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Using macbook pro restore disk to resotore an imac

S

sotorious

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Aug 11, 2010
655
46
i just got an imac from a friend and he doesnt have his disks but i want to swipe this one clean, is there anyway i can use the restore disks from my macbook to restore this imac? or maybe even create an image off of my macbook and uploading it to this computer?
 
Last edited:
sotorious said:
so i download this clone it and then paste the new clone as well on this? Which should be nice that i dont think i would have to reinstall my logic pro.
Click to expand...

1. Clone the MBP's HD to an external HD.
2. Test that the clone works in iMac (boot from the external HD by holding alt).
3. Clone the clone to the iMac's HD.
 
Hellhammer said:
1. Clone the MBP's HD to an external HD.
2. Test that the clone works in iMac (boot from the external HD by holding alt).
3. Clone the clone to the iMac's HD.
Click to expand...

now by holding alt will that bring up a boot menu?
 
sotorious said:
alright and your saying back up imacs just incase things dont work out?
Click to expand...

If there is some data that you don't want to lose, then of course but if there is nothing important in the HD, then there is no need to. The important part is to test the clone by booting from the external HD. If that works, then cloning the clone to the iMac's HD and booting from that should work as well.
 
Hellhammer said:
If there is some data that you don't want to lose, then of course but if there is nothing important in the HD, then there is no need to. The important part is to test the clone by booting from the external HD. If that works, then cloning the clone to the iMac's HD and booting from that should work as well.
Click to expand...

alright crap i dont have any externals that are mac ready they are all NTFS i will have to figure something out,
 
sotorious said:
alright crap i dont have any externals that are mac ready they are all NTFS i will have to figure something out,
Click to expand...

Format them to Mac OS Extended (Journaled) with Disk Utility. Remember that formatting will erase all data from the drive.
 
Hellhammer said:
Then you need to go and buy Snow Leopard disc for 29$. That is the only way you can wipe and reinstall OS X in the iMac without the original discs.
Click to expand...

only 30 bucks? hmm not bad from the apple store? wouldnt be a bad thing to have laying around.
 
Hellhammer said:
Yup, it's only 29$. It's the same price from all shops, including the Apple Store.
Click to expand...

alright ill see what im going to do hopefully he find the cds if he doesnt then i might just go get me a copy of snow lep
 
You should back up important data before a restore too. There is always a small chance something could go wrong.
 
stroked said:
You should back up important data before a restore too. There is always a small chance something could go wrong.
Click to expand...

yea, and when i buy snow leop i can reformat both my laptop and imac with it at any time correct?
 
Hellhammer said:
Of course. It's retail version and thus works with any Mac.
Click to expand...

It comes with all the stuff preinstalled as it was before correct? and i dont have to worry about Ethernet drivers, sorry for nub questions never formated a mac before.
 
Snow Leopard doesn't come with iLife installed so you'd have to buy that too.
 
sotorious said:
When you purchase a mac it doesnt come with ilife... does it?
Click to expand...

It does. iLife can be found from the grey install discs so you could install SL from the retail disc and then after that install iLife from the grey disc (again, system specific).
 
all i do is just install the os right on the hard drive no recovery or anything like that?
 
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