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nlivo

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Jun 18, 2007
914
3
Ballarat, Australia
just wondering...when you receive a new mac and it is up and running with os x on it....why does it come with install disc's of OS X??? Doesn't it already have it on there?? Why difference does it make f you don't install them???
 

yellow

Moderator emeritus
Oct 21, 2003
16,018
6
Portland, OR
just wondering...when you receive a new mac and it is up and running with os x on it....why does it come with install disc's of OS X??? Doesn't it already have it on there?? Why difference does it make f you don't install them???

What happens if you need to reinstall OS X?

What happens if your computer fails and you need to run utilities?

What happens if you decided to sell your computer and want to wipe it first?
 

docprego

macrumors 65816
Jun 12, 2007
1,243
106
Henderson, NV
No, the OS is already installed. All they are for is, like Yellow said, to reinstall the OS for various reasons :)
Speaking of these discs....Did anyone else notice or think that the DVD's Apple includes are made of really thick plastic? They seem to be a much heavier duty disc than I am used to handling. They work fine but I just thought this was interesting.
 

neonblue2

macrumors 6502a
Aug 25, 2006
523
0
Port Pirie, South Australia
Sounds like you're coming from a Windows world. Unlike over there where a new computer doesn't come with your Windows disc (it should because you've bought a license), Apple gives you a disc that can not only restore but reinstall as well.

Why do you need an OS disc? Well if your PC dies you're forced to by Windows all over again. If your Mac dies or you want to reinstall or for whatever reason, you can reinstall because you have the discs.
 

rainydays

macrumors 6502a
Nov 6, 2006
886
0
Why do you need an OS disc? Well if your PC dies you're forced to by Windows all over again. If your Mac dies or you want to reinstall or for whatever reason, you can reinstall because you have the discs.

AFAIK the ones who doesn't supply an install disc has a restore partition on the HDD. Not much of use if your HDD gets borked though.
 

nlivo

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Jun 18, 2007
914
3
Ballarat, Australia
Sounds like you're coming from a Windows world. Unlike over there where a new computer doesn't come with your Windows disc (it should because you've bought a license), Apple gives you a disc that can not only restore but reinstall as well.

Why do you need an OS disc? Well if your PC dies you're forced to by Windows all over again. If your Mac dies or you want to reinstall or for whatever reason, you can reinstall because you have the discs.

i'm ashamed to say i have been a mac user for about 2 years. I just remember calling up apple and the guy said you MUST install the disc's......i continued to do that with the next mac i bought. it took up a lot of hard drive space aswell..i am definately not going to do that when i get my new macbook. thanks for that.
 

stuff99

macrumors 6502
May 11, 2007
394
0
how do the install discs differ from the tiger operating system you buy from the store?
 

DMHB

macrumors newbie
Aug 29, 2007
5
0
Tiger disc doesn't include software like iLife etc.

"Restore discs" works only with computer model what they were shipped with.
 

stuff99

macrumors 6502
May 11, 2007
394
0
i was thinking the same thing...good thing the new imac came with ilife 08

if i do buy a leopard disc when it comes out...will it have to be a clean install or i can just install with my files being still being where i left it?
 

bcooper0125

macrumors member
Sep 3, 2007
47
0
Chandler, AZ
Long time lurker, but first time post :) go me.

Neonblue - That is simply not true. Being a PC user for 13 years, and a 2 year Mac convert, every PC I have ever bought came with a Restore disc with Windows on it. I was not forced to buy Windows again when I formatted. I would restore, and re-activate (on XP). Even when you build your own PC, you can install the copy of Windows you buy when you buy the parts. Most PC manufacturers are now going to a partition on your C: drive that will hold the restore information, instead of a CD, but you don't need to run out and buy Windows again. Have you ever bought a new PC? If so, which brand, I'd like to know, because if it's any of the major ones (Dell, Sony, Gateway, HP, Toshiba, etc.), I know they come with disks.

Sounds like you're coming from a Windows world. Unlike over there where a new computer doesn't come with your Windows disc (it should because you've bought a license), Apple gives you a disc that can not only restore but reinstall as well.

Why do you need an OS disc? Well if your PC dies you're forced to by Windows all over again. If your Mac dies or you want to reinstall or for whatever reason, you can reinstall because you have the discs.
 
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