Since there is no real family pack for Lion, how do I go about installing Lion on multiple computers in the same household and are owned by different family members?
I imagine this a pretty common scenario. Can anyone who has had a similar scenario tell me how they went about getting Lion installed on all computers?
MacBook, Mac OS X (10.6.8), Windows XP SP3
Do they all have Snow Leopard? If so, you would just log into your account on the app store using their computer and download it.
If they don't have Snow Leopard, then I would also be curious how you do it as well. I have 2 family members running Leopard and I want to upgrade their computers as well. I made a bootable disc and am doing more research before I run in on their machines.
Download Lion from the Mac App Store on one of those computers. It doesn't matter which one.
Before installing Lion on that computer, copy the Install Mac OS X Lion application package to some external device.
Go ahead and install Lion on that first computer.
Now create a user account on each of the other computers. Run the Mac App Store. Enter the User ID/Password used to download Lion on the first computer. (YOU DO NOT NEED TO ACTUALLY PERFORM THE DOWNLOAD AGAIN, that's why we copied the installer onto an external device - but you can download it multiple times if you want to and you will not be charged again.)
Copy the Install Mac OS X Lion application package from your external device to the Applications folder of the other Macs.
Run the installer on the other Macs.
You'll still have to get Snow Leopard on each of those machines first to satisfy the license agreement, even if you can work around the supposed technical requirement of installing Lion only over Snow Leopard or onto a fully-wiped volume.
Thanks for the quick responses. I am running Snow Leopard.
John Hammer1 wrote:
Now create a user account on each of the other computers. Run the Mac App Store. Enter the User ID/Password used to download Lion on the first computer. (YOU DO NOT NEED TO ACTUALLY PERFORM THE DOWNLOAD AGAIN, that's why we copied the installer onto an external device - but you can download it multiple times if you want to and you will not be charged again.)
Do I have to be logged in as the same user on every computer that I install Lion on? I do not have an account on all but one of these computers and in general everyone in my family has only 1 account per computer. I have read that you just have to sign in with the same ID on the App Store. Is this true? Has anyone here done what I am trying to do?
You don't really have to use a separate user account. But doing so means you don't muck around with each family member's settings but you still get to legally install Lion with only one purchase.
If the simple presence of another user account on the other person's computer will cause them distress, simply delete that user account once the Lion installation is complete.
What exactly do you mean by "muck around with the setting"? From what I heard you just have to sign into your App Store account.
How does upgrading the OS change settings?
Confirming just login to Appstore with your account that purchased Lion and install away.
If you sign into the Mac App Store with User Account A, doing so on User B's computer within User Account B, then you're changing a setting on that computer. User B will have to reenter his own name and password in the Mac App Store next time he launches it. If you follow my suggestion, it will take about 30 seconds more time (less time than it's taken for you to read this) but User B will not have the Apple ID saved for the Mac App Store changed.
If everyone in your family is already sharing the same Apple ID, then of course it doesn't matter. And if you all are doing so, then huzzah for your family sharing and harmony! Hehe... I know my family couldn't do that.
Ok, thanks for clearing that up.
If you are using seperate apple IDs you have to purchase lion per apple id, that is the way the software is licensed.
http://www.emailsfromstevejobs.com/2011/06/15/2_different_apple_ids/
But be glad it's only $30, you could be an unfortunate microsoft user that gets gouged for $119 per computer for an upgrade to Windows 7.
One AppleID can purchase Lion and install on to 5 machines under that same AppleID. Heck of a deal if you ask me.
In all actuality there is absolutely no DRM on OSX Lion. There is no restriction to only 5 machines and the wording of the licensing agreement state that you can install the OS on every single Mac you own. If you simply upgrade it will ask you your apple ID (not really sure if this actually checks anything because there isn't any DRM). If you make a recovery disk or flash drive and do a clean install there are no Apple ID questions. All you get is the standard setup screens. Apple made it very easy for family's to buy one copy and install it on their computers. Very trusting of them to assume you won't go and install it on everybody's Mac that you know or don't know.
Lion install on multiple household computers
