[computerdude06]

i have a person that wants to buy a mac with a wiped hard drive, and they want to know if i can help reinstall the os. something along the lines of os xis it hard to install os x? i am a pc guy, and i havent had a lot of experience with macs

[AuroraDizon]

Ive only upgraded a 8.5 to 8.6 but it was really easy. If I had to reinstall I just use the disc, otherwise I could just download upgrades until 9 which I would need a disc. Eitherway, I don't think you'll have too much of a problem figuring it out.

[smax013]

[quote name='computerdude06']i have a person that wants to buy a mac with a wiped hard drive, and they want to know if i can help reinstall the os. something along the lines of os x> > is it hard to install os x? i am a pc guy, and i havent had a lot of experience with macsThe actual process of doing it is rather straight forward and easy.The issue to be careful of is whether or not the used computer with the wiped hard-disk comes with the install disks. If it does not, then you could be faced with the issue of getting the OS for the computer and the debate of whether the person would have to buy the OS or whether in theory the OS comes with the computer. The Mac OS stopped being free back around version 7 or so, if I remember correctly. As a result, one must purchase the OS for upgrades (you do get the OS when you purchase the computer). In reality, the computer should come with the original install disks for what ever version of the OS that originally came on the computer. If so, then it should be a rather straight forward and easy process to install the OS (stick in the disk and reboot the computer...if there is no OS on the harddrive, then the CD [unless it is old enough to be a floppy] should boot up...if not, then hold down the C key while booting up with the CD disk in the drive).HTH

[KellieCM]

Yep. The computer should come with the install disks for its original OS. If it doesn't, you can find older OS disks on eBay and either stay with that or upgrade to the most recent OS (10.4 Tiger). I'd hold off on upgrading if possible, though, as 10.5 is supposedly coming soon.

[Skunky]

You have all the info that you need in the previous posts. Just wanted to let you know that you should be a tad bit careful while buying Macs with no OS discs that are still rather new. If it is older than OS X then they probably losts the discs. But if is a rather recent OS or computer it might have been stolen. Sorry... I live in the inner city and it is rather easy to loose a machine. My iBook was stolen and I still have the OS discs and serial numbers just in case I find it again. But if they have the discs then stick the first one in the machine, reboot, hold down the "C" button while it starts up, the follow the prompts. Clean erase will erase the HDD first then install the OS. I have done it about four times with OS X... Estimated time about an hour.

[gazelleintense]

be sure to use the archive and install option (checkbox)... it saves the previous system folder and stuff in case something goes wrong.