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Level 1

8 points

If an operating system is lost completely can anything be done at all?

If an Apple Mac operating system is lost completely what, short of buying the software, can be done?

Posted on Nov 17, 2017 3:22 PM

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11 replies

Level 9

59,973 points

Nov 17, 2017 5:18 PM in response to Jmccoy5

Ok, try a recovery startup, hold the option key, the command key and the R key down while booting up the machine, It may work (depends on the actual age). If it does you will (after a while) see a spinning globe on screen, if you do then recovery is starting. When it has started their will be a menu with several choices, installing the operating system is one of them.

Hold the keys until the globe appears.

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Level 9

59,973 points

Nov 17, 2017 3:25 PM in response to Jmccoy5

Explain what you mean.

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Level 10

111,168 points

Nov 17, 2017 3:59 PM in response to Jmccoy5

That depends on the system. What are the specs on your iMac and what system are you looking for?

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Level 1

8 points

Nov 17, 2017 4:44 PM in response to Csound1

When I tried restore the IMac the screen went blank and a 'no entry' sign appeared

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Level 1

8 points

Nov 17, 2017 4:38 PM in response to macjack

Am not sure as I dont go on it that much but I decided to get rid of it before this happened

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Level 9

59,973 points

Nov 17, 2017 4:38 PM in response to Jmccoy5

Which Mac, what year, which version of OSX, how were you trying to restore?

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Level 1

8 points

Nov 17, 2017 4:42 PM in response to Csound1

Year 2011-ish. Operating system trying to restore El Capita. Apple Mac desktop apart from that don't know which Mac

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Level 9

59,973 points

Nov 17, 2017 4:45 PM in response to Jmccoy5

How were you trying to restore, from Recovery perhaps, or from a disk. Details matter.

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Level 1

8 points

Nov 17, 2017 4:48 PM in response to Csound1

Was trying to restore from earlier back -ups

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Level 9

59,973 points

Nov 17, 2017 4:57 PM in response to Jmccoy5

Will the computer start at the moment?

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Level 1

8 points

Nov 17, 2017 4:53 PM in response to Csound1

Yes, but only a blank screen with a 'no entry' on but I have left it alone for a while

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If an operating system is lost completely can anything be done at all?

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