Jenn420

Q: new iMac User. Husband brought home iMac from work

My husband previously bought a iMac for his IT guy at work.  Now that the IT guy is no longer there, he has decided to bring home for us to use as a home computer.  I have no clue where to start: I don't want to loose the programs that my husband spent good money on.  How do I convert?

iMac, OS X Mavericks (10.9.1), I think thats the operating system

Posted on Jan 31, 2014 10:30 AM

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Q: new iMac User. Husband brought home iMac from work

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  • by rkaufmann87,

    rkaufmann87 rkaufmann87 Jan 31, 2014 10:35 AM in response to Jenn420
    Level 9 (58,810 points)
    Photos for Mac
    Jan 31, 2014 10:35 AM in response to Jenn420

    I am guessing you want to migrate from a PC to the iMac. This is pretty simple really, millions have done it!

     

    I'd recommend starting by studying a little about how to use the machine and then once you have migrate your information from your PC to the Mac. BTW  you can also visit an Apple Store and speak to a Genius and also sign up for some free basic classes.

     

    http://www.apple.com/support/macbasics/pctomac/

     

    and for instructions on migrating your PC data to the iMac use:

     

    http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4796

  • by Kappy,

    Kappy Kappy Jan 31, 2014 10:41 AM in response to Jenn420
    Level 10 (271,382 points)
    Desktops
    Jan 31, 2014 10:41 AM in response to Jenn420

    All the software on that computer belongs to the Apple ID of the previous owner. You cannot keep it. You will have to repurchase the software under your own Apple ID. The exception would be any software that came on a DVD or downloaded from another source than the Mac App Store or the iTunes App Store. This applies to the operating system, as well. That means you must repartition the hard drive for a complete wipe and start by reinstalling Snow Leopard 10.6.8 or the original OS X pre-installed on the computer when it was new.

     

    There's little more we can help with at this time without knowing more. Did the computer come originally with Snow Leopard or earlier in which case there should be software restore DVDs for the computer. If it came with Lion or later, then re-setting the computer to its original state will require an Internet Recovery.

     

    You will need to get an Apple ID and password to use with the computer. This comes from Apple once you get the computer re-setup using iTunes.