No install disk-how to boot disk utilities

I bought this new (2013) iMac which obviously has Mt. Lion on it. I want to know about how to deal with emergencies, etc.

How do I boot from an install disk to run disk utilities, fix or repair, when there is no install disk? Likewise, in the past Apple has had several items that could be installed optionally, like developer tools, quicktime 7, etc. But with no actual disc how do I do that?

Also, I bought Lion for my Mac Pro (2006) and MacBook Pro (2011). I installed that on both. Now I realize the MBP can take Mt Lion. Do I have to make a separate purchase for Mt. Lion for the MBP? (The Mac Pro, sadly, even though it was top of the line at the time, the 2006-2007 models cannot be upgraded to Mt. Lion, but I falsy assumed the MBOP had the same limitation. Now that I know it does not...

Apple tech support has been great for me of late. Some of my difficulties lie in that I am a very long time Mac user but halted at Snow Leopard. I just recently bought new iMac; new iPad Mini; and Lion for MBP; all of which hustle me fully into iCloud. It's hard to separate out which of these new things might be cause for clarification. So even when Apple customer support is very gratious and helpful, I continue to have multiple problems and it's just too much time on the phone given that I get shuttled from one department to another for each different issue.

iMac, OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.2)

Posted on Mar 2, 2013 12:51 PM

22 replies

baltwo

Level 9

62,386 points

Mar 12, 2013 11:01 AM in response to blackdogaudio

Thanks for the details. For those who didn't get the manual installed, peruse Apple's Manuals site for yours.

Mar 12, 2013 1:25 PM in response to baltwo

Wow. I mean, really. This is all amazingly helpful. At the same time, it further annoys me that all this information, for me, has to be gotten this way. Again, I am way grateful, so what I have to say now is likely to bore or be dismissed, but a guy's got to say what he's got to say.

You know all those "...for dummies" books that are out there, well I used to laugh at most because for years I felt Macs were relatively straight forward and user friendly, compared to some of the other OS's which tended to presume the user did not need bother his or her silly head about what's behind the curtain (kind of a wizard of oz metaphor). I always wanted to know what was behind the curtain and could always satisfy this need with reasonable time and effort. When I was still working as a curriculum designer and trainer, I almost always worked within a team. Just about all my compatriots were windose pc users and so it was always incumbant upon me to do the converting of documents that went back and forth. And whenever I introduced something innovative, cool, etc., they would ask me how they could do the same; and so I'd try to see if they had either comparable software or if their OS could handle something comparable. I would right away feel like what I was looking for was behind that curtain. To make a too long story short-er, I never till now felt that way with Macs.

Consider this from a novices mindset, which some of you already did, and how there are all these unknowns now, with variations on how to access and use things.

I am following up with the very good suggestions: book on Mt Lion; Manuals site; the assistant link, etc.

Imp68

Level 4

2,672 points

Mar 12, 2013 1:40 PM in response to baltwo

It's not relevant for you to find it useful.

I clearly said Kappy was exactly right, who did mention the network requirement.

I clearly said my post was only to simplify.

Your selective reading of my post is puzzling.

Mar 12, 2013 1:48 PM in response to Noodle-head

FWIW, here are two excellent books for the new OSX user:

http://shop.oreilly.com/product/0636920025641.do

-and-

http://shop.oreilly.com/product/0636920025634.do?green=B06331CC-B51A-5E9E-9BAC-7 74C1F5EF9C8&intcmp=af-mybuy-0636920025634.IP

R C-R

Level 6

17,794 points

Mar 12, 2013 7:17 PM in response to baltwo

baltwo wrote:

For those who didn't get the manual installed, peruse Apple's Manuals site for yours.

If you have a 2012 model iMac or Mac Mini, don't bother looking for an online manual -- all Apple offers for them is the same "Quick Start" pamphlet that comes in the box.

Instead, try the extensive built-in help system or the support web site. It isn't perfect but it is all Apple offers.

Mar 16, 2013 5:34 PM in response to Kappy

This is not working.

I shut down. I hold power button on back and wait for chime. I hold down command and R keys...but all that happens is I get the grey Apple,,,forever, if I let go the keys it just takes me to my sign in.

Arggggggg.

Mar 16, 2013 5:38 PM in response to GeorgeInTheMountains

George,

Wait until the chime *ends* and then immediately hold down CMD +R.

regards,

dave

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No install disk-how to boot disk utilities