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Mugambo
Jul 23, 2009, 10:53 PM
Could anyone please explain the difference between a retail OS dvd (the ones purchased for upgrade) and install/restore OS dvd (the ones that come with a macbook)?

Are they interchangeable and substituted?

Or are they machine specific? (locked to one serial number)

Thanks in Advance


jmann
Jul 23, 2009, 10:54 PM
Purple retail discs can be used with any computer. The grey discs are strictly model specific.
guydude193
Jul 23, 2009, 10:55 PM
They're machine specific as in the model you're working with.
Really, the only difference is the packaging and DVD design. Of course, you can't buy, say, a MacBook's Leopard Reinstall DVD to upgrade another Mac.
Will not work.
Mugambo
Jul 23, 2009, 10:55 PM
Just to make sure if I got it right.

When you say model specific, doesn't mean serial number specific, right?
applebook
Jul 23, 2009, 11:25 PM
Just to make sure if I got it right.

When you say model specific, doesn't mean serial number specific, right?

No.
jmann
Jul 23, 2009, 11:26 PM
Just to make sure if I got it right.

When you say model specific, doesn't mean serial number specific, right?

The are Serial (Machine) specific. Sorry. :(
applebook
Jul 24, 2009, 12:08 AM
The are Serial (Machine) specific. Sorry. :(

They are model number specific only, not serial number specific.

In the past, some restore DVDs designed for certain Macs worked even with other models, but I haven't tried this since the G4 days.
NewMacbookPlz
Jul 24, 2009, 12:10 AM
The are Serial (Machine) specific. Sorry. :(

Pretty sure it's just by model line/generation of that model line.
MultiFinder17
Jul 24, 2009, 12:23 AM
Yes, the retail disks can be used with any machine, while the grey machine disks are limited to any machine that's the same model.

However, fun note, I used the Applications install disk from my 2009 mini to install iPhoto '09 on my PowerBook G4; I was rather surprised, pleasantly though, that it worked :D
GfulDedFan
Jul 24, 2009, 03:26 AM
The major difference between a restore DVD set and a retail DVD is the restore DVD's include iLife and the retail copy doesn't. Other than that, they're interchangeable with one exception: If you need to reinstall your OS, the retail copy needs to be a newer OS version than the one originally installed on your system.

As far as using restore disks on a different model, that's a no as stated above.