I need an Apple Recovery Disk for an iMac4

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Level 1

4 points

I need an Apple Recovery Disk for an iMac4

My son found an iMac4 for sale and after saving his money he went off to buy it. We checked it out, made sure it turned on and the desktop showed up. Everything seemed to be in perfect order. However when we got home he couldn't connect to the internet. No server or something was found. We took it to Geek Squad to get it set to factory settings and get the internet servers (I think it might be an air card?) and all that happy stuff. My son loves this computer and its the first major purchase he's ever had (and saved for!).

Geek squad said I had to contact Apple to get a new recovery disk.

Apple G4 Desktop

Seral: QT*******NOS

iMac, Mac OS 8.6 or Earlier, Seral: QT*******NOS

Posted on Apr 16, 2016 4:47 AM

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Answer 1

SeaPapp

Level 7

26,492 points

Apr 16, 2016 8:53 AM in response to mjdryna

I believe this is the iMac in question. Complete specs are here http://www.everymac.com/systems/apple/imac/specs/imac_800_17_fp.html

You won't get discs from Apple for a machine that old/ Your best bet is eBay to try to find a retail set. The max OS is 10.4 which is several years old and not supported in any way. You may find that your son can't do much with this iMac. Wireless connectivity was optional on that model so it may not have an Airport card installed.

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Answer 2

Leopardus

Level 4

1,303 points

Apr 16, 2016 8:53 AM in response to mjdryna

Hi mjdryna,

All is not lost, althoughTiger was never available for download. Came with optical disc only. You can contact Apple and ask if they have copies but it is extremely unlikely and you will have to revert to sources such as eBay. Make sure your get black, retail version discs, not grey, machine-specific ones.

Oh, if this is for booting a Mac Pro you will need the version of the discs which came with the computer originally, not the retail ones which were supplied for PPC Macs. Contact Apple support (not customer service) but again it is unlikely they will still have any. Maybe check Google Groups Low End Mac

Call Apple Customer Support 1-800-767-2775 (telephone numbers for other countries - https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201232). Provide the serial number and specifications of the Mac. They may be able to provide a replacement set of discs for a fee. These discs will be for whatever OS was installed on the computer originally, so if you have an upgraded version you will need to obtain the discs some other way.

You can also look at http://www.macmaps.com/usedrefurbished.htmlfor some more sources and possible solutions.Further http://lowendmac.com/2005/mac-os-x-10-4-tiger/offers also some answers

Leo

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Answer 3

mjdryna Author

Level 1

4 points

Apr 18, 2016 2:03 PM in response to mjdryna

When looking on eBay what would I have to look for exactly. Is this a Tiger?

Here are the Geek Squad specs

MFG: Apple

Description: Apple G4 Desktop

Model: G4

SKU:0

Serial: QT******NOS

Purchased: 01/01/2001

Well, actaully thats it, because the rest is all about my Geek Squad Plan #

Mike inserted this link http://www.everymac.com/systems/apple/imac/specs/imac_800_17_fp.html and that certainly looks like my son's computer. So if no other Macs look like that then the rest of the specs would be there.

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Answer 4

mjdryna Author

Level 1

4 points

Apr 16, 2016 9:03 AM in response to mjdryna

Would this be the correct disks? There are so many to choose from.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-APPLE-MAC-INTEL-IMAC-MACBOOK-PRO-RESTORE-INSTALL-DVD -OSX-DISCS-10-4-8-TIGER-/301925321991?hash=item464c26cd07

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Answer 5

Csound1

Level 9

60,063 points

Apr 16, 2016 9:06 AM in response to mjdryna

This is not an Intel Mac, its a G4 (Motorola PPC), but provided its a real copy of 10.4 it should work

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Answer 6

Leopardus

Level 4

1,303 points

Apr 16, 2016 11:32 AM in response to mjdryna

Just read the post again, you need http://www.ebay.com/itm/Apple-Mac-OS-X-10-4-Tiger-Retail-1-User-s-Full-Version-D VD-M9639ZA-NEW-NIB-/252352316056?hash=it… or similar. It must be the black DVD's. Not the grey ones, which are machine specific. Only if yours was a Mac Pro it would be different.

Leo

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Answer 7

mjdryna Author

Level 1

4 points

Apr 16, 2016 11:40 AM in response to Leopardus

I was searching eBay and the smallest difference brought up totally different products I was so confused. The one you found above. That is the right one I need?

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Answer 8

Leopardus

Level 4

1,303 points

Apr 16, 2016 12:39 PM in response to mjdryna

There might be a cheaper one if you really search, but the appraisal for this guy is good and the product seem to be the correct one based on your information, yes.

After installing Tiger, you would be able to update that to the latest with the Combo Update from Apple.

Leo

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Answer 9

Leopardus

Level 4

1,303 points

Apr 16, 2016 2:35 PM in response to Leopardus

Just wanted to add that you will be able to download a Combo Update for the latest version of Tiger after this purchase. If the information supplied by you is correct, the latest version that the iMac will support will be OS X 10.4.11. And to quote a source:

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