Bought a used imac, need to wipe but have external dvd

I bought a used imac that was not wiped clean. I want to start fresh and reinstall the original operating system (which I have the disks for).
However, the built in dvd player does not work, and I have an external DVD player. Will I be able to use this? My concern is that when I wipe the hard drive, it will lose the drivers for the external player. I'm not techie enough to figure out what to do next if that happened, and I don't want to have to make a trip to the apple store (very far away).
Also, is there a way to tell if the install discs that I was given are the right ones for this machine? I also don't want to get stuck finding out that I have the wrong discs and then have no operating system anymore.
Thanks...

My concern is that when I wipe the hard drive, it will lose the drivers for the external player.
If you can boot from a disc in the external drive, it should be OK.
Also, is there a way to tell if the install discs that I was given are the right ones for this machine?
Start the Installer. If it doesn't show an error message, you have the right disc.

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I bought a used imac & need to re-install Lion, must I really purchase -MY OWN- copy?

I bought an iMac used about a year ago from a guy who didn't like using a Mac. I am trying to recover from the new second time that Lion has corrupted my filesystem willy nilly. The first time I brought it into the apple store as I thought the disk was bad (and still think it may be) but they simply did a re-install (which took a WEEK. grand.) I'm trying to avoid being out of work for another week on top of the 3 days I've been trying to re-install the OS.
I registered this iMac with my apple account but when I try to do internet recovery, it says 'This apple ID has not purchased lion'.
Seriously? Really? The OSX will only install on Apple computers but each owner has to have their own copy of the OS, even if he never intends to use a mac ever, ever again?
Apologies if this sounds like a noob question but it seems absolutely ridiculous. I bought it used because the premium for this hardware is ridiculous and I was expecting a more solid hardware experience. Turns out you have shadier licensing practices than Microsoft.
Am I really up ***** creek until I cough up some cash for poor little Apple?
God forbid I get to use the computer I physically own and paid for.

The Used computer you bought SHOULD have been sold with it's ORIGINAL Operating System Installed on it... Including any and all Discs.
If it was not then that is the source of your issue.
If you have Downloaded and Upgraded to Lion or Mountain Lion...
See...
Here is an excerpt of the SLA; the Lion license (purchased from MAS) is NOT transferable. The SLA is quite clear:
B. If you obtained your license to the Apple Software from the Mac App Store or on Apple-branded physical media, it is not transferable. If you sell your Apple-branded hardware to athird party, you must remove the Apple Software from the Apple-branded hardware beforedoing so, and you may restore your system to the version of the Apple operating systemsoftware that originally came with your Apple hardware (the “Original Apple OS”) andpermanently transfer the Original Apple OS together with your Apple hardware, provided that:(i) the transfer must include all of the Original Apple OS, including all its component parts,printed materials and its license; (ii) you do not retain any copies of the Original Apple OS, fullor partial, including copies stored on a computer or other storage device; and (iii) the partyreceiving the Original Apple OS reads and agrees to accept the terms and conditions of theOriginal Apple OS license.

Help! Bought a used iMac (2008) and I'm trying to install quicktime but its asking me for a password and has Apple in the "Name" spot. How do I retrieve or reset the password?

Can anyone help...
I just bought a used iMac (2008) from an ebay seller and I'm trying to install quicktime but its asking me for a password and has Apple in the "Name" spot.
How do I retrieve or reset the password?
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ShirlFromNC
I think you're slightly misunderstanding something, so maybe I'll try to chime in, even though everyone has said it in various ways.
Before OSX 10.7 (aka Lion) came out, the upgrades to OSX belonged to the Mac and not the user. Probably there was a technical legality in the user agreement that you couldn't do that, but everyone did. I could sell a Mac with Snow Leopard (or anything before that) by just erasing the hard drive, and reinstalling OSX. Then ship it to the buyer. Now, I was pretty honest as a seller, and including not only the original installation discs but also any upgrade. I would only sell a Mac if I was replacing it, so I always was getting the brand new version.
With OSX 10.7, upgrading was done online, with no disks. So the upgrades were tied to an Apple ID rather than the machine. Recently, I sold a MacBook Pro (to upgrade to a 27" iMac), which came with Lion. I had promised the buyer that it would come with Mountain Lion, but I didn't know that the upgrade was tied to my Apple ID. I made good with the buyer by sending along a $20 Apple App Store card so that she could upgrade to Lion.
So what everyone is saying here is that you need the original Installation discs or Snow Leopard disk to reinstall and wipe out the Mountain Lion that is on your Mac. It doesn't belong to you, it belongs to the seller, and without his Apple ID and password, you cannot use it. Once you do a reinstall of Snow Leopard, then you can upgrade to Lion and then to Mountain Lion. I do not believe you can upgrade directly to Mountain Lion from Snow Leopard, but I'm not sure.
If the seller claimed that you were getting Mountain Lion, then he was lying to you (or being more civil, maybe he just didn't know like I did). If you bought the used machine from Amazon Sellers or from eBay, then you have recourse through the feedback system or through PayPal. If you bought it any other way, you're on your own.

Bought a used imac but its locked by old username and password

bought a used imac but its locked by old username and password

The first thing you should do with a second-hand computer is to erase the internal drive and install a clean copy of OS X. How you do that depends on the model. Look it up on this page to see what version was originally installed.
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, which you can get 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. I suggest you 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. If you don't have the media, 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.
Once booted from the disc or in Internet 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, which is what you should do.
After partitioning, quit Disk Utility and run the OS X Installer. 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.
You should then run Software Update and install all available system updates from Apple. If you want to upgrade to a major version of OS X newer than 10.6, buy 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.
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, Apple 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 toauthorize it under your ID. In that case, contact iTunes Support.

I bought a used PowerMacPC G5. I can burn and read DVDs, but I can't read or burn CDs. The CDs are not even recognized. After the drive searches for a while, the CD is ejected without any error messages. The CDs work okay on my iMac.

I bought a used PowerMacPC G5. I can burn and read DVDs, but I can't read or burn CDs. The CDs are not even recognized. After the drive searches for a while, the CD is ejected without any error messages. The CDs work okay on my iMac.
I am running Mac OSX 10.4.11. According to the System profiler the CD/DVD drive is a "PioneerDVD-RWDVR-112D." When I compare the information under this heading, the only unusual difference from my iMac is that the G5 reads "Burn Support: Yes (Unsupported)." My iMac reads "Burn Support: Yes (Apple Shipping Drive)."
Under the System Preferences the options are set to "Ask what to do" when a blank CD or DVD is inserted. Music CD set to open iTunes, Picture CD set to open iPhoto, Video DVD set to open DVD player.
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Thanks, Jack

Hi Jack, great help so far!
Internal...
http://eshop.macsales.com/static_pages/Framework.cfm?page=superdrive/sdl_powerma c_g5.html
External be sure it's Firewire & not Bus powered...
http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/firewire/optical-drives/

I Baught A iMac 2010 From Someone it came with lion but for the programs i use i need snow leopard but when trying to install it won't boot from usb or cd what can be the problem i've been at this for over 24 hours if anyone ca help it'd be greatly apprec

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http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2389334,00.asp

I just bought a used imac how do I remove all the previous information and start fresh

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you don't want to erase the hard drive if you do not have the disk to reinstall OS X. You need a Disk.

I bought mountain lion iMac - need to buy mountain lion to download?

Hi,
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Sue H

Quondame wrote:
I thought from what the person who set up my network said that I had the sort of proxy setup that is specifically mentioned as preventing online installation.
Thanks, yes, that is possible. In that event you may wish to create your own external USB Recovery Disk as a convenience. To do that read OS X: About Recovery Disk Assistant
When you set up a new Mac it will ask if you want to transfer information from another Mac or "From a Time Machine or other disk" and ought to be self-explanatory. For a thorough description on that subject I recommend you peruse Apple Support Communities contributor Pondini's comprehensive guide: Using Setup Assistant on Mountain Lion or Lion
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Sorry if this description is so wordy. babowa would probably have said it more concisely.

HT1444 How can I upgrade the OS on my 5 year old MacBook Pro 17. It is currently running 10.4 (Tiger). I have an IMac 27 running Lion but have Snow leopard discs which came with the purchase. Can these be used to upgrade?

How can I upgrade the OS on my 5 year old MacBook Pro 17. It is currently running 10.4 (Tiger). I have an IMac 27 running Lion but have Snow leopard discs which came with the purchase. Can these be used to upgrade?

Buswab wrote:
How can I upgrade the OS on my 5 year old MacBook Pro 17. It is currently running 10.4 (Tiger). I have an IMac 27 running Lion but have Snow leopard discs which came with the purchase. Can these be used to upgrade?
If they are the grey discs which came with the iMac, then they will be machine specific and will not work on the MBP anyway. You will need to purchase a retail copy of Snow Leopard from the Apple Store for about $29 and upgrade from that. I presume your MBP is Intel and not G4.
Good Luck
Pete

I bought and use iPad in Hong Kong, but I cannot update apps because the apple store asked me to change to Hong Kong, how to make the change (correction)?

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Change App Store
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2. Tap "iTunes & App Stores"
3. Tap on your Apple ID
4.Tap "View Apple ID"
5. Enter your user name and password.
6. Tap "Country/Region."
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9. Tap "Done".
Note: If the change doesn't take effect, sign out of account and sign in again.

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I bought an iphone in Singapore from SingTel but have hardware fail.. what shall I do

Hi,
I bought an iphone in Singapore from SingTel but have hardware failure ( it can't be turn on at all after 2 moths of usage)..
1) what shall I do? Shall I go to the apple care to repair/replace it? or go back to SingTel?
2) I head from friend that the singapore iphone model is always end with ZA, if I replace my phone will I get back the same Singpore orginal ZA version or it will be some refribushed version from USA such as model end with LL from AT&T?
3) where can I get a official copy of the country vs iphone model from apple website?
Many thanks,
DuDu..DoDo..Dudo

DuDu..DoDo..DuDo wrote:
Hi,
I bought an iphone in Singapore from SingTel but have hardware failure ( it can't be turn on at all after 2 moths of usage)..
1) what shall I do? Shall I go to the apple care to repair/replace it? or go back to SingTel?
You address it with whomever provides service in your country... whether that is Apple or the carrier.
DuDu..DoDo..DuDo wrote:
2) I head from friend that the singapore iphone model is always end with ZA, if I replace my phone will I get back the same Singpore orginal ZA version or it will be some refribushed version from USA such as model end with LL from AT&T?
Seriously? Why in the world would Apple ship a carrier locked AT&T iPhone to Singapore to replace your device? Apple, or the carrier that provides warranty service provides replacements appropriate for your country. They do not ship warranty replacements around the world.
Also, I think your friend is full of manure. iPhone model numbers do not vary around the world, at least I've never seen or heard of that sillyness.
DuDu..DoDo..DuDo wrote:
3) where can I get a official copy of the country vs iphone model from apple website?
No such listing exists.
Bottom line... ignore your friend (they obviously have no clue what they are talking about) and contact your carrier or Apple in Singapore and address the warranty replacement with them.

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I have a Cisco/Linksys WRT-54G wireless router and 2 Airport Extremes (the small ones that plug directly into the wall). Is it possible to extend the network from the router using these two AEs? I have a DVD player and Ext HD plugged into the router too..

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Just bought a new imac, need to take logic off my macbook pro and install onto my imac

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Bought a used imac, need to wipe but have external dvd

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