Support

How to download macOS - Apple Support


Dec 4, 2022 1:59 PM in response to Crazy_cat_dude_2000

Crazy_cat_dude_2000 wrote:

Ahh shoot I don’t have another Mac to use because both of these ones have chrome os installed and no one I know has a mac.


A local Apple Store might be willing to help.


Otherwise, you need to borrow or rent or buy another semi-old Mac.


But also see what the newest available macOS might be here too, as anything older than macOS High Sierra 10.13 is getting dicy for general uses past retro-computing.


Or load BSD or Linux. Not that either (nor Windows) will help you get macOS installed here.

How to get back to Mac OS

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