Q: I wanted to reboot my imac to factory settings now its stuck on the OS X utility screen
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Mar 7, 2014 7:22 AMby jimkessler,I disagree. If the computer originally shipped with OS X 10.6, then the replacement disks from Apple may be appropriate. If the computer originally shipped with OS X 10.5, then the replacement disks from Apple would be a waste of money for the task at hand (which I assume is erasing the computer's hard drive, reinstalling the operating system, and then probably upgrading to Mavericks). The only benefit of having the original 10.5 disks from Apple would be Apple's Hardware Test on the second DVD, and (for sake of argument) reinstalling any bundled applications that Apple happened to include on those two DVDs. But those bundled applications under 10.5 (iLife primarily) would be too old to run with Mavericks, thus necessitating paid updates.
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Mar 7, 2014 7:52 AMby jimkessler,But if she has, for example, this model:
it is capable of running Mavericks, but it shipped with OS X 10.5. So if replacement disks are ordered from Apple, she'll get two DVDs with OS X 10.5, which will not allow her to upgrade to Mavericks. Am I not correct?
With no disrespect, I would contend that it's not a waste of time speculating. You and I are not the only ones reading these messages. Other users are referring to these threads for advice, and it's in our best interest to present information that's accurate.
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Mar 7, 2014 8:22 AMby Csound1,jimkessler wrote:
I'll respectuflly disagree with Paul_31's advice about ordering replacement disks. We know that whatever your model is, it's capable of running Mavericks. But there are some models of Macintosh that shipped with OS X 10.5.x that can be upgraded to Mavericks,
All the OP has to do is boot the machine and look up the model identifier, then we could stop guessing.
Right now there are far too many ifs flying around.
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Mar 7, 2014 11:54 AMby Linc Davis,The first thing to do with a second-hand computer is to erase the internal drive and install a clean copy of OS X. You — not the previous owner — must do that. How you do it depends on the model, and on whether you already own another Mac. If you're not sure of the model, enter the serial number on this page. Then find the model on this page to see what OS version was originally installed.
1. You don't own another Mac.
If the machine shipped with OS X 10.4 or 10.5, you need a boxed and shrink-wrapped retail Snow Leopard (OS X 10.6) installation disc from the Apple Store or a reputable reseller — not from eBay or anything of the kind. If the machine has less than 1 GB of memory, you'll need to add more in order to install 10.6. Preferably, install as much memory as it can take, according to the technical specifications.
If the machine shipped with OS X 10.6, you need the installation media that came with it: gray installation discs, or a USB flash drive for some MacBook Air models. For early MBA models, you may need a USB optical drive or Remote Disc. You should have received the media from the previous owner, but if you didn't, order replacements from Apple. A retail disc, or the gray discs from another model, will not work.
To boot from an optical disc or a flash drive, insert it, then reboot and hold down the C key at the startup chime. Release the key when you see the gray Apple logo on the screen.
If the machine shipped with OS X 10.7 or later, you don't need media. It should boot into Internet Recovery mode when you hold down the key combination option-command-R at the startup chime. Release the keys when you see a spinning globe.
2. You do own another Mac.
If you already own another Mac that was upgraded in the App Store to the version of OS X that you want to install, and if the new Mac is compatible with it, then you can install it. Use Recovery Disk Assistant to create a bootable USB device and boot the new Mac from it by holding down the C key at the startup chime. Alternatively, if you have a Time Machine backup of OS X 10.7.3 or later on an external hard drive (not a Time Capsule or other network device), you can boot from that by holding down the option key and selecting it from the row of icons that appears. Note that if your other Mac was never upgraded in the App Store, you can't use this method.
Once booted in Recovery, launch Disk Utility and select the icon of the internal drive — not any of the volume icons nested beneath it. In the Partition tab, select the default options: a GUID partition table with one data volume in Mac OS Extended (Journaled) format. This operation will permanently remove all existing data on the drive.
After partitioning, quit Disk Utility and run the OS X Installer. You will need the Apple ID and password that you used to upgrade. When the installation is done, the system will automatically reboot into the Setup Assistant, which will prompt you to transfer the data from another Mac, its backups, or from a Windows computer. If you have any data to transfer, this is usually the best time to do it.
Then run Software Update and install all available system updates from Apple. To upgrade to a major version of OS X newer than 10.6, get it from the Mac App Store. Note that you can't keep an upgraded version that was installed by the previous owner. He or she can't legally transfer it to you, and without the Apple ID you won't be able to update it in Software Update or reinstall, if that becomes necessary. The same goes for any App Store products that the previous owner installed — you have to repurchase them.
3. Other issues
If you see a lock screen when trying to boot from installation media or in Recovery mode, then a firmware password was set by the previous owner, or the machine was remotely locked via iCloud. You'll either have to contact the owner or take the machine to an Apple Store or another authorized service provider to be unlocked. You may be asked for proof of ownership.
If the previous owner "accepted" the bundled iLife applications (iPhoto, iMovie, and Garage Band) in the App Store so that he or she could update them, then they're linked to that Apple ID and you won't be able to download them without buying them. Reportedly, Mac App Store Customer Service has sometimes issued redemption codes for these apps to second owners who asked.
If the previous owner didn't deauthorize the computer in the iTunes Store under his Apple ID, you wont be able to authorize it immediately under your ID. In that case, you'll either have to wait up to 90 days or contact iTunes Support.
When trying to create a new iCloud account, you might get a failure message: "Account limit reached." Apple imposes a limit of three iCloud account setups per device. Erasing the device does not reset the limit. You can still use an account that was created on another device, but you won't be able to create a new one. Contact iCloud Support for more information.
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Mar 19, 2014 2:17 PMby jimkessler,First of all, there's probably no one on these forums who gives more complete and exacting advice as Linc Davis. His encyclopedic posts are models of clarity and precision that are exceedingly well-researched, with every possible decision point addressed. Nonetheless, there's an inaccuracy in the paragraph below. I will guess that, because he's taken such care in crafting helpful posts that can be inserted in similar queries that reappear over time - such as the question in this discussion dealing with erasing, installing, and upgrading operating systems - that he's simplified matters to avoid dealing with niggling exceptions. It's the exception that I - and possibly others - were trying to address when we were looking for a serial number for this user's computer.
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If the machine shipped with OS X 10.6, you need the installation media that came with it: gray installation discs, or a USB flash drive for some MacBook Air models. For early MBA models, you may need a USB optical drive or Remote Disc. You should have received the media from the previous owner, but if you didn't, order replacements from Apple. A retail disc, or the gray discs from another model, will not work.
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In the paragraph above, Mr. Davis' contention that a retail disk will not work is not true in all situations, and he's probably aware of it. Although I haven't tested every model of Macintosh that shipped with early versions of Snow Leopard (such as 10.6.1 and 10.6.2), I do know that the late 2009 model iMac, which shipped with OS X 10.6.1:
can indeed be erased with Apple's 10.6.3 retail DVD, and the operating system from that $19.99 DVD can be installed on that particular computer - and upgraded to Mavericks. However, since other Mac models shipped with later builds of OS X 10.6 (just browse around the EveryMac site), an operating system cannot be installed on those Macs using the retail 10.6.3 DVD, which is the latest build of 10.6 that appears on any retail DVD that Apple shipped, to my knowledge.
