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How to format, but keep Tiger?

P

p0intblank

macrumors 68030
Original poster
Sep 20, 2005
2,548
2
New Jersey
I think it's time to format my PowerBook. I'm noticing a hit in performance lately, and plus I would just like a clean start. However, there is one thing standing in my way... when I bought this PowerBook it had Panther installed on it, so I later upgraded to Tiger. Is there any way to format this drive and reinstall Tiger without having to use a license? I'm not sure if we have any left over from the family pack.

Thanks a lot! :)
 
I do have a legal version of Tiger installed. I would never pirate Apple's OS... from my understanding, I thought once you used a license you can never use it again. If not, then this will be no problem at all.
 
p0intblank said:
I do have a legal version of Tiger installed. I would never pirate Apple's OS... from my understanding, I thought once you used a license you can never use it again. If not, then this will be no problem at all.
Click to expand...
nah, iirc you can use it on the same exact machine.
 
Even if I previously had Panther installed? Just curious, how would my PowerBook remember the license I used if I am formatting the drive? Doesn't that overwrite everything? I'm not saying I don't believe you; I'm just really curious. :)
 
The license is just a legal right to install the OS.

No one keeps track of the licenses installed, so there is no problem with reinstalling an OS as often as you like, or on as many different systems as you like, as long as you stay within the law and install on no more systems (at a given time) than allowed by your license(s).

For example, suppose I own 10 Macs with Panther. I buy one Tiger license. I can then install Tiger on any of the Macs and, if I remove it from one, I can then install it on the next. I just have to be sure that only one Mac has it installed at a given time (for that single license purchase).
 
p0intblank said:
Even if I previously had Panther installed? Just curious, how would my PowerBook remember the license I used if I am formatting the drive? Doesn't that overwrite everything? I'm not saying I don't believe you; I'm just really curious. :)
Click to expand...
it doesn't remember, that's what :)

Apple's pretty lax about licensing for OS X.

But if you had used a legitimate Tiger license to install on the PowerBook, it shouldn't be a problem to reinstall with Tiger again on the same PowerBook (but ianal, and i haven't read apple's licensing terms, so doublecheck)
 
Oh wow, that's awesome. I had no idea licenses worked like that. I thought maybe the disc you use "remembers" which ones you used.

Anyway thanks for the help, everyone! :)
 
p0intblank said:
Oh wow, that's awesome. I had no idea licenses worked like that. I thought maybe the disc you use "remembers" which ones you used.

Anyway thanks for the help, everyone! :)
Click to expand...
Just to be clear, that's how Apple's licenses work. Some products and OS's register via the net, and it's trickier. But Apple is more trusting.

Enjoy your re-install.
 
even with systems that require phone activation(*cough* windows), you can still install it, delete it, and re-install it on the same machine until your blue in the face. you didn't think you had to buy a new copy every time you wanted a fresh install did you?

could you imagine how expensive it would be to run windows if that were the case? :p :D
 
What license? I've reinstalled the OS several times on my iMac. 1 machine, but a bunch of different hard drives for testing and backup purposes (don't ask, it's been a process). Last I checked, Apple doesn't really care as long as it's a Mac. And you can install and re-install on the same Mac over and over again. I've even skipped the registration process just to see what happens. You don't even need the Panther discs if your Tiger disks are full installs, which they should be if you bought the Family Pack.
 
CanadaRAM said:
Do an Erase and install from the Tiger disk, to answer the OQ.
FIRST remember to de-authorize your machie from any purchased iTunes Music Store purchases.
AND back up your data inclusing your User folder...
Click to expand...

any other friendly tips like this guys?
I will be doing this in the summer and this would be my first time re-instaling an OS on a mac, but it should be okay, since i reinstalled Me like 4x, and Xp Pro like 2-3x :)
 
i4k20c said:
any other friendly tips like this guys?
I will be doing this in the summer and this would be my first time re-instaling an OS on a mac, but it should be okay, since i reinstalled Me like 4x, and Xp Pro like 2-3x :)
Click to expand...
When installing, choose the Option (or Configure, can never remember which) and deselect all of the languages you don't speak - saves about 10 minutes and 1 Gb in the install)

! you only had to reinstall ME 4 x? Mustn't have had the machine long....?!
 
There is no "licensing" for Tiger... or for any of the past OS's ;)
There is a "registration" but you can "skip" that if you really want to.
 
CanadaRAM said:
When installing, choose the Option (or Configure, can never remember which) and deselect all of the languages you don't speak - saves about 10 minutes and 1 Gb in the install)

! you only had to reinstall ME 4 x? Mustn't have had the machine long....?!
Click to expand...

:rolleyes: lol, my orig machine at home (which we still use) came with Me, Holy batman did i get blue screens of death, everytime something froze up, or something crashed, i'd get blue screens! Seriously what was MS thinking? Once i upgraded to Xp tho, no "real" problems, but my HD messed up once (reinstalled xp), once i got a virus (just reinstalled cause i couldn't get rid of the infection/trojan), and i think i did it once or twice because Xp on my machine seems to really slow down after a good year or two of use... :mad: so yah =)

thank i will use the language tips, since well, i don't speak anything besides english! lol, i will also prob look into geting rid of the printer drivers cause i see that as a thing to do always.. i probally wouldn't buy a printer outside of Cannon or Hp. :eek:
 
CanadaRAM said:
Do an Erase and install from the Tiger disk, to answer the OQ.
FIRST remember to de-authorize your machie from any purchased iTunes Music Store purchases.
AND back up your data inclusing your User folder...
Click to expand...

So I can use only the Tiger disc and not bother with the system discs... very nice. :) I had no idea it was this easy. I always thought Apple would be very secure about this, but I guess they trust us more? :p

And yes, I will remember to de-authorize my PowerBook in iTunes. I didn't even think of this, so thanks for the tip! Also I'll be sure to back everything up that's important to me.

Oh while we're on this topic.... I currently use an external USB 2.0 drive to store all my iTunes and iPhoto files. After the reinstall, will it be as easy as plug-and-play with the drive? I won't have to format it again, will I?
 
gman71882 said:
There is no "licensing" for Tiger... or for any of the past OS's ;)
There is a "registration" but you can "skip" that if you really want to.
Click to expand...


There IS licensing, meaning that you agree to only install the OS on as many machines as you paid to have a license for. You may reinstall the OS on hundreds of machines, as long as you first delete it from the previous machines first and only run and have installed one copy of the OS at a time (or more for a multiple-use license).

That said, there is nothing in the Mac world to physically stop you from buying 3 computers, one copy of Tiger, and installing that one copy on all three computers. You simply are using pirated software at that point.

SIDE RANT: Almost everybody uses SOME level of software piracy (I think). It simply depends on your moral fiber as to which level you are willing to go. Of course it is wrong and you should not do it, but I admit that even though I am pretty adamant about not stealing software, I DO have a few songs I downloaded off a peer-to-peer (that were not otherwise legally available other than by purchasing a whole CD at $13-18 for one song). I consider them loaners, meaning that I WILL pay for them when they become available on iTunes (and I have later paid for many songs in that very boat). I also have used some shareware programs too long without paying (almost always because I did not really want the program and did not find it worth the cost and I only needed it a few times several months or years apart--but I also have many, many shareware programs that I DO own legally (Solitaire Till Dawn X, WindowShade X, ASM, RadioLover, GraphicConverter, etc, etc, etc)) So yes, pirating is wrong, but very few of us have PERFECTLY clean computers.
 
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