Imac 2008 and Thunderbolt

I have a early 2008 Imac and and external drive/dock (GDock) and hoping to connect the two via thunderbolt to firewire adapter but the drives do not show up?
I'm not looking for speed but connectivity, is this possible? I bought the GDock so I could use it as RAID 1 system.
Many thanks

You are welcome!
All of the iMac models from Early 2006 thru Early 2008, had Mini DVI ports for video output.
All of the iMac models from Late 2008 thru Late 2011, had MiniDisplay ports for video output.
All of the iMac models from 2012 and later, have Thunderbolt ports that serves as both high resolution display output and/or high performance data transfer.

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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?
It came with the upgrade of Mountain Lion but I cannot find quicktime in the applications. When I try to install anything this Installer Password thing comes up... so I'm stuck.

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.

IMac: USB and Thunderbolt ports seems loose

I'm not sure if this is really a question other than wondering if other people experience it.
I have a 14.2 27" iMac. The thunderbolt port is used to connect to a second display, and the USB ports are primarily used for external drives.
In all cases, I find that even the slightest movement of the USB or Thundebolt cable will result in the device being momentarily physically disconnected. I have tried to reproduce this on my gaming PC with the USB drives and I can wiggle the cable all I want without the drive disconnecting.
Since all of the USB ports on the iMac do this, and none of the ports on the PC do, I can only assume there is some sort of design flaw or manufacturing defect.
Any thoughts?
-Doc

Yep, same here, my relatively new, very expensive, souped up 27 iMac keeps on dropping the drive connected to the Thunderbolt port whenever I unplug something from a neighbouring USB port.
And no, Apple I am not lugging a huge 27 inch iMac back to the store for you to fix something that is your fault, which you don't admit is happening to many iMacs and which you apparently don't know how to fix. And apparently in Australia we don't have site visits for Apple Care....
I am a weak older person who can't lift the thing (and who waited a very long time to be able to afford this machine) - but you see I never expected my iMac and Mavericks to be so darn dodgy - I trusted you Apple.. as I have for the last 30 years of using an Apple.
Mavericks probs were bad enough, but it was a software prob which eventually (hopefully I thought they'll fix) - it does make my heart bleed however to realise that Apple with its billions of cash in the bank can't afford to hire some decent coders to fix multiple probs with Mavericks in a timely fashion....
But now?????
- now I realise I actually have a computer with a faulty thunderbolt port....and that Apple does not seem to be acknowledging this fault....Apple had better find a solution that does not give me a hernia....
Thanks for your input folks in this forum.....sorry for sounding so annoyed - that's cos I am:-)
( and yes I am going to put this in feedback somewhere so the robot who reads can bin it more easily)

Can i take RAM out of my old iMac (2008) and put it in my new iMac(2011)?

I added 2GB of RAM to my 2008 iMac. Can I add this to my new iMac (2011)? It came with 4GB of RAM.

Can you post your model identifier number on both please so we can pull up the specifications for both. You can find it by going to the apple, choose About this Mac, click on more info on the old Mac and System report on the new one; you'll find a window like this:
Please post that information (no serial # please).

How do i install an os onto an imac 2008?

I recently purchased an imac 2008 and I don't know how to install an OS. The keyboard and mouse did not come with it, but I do have a Magic Mouse as well as a wireless keyboard.
Any help would b e appreciated.

Didn't your iMac came with an operating system? Very strange. Anyway, you have two options:
1. If the iMac didn't come with discs, call Apple to get replacement DVDs > http://support.apple.com/kb/HE57 They will send you a DVD with Mac OS X and another DVD with iLife applications.
2. Buy Mac OS X Snow Leopard > http://store.apple.com/us/product/MC573/mac-os-x-106-snow-leopard If you get replacement DVDs, you will get Mac OS X Leopard, an outdated version, but if you get Snow Leopard, you will have a later version and you will be able to upgrade to Lion or Mountain Lion if you want.
To install Mac OS X, insert the DVD and hold the C key while your computer is starting. Then, supposing that your hard drive is ready, follow the steps on the screen to install Mac OS X

I purchased a used 2008 iMac. And although the previous owner said he deleted all of his information his iCloud account is still the primary. I don't have a clue about what to do about it. I signed him out and logged in with my info, but still no go.

I purchased a used 2008 iMac. And although the previous owner said he deleted all of his information, his iCloud account is still the primary. I don't have a clue about what to do about it. I signed him out and logged in with my info, but still no go. Is there any way to eliminate his iCloud account and make mine the primary without rebooting it back to factory settings? There was an update, I believe, that I couldn't install because i didn't have his password that is what made me aware that his acct. was still active. I don't know what to do. Any help is greatly appreciated. Thank you.

Before buying a second-hand computer, you should have run Apple Diagnostics or the Apple Hardware Test, whichever is applicable.
The first thing to do after buying the computer is to erase the internal drive and install a clean copy of OS X. You—not the original owner—must do that. Changes made by Apple over the years have made this seemingly straightforward task very complex.
How you go about it depends on the model, and on whether you already own another Mac. If you're not sure of the model, enter the serial number on this page. Then find the model on this page to see what OS version was originally installed.
It's unsafe, and may be unlawful, to use a computer with software installed by a previous owner.
1. If you don't own another Mac
a. 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 from the Apple Store or a reputable reseller—not from eBay or anything of the kind. If the machine is very old and has less than 1 GB of memory, you'll need to add more in order to install 10.6. Preferably, install as much memory as it can take, according to the technical specifications.
b. 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 a MacBook Air. You should have received the media from the original owner, but if you didn't, order replacements from Apple. A retail disc, or the gray discs from another model, will not work.
To start up from an optical disc or a flash drive, insert it, then restart the computer and hold down the C key at the startup chime. Release the key when you see the gray Apple logo on the screen.
c. If the machine shipped with OS X 10.7 or later, you don't need media. It should start up in 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.
d. Some 2010-2011 models shipped with OS X 10.6 and received a firmware update after 10.7 was released, enabling them to use Internet Recovery. If you have one of those models, you can't reinstall 10.6 even from the original media, and Internet Recovery will not work either without the original owner's Apple ID. In that case, contact Apple Support, or take the machine to an Apple Store or another authorized service provider to have the OS installed.
2. If you do own another Mac
If you already own another Mac that was upgraded in the App Store to the version of OS X that you want to install, and if the new Mac is compatible with it, then you can install it. Use Recovery Disk Assistant to prepare a USB device, then start up the new Mac from it by holding down the C key at the startup chime. Alternatively, if you have a Time Machine backup of OS X 10.7.3 or later on an external hard drive (not a Time Capsule or other network device), you can start from that by holding down the option key and selecting it from the row of icons that appears. Note that if your other Mac was never upgraded in the App Store, you can't use this method.
3. Partition and install OS X
a. If you see a lock screen when trying to start up from installation media or in Recovery mode, then a firmware password was set by the previous owner, or the machine was remotely locked via iCloud. You'll either have to contact the owner or take the machine to an Apple Store or another service provider to be unlocked. You may be asked for proof of ownership.
b. 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.
c. An unusual problem may arise if all the following conditions apply:
          OS X 10.7 or later was installed by the previous owner
          The startup volume was encrypted with FileVault
          You're booted in Recovery mode (that is, not from a 10.6 installation disc)
In that case, you won't be able to unlock the volume or partition the drive without the FileVault password. Ask for guidance or see this discussion.
d. After partitioning, quit Disk Utility and run the OS X Installer. If you're installing a version of OS X acquired from the App Store, you will need the Apple ID and password that you used. When the installation is done, the system will automatically restart 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.
e. Run Software Update and install all available system updates from Apple. To upgrade to a major version of OS X newer than 10.6, get it from the Mac App Store. Note that you can't keep an upgraded version that was installed by the original 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.
4. Other issues
a. If the original 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 irrevocably linked to that Apple ID and you won't be able to download them without buying them. Reportedly, Mac App Store Customer Service has sometimes issued redemption codes for these apps to second owners who asked.
b. If the previous owner didn't deauthorize the computer in the iTunes Store under his Apple ID, you wont be able to authorize it immediately under your ID. In that case, you'll either have to wait up to 90 days or contact iTunes Support.
c. When trying to create a new iCloud account, you might get a failure message: "Account limit reached." Apple imposes a lifetime limit of three iCloud account setups per device. Erasing the device does not reset the limit. You can still use an iCloud account that was created on another device, but you won't be able to create a new one. Contact iCloud Support for more information. The setup limit doesn't apply to Apple ID accounts used for other services, such as the iTunes and Mac App Stores, or iMessage. You can create as many of those accounts as you like.

I have a Thunderbolt iMac 27" with a Thunderbolt Display attached. I would like to use the iMac and Thunderbolt display in Target Display Mode for my new Thunderbolt MacBook Pro. So far, it seems I can only use the iMac screen itself. How do I do this?

When I press the Command + F2, the iMac screen becomes a secondary for the MacBook Pro, and the Thunderbolt Display becomes the primary screen for the iMac. I was hoping that both screens would become secondaries for the MacBook Pro. Does anyone know how I should proceed? I have tried to connect the Thunderbolt display directly to the MacBook Pro, and the iMac to the Thunderbolt Display via the separate Thunderbolt cable, but there was no difference. And since the MacBook Pro only has the one Thunderbolt port, I'm not sure how to proceed.

Yes, eww, the language definitely states two thunderbolt displays, but I can understand the confusion and was siding with how they could make the mistake to think it would work like they want it to. My appologies for not being clear on that point, but I think you make it clear that the language in the ad says nothing about an imac.
Having said that all the language about TB would suggest that this would be possible. http://www.apple.com/thunderbolt/
High performance on display.
Thunderbolt I/O technology provides native support for the Apple Thunderbolt Display and Mini DisplayPort displays. It also supports DisplayPort, DVI, HDMI, and VGA displays through the use of existing adapters. So you can connect your Apple LED Cinema Display or other display, along with multiple high-speed devices, all from a single port.

What is the max memory a 2nd Gen iMac (2008) can run and where can I buy it?

What is the max memory a 2nd Gen iMac (2008) can support and if it is more than 2GB, where can you purchase?

Go to Crucial.com or OWC, you will get good advice and good memory suitable for Macs.
http://www.crucial.com/uk/index.aspx?gclid=CJyMwKGJuL0CFWfLtAodGXEAMQ&cm_mmc=goo gle-_-uk-_-brand-_-null&ef_id=UzbobwAAAS7VFVy@:20140329153615:s. Note UK site.
http://eshop.macsales.com/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=adwords &gclid=CNLf77iJuL0CFTCWtAodiFUAVA

Upgraded to 11.3.1 now can't open library. Won't read. I have an older iMac (2008). Message I get is: cannot be read because was created by newer version of iTunes. Would you like to download iTunes now?' ... so I do and it fixes nothing. OS 10.6.8

Upgraded to 11.3.1 now can't open library. Won't read. I have an older iMac (2008). Message I get is: cannot be read because was created by newer version of iTunes. Would you like to download iTunes now?' ... so I do and it fixes nothing. Same message again. OS is 10.6.8.

Thanks again. The option thing got me further than I've gotten thus far but when I went to choose a library I got that same message.
I do have options. I have 2 iMacs. I can still access my music through 'sharing' and download it onto my newer iMac. Trouble is it doesn't have a CD port and I like to burn. From what I've read about their new Mac portable CD/DVD drive, it's shaky at best. Incidentally, do you know of any drives that work well with Macs and cost less than $89.00?
I've figured out I can download a previous library from my old Mac then upload it from the new one which should put me back in business, but what do I do with the corrupt one that's there now, just trash it? Also, when I do the option key my other choice is Create A New Library. Should I do that and put the good previous library into it?
Thanks a million, I really appreciate your time. I'm an old fogey and computers often mystify me, especially when they lock me out of things for no apparent reason.

I have a mac Book Pro and and iMac, both with Thunderbolt. I connect my thunderbolt cable to each and each tells me that it is connected to the other, but when I try secondary screen in Aperture it is still grey and not available, what do I have to do to?

I have a Mac Pro and an Imac, both with thunderbolt. When I connect the two together with a thunderbolt cable each recognises the other as shown in the system report, but when I try to use second screen in Aperture, the option is still grey and unavailable. What do i have to do to activate second screen in Aperture via thunderbolt?

In actual fact this seems a bigger problem than I thought. Linking the two computers via the Thundernolt cable and selecting cmd F2 no longer shares the screen at all and Apple say it may not be able too in Mointain Lion - What are they playing at, hundreds of customers link computers together and share the screens - Lets hope they are wrong and tell us what we need to do other than move back to Windows.

Suggestions for new iMac, hard drive and Thunderbolt vs FW800 vs USB3?

Ordering a new iMac 27" and leaning toward fusion drive, and wondering if anyone has any suggestion or experiance with this drive? Any suggestions for drives would be welcome.
I am going to have to decide what to do as far as storage and I assume USB3 will be the best choice - been using FW800 and lots of new things coming.
Thanks for any input and suggestions.
Don

anybody have any comments on the use of Thunderbolt vs USB3? I am using FW800 not and will be changing my 2 external drives. I have to keep FW800 on them so I am able to daisey-chain them. My use is normal and wondering if I should stay with USB3 & FW800 for external or make the TM drive a Thunderbolt. Those seem to be priced higher just wanted some suggestions, recommendations.
Thanks,
Don

HT1846 My iMac 24" is mid 2008 and I have just instaled Win7 Pro 64 bits. All went well execpt...

Hello everybody,
My iMac 24" is mid 2008 and I have just instaled Win7 Pro 64 bits. The windows installation went very well, except wen I starte to use the Boot Camp CD for the drivers and then I have this error "Boot Camp x64 is unsupporteded..." So I had to instal everything in the CD one by one and went quite well. The only thing that I can not install is the Boot Camp itself! So I do not have any windows control over the Boot Camp. How can I solve this issue?
Thanks

Follow the steps in this guide...
http://michael.anastasiou.me/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=22:qbo ot-camp-x64-is-unsupported-on-this-computer-modelq-solution&catid=7:how-to&lang= en
Then install the following Bootcamp Updates:
BootCamp 3.2 Update 64-bit
BootCamp 3.3 Update
Hope this helps!
Message was edited by: vea1083

I would like to have Internet Explorer on my 2008 iMAC, what and how is needed to install. There is a site I need to get to that will not work with Apple

Would like to know what is needed to install Internet Explorer ion my iMAC ( 2008 on OSX 10.7.3)

budeeymac wrote:
Would like to know what is needed to install Internet Explorer ion my iMAC ( 2008 on OSX 10.7.3)
Try Safari > Preferences > Advanced and down the botton tick Show Develop Menu In Menu Bar. Now you will see Develop in the top menu in Safari, click on it to open the drop down window, go to User Agent and select Internet Explorer and see if this allows you to open the page. Otherwise, as Deggie said, it's up to a Windows Install on your Mac through Bootcamp or Paralells or the like to run IE within Windows.
Pete

Is it possible to use a new iMAC 2011 (with thunderbolt port) as a passive screen with a Macbook (MacBook5,1 - End 2008) ?

s it possible to use a new iMAC 2011 (with thunderbolt port) as a passive screen with a Macbook (MacBook5,1 - End 2008) ?

No, you would need to upgrade the MacBook to a 2011 MacBook Pro that also has Thunderbolt.
Roger

Re I-Movie. "Communication Error" is what I get when I try and send a clip from my Sony camera to the IMovie program in my IMAC 2008 Intel Chips. The IMovie program has worked well for several years - up to now. What has gone wrong?

Re I-MOVIE. I am getting a "Communication Error" when I try and send a clip to the IMovie
program in my IMAC 2008 Intel Chip computer. This is the first time in 3 years that the
program has not worked. What has gone wrong?

Hi
Have no idea - But if it is a new problem with exactly the same kind of material that was previously used. Then my trouble shooting guide might help.
If You
• used a new Camera - file codec might be a sort that don't work
• Your main hard disk might get too filled up
Else try
Trouble
When iMovie doesn't work as intended this can be due to a lot of reasons
• iMovie Pref files got corrupted - trash it/they and iMovie makes new and error free one's
• Creating a new User-Account and log into this - forces iMovie to create all pref. files new and error free
• Event or Project got corrupted - try to make a copy and repair
• a codec is used that doesn't work
• problem in iMovie Cache folder - trash Cache.mov and Cache.plist
• version miss match of QuickTime Player / iMovie / iDVD
• preferences are wrong - Repair Preferences
• other hard disk problem - Repair Hard Disk (Disk Util tool - but start Mac from ext HD or DVD)
• External hard disks - MUST BE - Mac OS Extended (hfs) formatted to work with Video
( UNIX/DOS/FAT32/Mac OS Exchange - works for most other things - but not for Video )
• USB-flash-memories do not work
• Net-work connected hard disks - do not work
• iPhoto Library got problems - let iPhoto select another one or repair it. Re-build this first then try to re-start iMovie.
This You do by
_ close iPhoto
_ on start up of iPhoto - Keep {cmd and alt-keys down}
_ now select all five options presented
_ WAIT a long long time
• free space on Start-Up (Mac OS) hard disk to low (<1Gb) - I never go under 25Gb free space for SD-Video (4-5 times more for HD)
• external devices interferes - turn off Mac - disconnect all of them and - Start up again and re-try
• GarageBand fix - start GB - play a few notes - Close it again and now try iMovie
• Screen must be set to million-colors
• Third-party plug-ins doesn't work OK
• Run "Cache Out X", clear out all caches and restarts the Mac
• Let Your Mac be turned on during one night. At about midnight there is a set of maintenance programs that runs and tidying up. This might help
• Turn off Your Mac - and disconnect Mains - for about 20-30 minutes - at least this resets the FireWire port.
• In QuickTime - DivX, 3ivx codec, Flip4Mac, Perian etc - might be problematic - temporarily move them out and re-try
(I deleted the file "3ivxVideoCodec.component" located in Mac HD/Library/Quicktime and this resolved my issue.)
buenrodri wrote
I solved the problem by removing the file: 3ivxVideoCodec.component. after that, up-dated iMovie runs ok.
Last resort: Trash all of iMovie and re-install it
Yours Bengt W

Imac 2008 and Thunderbolt

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