Doing a Fresh Install on 2nd hand Mac

Hi,
I have just purchased a 2nd hand system a external seller, I want to make sure there is nothing lurking on the system that should not be there and to create my own user etc.
I have
Mid 2011 27'' MAC
AMD Radeon HD 6770M 512 MB
4GB RAM
Intel i5 (Quad Core)
OS 10.6.8.
1TB hard drive
I also have an installation CD which says "MAC OS X Snow Leopard, Mac Box Set" on it however I don't really know the source of this.
So questions
1.) Is there a easy way to make sure that the mac is clean and create a new user / profile etc without doing a fresh install?
2.) Assuming no to above and I need to reinstall then how can I confirm that the CD I have is the correct/official version?
3.) What is the best way to proceed with a fresh install?
-- I'd want to backup just case anythiung went wrong with the installation, is using Superduper the best way forward here? Can I use that to create a bootable file on a external USB with other files on there?
4.) Can I create a new partition on the existing hard in the MAC and use that to create the new version of the OS?
5.) Once I have my fresh install can I upgrade all the way through to Mavricks via updates or do I need to purchase the install disks for that? Is it worth it?
many thanks

fiona.johnson79 wrote:
The disk is white and has "MAC OS X Snow Leopard, Mac Box Set replacement DVD 2Z691-6560-A" just checked the disk and it does have an install of 10.6 on it. How much of a risk do you think using this would be? Are there many corrupt copies going around?
It sounds that you have a white retail disk. There is no risk as such trying to use it but these disks do not have the iLife applications on them. According to Mactracker, a 2011 27" iMac came with 10.6.6 or 10.6.7 gray installation disks (see Alberto's image) with one disk for the OSX and the other for the iLife applications. It clearly will have the exact OSX marked on the disk.
Duplicate installation disks can be ordered from Apple Customer Service. Have your iMac serial number ready and there is a charge.
fiona.johnson79 wrote:
I am more worried about attempting the fresh installation and it failing and leaving me with no system over the holidays. Thats why the backup is important. I had read on another thread (https://discussions.apple.com/message/10549815?searchText=Doing%20a%20Fresh%20In stall#10549815) that I would need to install iLife, iPhoto,iMovie,etc do they come on the installation disk as well or can I download them?
If you can install from the retail disk, version of Snow Leopard, you will have to purchase the iLife applications. I think it would be less expensive if you ordered the duplicate installation disks for your iMac.
I suggest that you clone your iMac, then if the Snow Leopard retail fails or other problems occur, you should be able to revert to where you are now. Bottom line, I do think that getting the duplicate disks is your best option.
Ciao.

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Hi, please forgive my ignorance, as I'm not at all tech savvy.
I've found a few threads which come close-ish to what I'm looking for, but I'm feeling a little timid and uncertain about proceeding, so I do hope some kind person can help me understand what I need to do.
The situation is - after almost 7 years, (and three hard drives!) my iMAC has yet again given up the ghost.
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I'm sorry to ask such basic level questions. I think I can do this, but my experience levels are not much past total newbie, and I'm worried about messing something up and being left with no functioning machine again, right at a time when I desperately need everything working smoothly.
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Further to the above.
After a bit of poking about, I now believe iLife may in fact have been pre-installed on the iMAC and therefore not on the install discs.
I have no problems buying new versions, if only they were compatible with my curret OS.
Likewise, I'd be happy to buy the Lion OS, or any later version comapible with this Pro, just to have a valid copy.
ALso, so that I have reinstall capability if the system goes down.
Problem is, I need the applications now, and I don't know whether any stores in my area would be open tomorrow and able to sell me the discs. I haven't really got the time for the 2 - 3 hur round trip to get to the nearest vendor that just might be open. If I had a few days up my sleeve, it wouldn't be an issue, but I have to make this slide show and create a playable DVD of it within the next 24 hours.

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Hi I found several tthreats with this problem. after reinstalling mac os lion, ilife suite is not available. If this is a second owner, with different apple id than the first one, app store will not allow them to download the apps.
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Sorry for not putting it as a question, but i got the answers, hopefully helpful to others.

The Apple Support Communities are an international user to user technical support forum. As a man from Mexico, Spanish is my native tongue. I do not speak English very well, however, I do write in English with the aid of the Mac OS X spelling and grammar checks. I also live in a culture perhaps very very different from your own. When offering advice in the ASC, my comments are not meant to be anything more than helpful and certainly not to be taken as insults.
Apple doesn't sell the iLife apps on a disk any longer and Apple Care doesn't sell Apple software, the Apple Retail store does. The apps this "Apple emplyee" placed for free on your Mac are not the same versions of the apps that came preinstalled on the Mac and they are not the Mac App Store (MAS) versions. And they will not be udates by the MAS. You may be able to get updates through Software Update.
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Im planning on doing a fresh install of Leopard when it arrives,
Software is not a problem as i have all my install disks and license keys.
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