Buying used Mac OS 10.4

My iMac G5 recently died. Was quoted approx $1000 for new circuit board. Rather than repairing this iMac, I prefer waiting for the next model with Leopard. To save the data on my drive I need to install Mac OS 10.4 on my backup iMac G4. I plan to purchase a used copy of Mac OS 10.4 on e-bay. Will previously used and registered copies work when I install it on my computer? Am I going to be able to update the used copy?

It's a pity that you have to buy a new OS X software package and licence. Even though your G5 is history the software and licence that it shipped with are still intact. Under the terms of the licence you can legally transfer the software to another Mac as long as it is no longer in use on the original Mac (which is obviously the case.)
Ideally you should be able to just take the disks that shipped with your G5 and install OS X on the G4. But it probably won't work since the discs are machine-specific.
Maybe call Apple or visit a local Apple store? If you explain your situation, maybe they'll let you borrow a retail install disc and install it on your Mac. As far as licences go you should be covered.

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If buy used Mac how get regular Apple security upgrades,etc? Desperate.

Need to buy an older used Mac. Worried that they wouldn't be able to get regular updates to security, etc., from Apple when I go online.
My present broke old iBook I bot from a store and registered with Apple and so of course was getting regular automatic updates (or upgrades, what do we call em?)
Ain't be gots no money now, so gots no choice but to buy used, from a local, probably off Craigslist.
I've been advised to, of course, insist on the original installation CDs or DVDs (?) that came with it when new bought.
But even so, would i be able to register it for the updates?
And if the original CDs lost and not available, what then? Out of luck? Would that be way too risky and a stupid buy?
And many used macs are described as 'Leopard INSTALLED'. Where would that leave us? What does that mean? I'm guessing it means the OS was just put in from somebody elses CDs and a buyer would be orphaned and unsupported and unable to get extremely necessary regular improvements from Apple.
It is good luck that is wished to those who help me with this.

thelnukus wrote:
Q: OK, thanks, I understand that all OS, whether Tiger or Leopards, whatever, can still be updated. But say I buy said, used, how then can I just go to Apple.com and get registered for regular Updates?
You don't even need to register to get the updates but it would be a good idea.
thelnukus wrote:
You advised: "If the owner does not have the original disks you can get them from Apple by providing the serial number of the Mac."
Q: How much might that cost? If i only have $500 and so have to buy a used mac, would it cost big bucks more to buy these disks? And are these disks essential for safe operation and regular Software Updates for security, etc?
Yes, you should get the disks. Since they are replacement disks they will be very inexpensive.
thelnukus wrote:
You wrote: "To be consistent with the license agreement the seller should also give you that software and license."
Q: Yes, they 'Should', of course. But how important is that 'Should'? What if they doesn't? Whatever the reason (they kept it, they lost it, they never had it, or its been re-sold a few times). If buyer doesn't get the disks for software and license, can they still get regular Updates from Apple online?
Yes.
thelnukus wrote:
Further Q: Some sellers say they can give buyer "BACK-UP Installation Disks". Would such a description be a warning that this is just a suspect unauthorized Copy of the disks, and thus might be a problem or not honored buy Apple? It suggests to me that seller may have a)never had a legit copy themselves, and or b) they are keeping the original and maybe even using it still themselves on another computer, and if I try to register it with Apple so can get updates, Apple might say that it is in use to another, so I'm out of luck.
Yes, if they have backed up the disks and intend to keep a copy, it would be a violation of the software agreement. Their violation, not yours.
-mj

Where do i check the serial number im try to buy used mac

i am try to buy a used macbook pro how do i check the mac book pro how old it is?

Do you have the serial number? If so...
http://www.chipmunk.nl/klantenservice/applemodel.html
http://www.appleserialnumberinfo.com/Desktop/index.php
...or...
http://www.everymac.com/ultimate-mac-lookup/?search_keywords=
There may be more, but one of these will do...
Clinton

I just bought a new macair laptop and it doens't have idvd and I want to make a DVD slideshow with music. I have an external CD drive. Is there an applicaation that apple has to do this? IF I buy a used mac, which ones have idvd?

I have a new macair laptop and it does not have idvd. It has a flashdirve instead, so no internal CD drive though I bought an external one. I'm wanted to make a DVD slide show with music and I was told I can't do that in order to play it on a dvd player. Does Mac have an appication to buy that can do the same thing? I thought I saw one for $39.95 but not sure if it will do this. The apple store did not know for sure. Also, if I bought a used mac laptop, which ones will have the idvd installed on it?
Thanks,
Phyllis

It is now apparent that iWeb, and iDVD, will no longer be supported by Apple. This is evidenced by the fact that new Macs are shipping with iLife 11 installed but without iWeb and iDVD.
Other users have complained to Apple via Apple via http://www.apple.com/feedback/idvd.html and/or http://www.apple.com/contact/ and have received a boxed copy of iLIfe 11. Give it a try. In the meantime the following maybe of interest:
iWeb will still continue to work but without the following:
Features No Longer Available Once MobileMe is Discontinued:
◼ Password protection
◼ Blog and photo comments
◼ Blog search
◼ Hit counter
All of these issues can be replaced with 3rd party options.
I found that if I published my site to a folder on my hard drive and then uploaded with a 3rd party FTP client subscriptions to slideshows and the RSS feed were broken. If I published directly from iWeb to the FPT server those two features continued to work correctly.
There's another problem and that's with iWeb's popup slideshows. Once the MMe servers are no longer online the popup slideshow buttons will not display their images.
Click to view full size
However, Roddy McKay and I have figured out a way to modify existing sites with those slideshows and iWeb itself so that those images will display as expected once MobileMe servers are gone. How to is described in this tutorial: #26 - How to Modify iWeb So Popup Slideshows Will Work After MobileMe is Discontinued.
Apple has announced that iLife is now an unsupported product and those iApps will only be available thru the App Store from now on. However, the boxed iLife 11 at the online Apple Store (Store button at the top of the page) and those still on the shelves of retailers will include iWeb and iDVD. Those two apps were listed in small, gray text on the iLife 11 box that I bought. Personally, if I already didn't have a copy I would purchase one to have it for reinstallation purposes if ever needed.
OT

I am going to buy a mac mini i7 with 3 thunderbolt displays for forex trading. the question is if i use bootcamp and run windows on the mac mini will the displays still run the same way as if i was running it on Lion?

I am going to buy a mac mini i7 with 3 thunderbolt displays for forex trading. the question is if i use bootcamp and run windows on the mac mini will the displays still run the same way as if i was running it on Lion?

No idea if Windows will do it, but you can run Windows without Bootcamp & have OSX available at the same time, which should give you all the Monitors that OSX uses.
Parallels...
http://www.parallels.com/
VmWare Fusion...
http://www.vmware.com/mac

Bought a used Mac Mini and can't get past security password Seller refuses to answer emails. is there a keyboard command to take it back to factory settings or do I need to buy a Disc set and OS???

bought a used Mac Mini and can't get past security password Seller refuses to answer emails. is there a keyboard command to take it back to factory settings or do I need to buy a Disc set and OS???

You can bypass the password and wipe the drive and return to the original facory installation if the seller included the orginal install DVDs with the Mac mini. If not you will need a retail version of Mac OS X. To boot from the Install DVD restart the mini, immediately slip in the DVD and press and hold the C key.

Hi good morning, I'm from malaysia, can I use apple education package my wife is a teacher, I'm interested for mac 13 inch water for her I be able to buy used apple education package how and what documents are needed

hi good morning,
I'm from malaysia,
can I use apple education package
my wife is a teacher,
I'm interested for mac 13 inch water for her
I be able to buy used apple education package
how and what documents are needed

You will need to contact th Apple Store. This is a user to user forum.
http://www.apple.com/contact/
http://store.apple.com/us-hed

I am looking to buy a Mac mini, but I already have a monitor with a dvi plug in. Will I be able to use this monitor with the Mac mini??

I am looking to buy a Mac mini, but I already have a monitor with a dvi plug in. Will I be able to use this monitor with the Mac mini??

Here are the Mini's specs:

My photoshop elements and Lightroom serial numbers won't work for my new mac. I bought these softwares via download on my windows laptop but returned that laptop because the quality was not great. I decided to buy a mac and now can't use my serial numbers

my photoshop elements and Lightroom serial numbers won't work for my new mac. I bought these softwares via download on my windows laptop but returned that laptop because the quality was not great. I decided to buy a mac and now can't use my serial numbers to download the software.

Moving this discussion to the Downloading, Installing, Setting Up forum.
Stephylei you will want to download the Mac versions of the installation files. If you purchased the software from Adobe, and choose the download option at the time of purchase, then the download will be available under your account. You can find more details at Find a download link on Adobe.com.

I am using Mac OS X 10.7.8 and want to update it to Mac OS X 10.8 . Do I need to buy this version or I can get it free??

I am using Mac OS X 10.7.8 and want to update it to Mac OS X 10.8 . Do I need to buy this version or I can get it free??

There is no version 10.7.8 so we need to know what you are running.
10.8.5 costs money.
10.9.2 is free. Find out more at the App Store application.

I WANT TO BUY A MAC BOOK PRO. MUST I WAIT FOR THE ONE WITH RETINA DISPLAY. WILL THE FACT THAT THERE IS NO CD ROAM BE A PROBLEM. CAN YOU USE A EXSTERNAL CD ROAM ON A MAC?

I WANT TO BUY A MAC BOOK PRO. MUST I WAIT FOR THE ONE WITH RETINA DISPLAY. WILL THE FACT THAT THERE IS NO CD ROAM BE A PROBLEM? CAN YOU USE AN EXSTERNAL CD ROAM WITH A MAC?

Apple will gladly sell you a color coordinated and texture matching external SuperDrive to go with your Retina'ized MBP for about $80 bucks.
Note that those models are completely sealed with no serviceable or upgradeable parts inside. So if you decide to bite the bullet, be sure to customize its guts to your heart's content from the get-go as no further change will be possible. This means CPU speed, amount of RAM and size of the solid state drive. Other external options, like the Superdrive, can be added later.

I have an external HD with mostly mp3 music, but some important docs I need to keep, I want to buy a mac desktop, will I be able to use my HD on the mac?

I have an external HD with mostly mp3 music, but some important docs I need to keep, I want to buy a mac desktop, will I be able to use my HD on the mac

Yes, though if the drive is formatted as NTFS, Mac OS X will not be able to write to the drive without you either installing third-party NTFS drivers or reformatting the drive.
Regards.

HT4341 If I buy a mac in Canada can I use it in the UK?

It I buy a Mac in Canada can I use it in the UK?

For the most part, yes.
Your Mac will run on 100-240 Volts and 50-60 Hz so you will not need a voltage converter. But, you will need an AC adapter to fit the UK wall plug.
The UK does use channels 1-13 for Wi-Fi and Canada 1-11, so if you try to connect to a network that is using Channel 12 or 13, you will not be successful.

Want to buy Photoshop elements but when I buy it says it is for windovs and I use mac what do I do

want to buy Photoshop elements but when I buy it says it is for windovs and I use mac what do I do

If on the Adobe site, make sure to do it from a Mac. If you are using a windows computer to do it, you may not get the Mac option.
Or go here:
Amazon.com: Adobe Photoshop Elements 13 [Mac Download]: Software

I have an 27 inch apple iMac 2010. Can I upgrade by buying a Mac book pro and use plug in and use the iMac as a screen only?

I have an 27 inch apple iMac 2010. Can I upgrade by buying a Mac book pro and use plug in and use the iMac as a screen only?

Yes your 2010 supports Target Display Mode using MiniDisplay Port input.
check out FAQ #4 > Target Display Mode: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Buying used Mac OS 10.4

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