Need help with Imac

[heyharris1]

Hello all,
First let me say i have always been a pc/windows person but decided I wanted to try a mac so I bought an Imac all in one computer system at an auction Model #A1312 27" 2.7 GHZ Intel I5 processor. Well the issue is at auctions they always wipe the operating system to remove any sensitive data the company may have had before auctioning it off. When I boot it up the system says no bootable cd/ install cd and press any key. My question is from what i have read online you just cant buy an operating system like a windows machine and it needs to have a machine specific program, if i read the information correctly. From what I was able to research from the serial number it came with snow leopard 10.6.7 Is there a place to buy a full install c/d or how exactly would I do this. One place i went to said to hook it to the internet but without an operating system I dontsee the purpose...

Thanks for any and all information as I venture into the unknown world of macs.

Jim

 

[Weaselboy]

https://www.apple.com/shop/product/...4a9ac93091eac32c96d466b6534dcb5d23ca3f14d9a74

Apple still sells the Snow Leopard CD.

 

[heyharris1]

Thank you, I was not sure because the snow leopard program I looked at siadyou needed to have something else pre-installed, I must have clicked on the wrong item. Thank you very much for sending the link.

Jim

 

[CoastalOR]

I bought an Imac all in one computer system at an auction Model #A1312 27" 2.7 GHZ Intel I5 processor. if i read the information correctly. From what I was able to research from the serial number it came with snow leopard 10.6.7 Is there a place to buy a full install c/d or how exactly would I do this. One place i went to said to hook it to the internet but without an operating system I don't see the purpose... Thanks for any and all information as I venture into the unknown world of macs.

Thank you, I was not sure because the snow leopard program I looked at siadyou needed to have something else pre-installed, I must have clicked on the wrong item. Thank you very much for sending the link.
Jim

Be careful, I remember the version of Snow Leopard on the Apple DVD was 10.6.3, which I think is too old for your iMac (if it is indeed a mid 2011 iMac and not a mid 2010 iMac (both were Model # A1312)).
Mid 2010 27" iMac shipped with OS 10.6.3 to 10.6.4 and will support up to 10.13.6
Mid 2011 27" iMac shipped with OS 10.6.6 to 10.6.7 and will support up to 10.13.6

I do see some USB installers on eBay for newer macOS. There is even a Mountain Lion (10.8) DVD which would be a good choice.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Mac-OS-X-1...h=item591f706bc3:g:uDcAAOSwxphcYHBJ:rk:5:pf:0

 

[heyharris1]

I ran the serial number and this is what it said:

Model:


- iMac (27-inch, Mid 2011) (CTO)

- This unit was built in the second half of 2011.

Build Week

- Week 12 (March) or week 39 (September)

Original OS:

- Mac OS 10.6.7 Snow Leopard

Maximum OS:

- Latest release of macOS

So my question is I ordered the one mentioned by weaselboy. Will this one not work. If not which one should I get.