deborah260
Level 1 (0 points)

Q: is OS X serial number on the computer?

I've lost my Lion boot disk....

iMac, Mac OS X (10.7.4)

Posted on Jun 2, 2012 8:38 PM

by babowa,Solvedanswer
babowa babowa
Level 7 (32,357 points)
iPad
A:

Lion is not a free update, so unless your machine came with it, you had to purchase and download it. And it is only available via download from the Mac App Store (MAS).

 

In any case, once you've purchased it, you can redownload it again if needed; you will not need a serial number. What you will need is your Apple ID - MAS will automatically authenticate your machine ID. And, if you have a problem with your system, then Lion includes a built in recovery system, see some info on it here:

 

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4718

Posted on Jun 3, 2012 4:41 PM

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deborah260

Q: is OS X serial number on the computer?

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  • by John Galt,Helpful

    John Galt John Galt Jun 2, 2012 8:57 PM in response to deborah260
    Level 9 (50,424 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jun 2, 2012 8:57 PM in response to deborah260

    deborah260 wrote:

     

    I've lost my Lion boot disk....

     

    What is it you need? The serial number for your computer is found here: Intel-based iMac (Mid 2007) and later: How to find the serial number

     

    Your computer's eligibility for Lion is determined by Apple, and your license to use it is linked to the Apple ID used to purchase it. Lion contains no unique serial numbers that I know of, nor would one be required to install it.

     

    Lion is not available on DVD or other disk media.

     

    If you need to reinstall Lion boot Lion Recovery - read this:

     

    http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4718

  • by babowa,Helpful

    babowa babowa Jun 2, 2012 9:01 PM in response to deborah260
    Level 7 (32,357 points)
    iPad
    Jun 2, 2012 9:01 PM in response to deborah260

    Additionally, do you need just the serial number for something in particular?

     

    If you will click on the Apple in the upper menu bar, then on about this Mac, you can click on the numbers underneath the large Mac OS X until you will see your serial number.

  • by deborah260,

    deborah260 deborah260 Jun 3, 2012 3:29 PM in response to John Galt
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jun 3, 2012 3:29 PM in response to John Galt

    thank you.  I'm concerned that if I need to reinstall Lion again for some reason, that I won't be able to prove i bought it.  But maybe I just downloaded it as an upgrade to Snow Leopard.  My memory isn't what it used to be! 

  • by deborah260,

    deborah260 deborah260 Jun 3, 2012 3:30 PM in response to babowa
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jun 3, 2012 3:30 PM in response to babowa

    thanks for responding.  I'm concerned that if I need to reinstall Lion again for some reason, that I won't be able to prove i bought it.  But maybe I just downloaded it as an upgrade to Snow Leopard.  My memory isn't what it used to be!

  • by babowa,Solvedanswer

    babowa babowa Jun 3, 2012 4:41 PM in response to deborah260
    Level 7 (32,357 points)
    iPad
    Jun 3, 2012 4:41 PM in response to deborah260

    Lion is not a free update, so unless your machine came with it, you had to purchase and download it. And it is only available via download from the Mac App Store (MAS).

     

    In any case, once you've purchased it, you can redownload it again if needed; you will not need a serial number. What you will need is your Apple ID - MAS will automatically authenticate your machine ID. And, if you have a problem with your system, then Lion includes a built in recovery system, see some info on it here:

     

    http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4718