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masucci2

macrumors member
Original poster
Feb 3, 2011
40
2
nj
My daughters iMac that I bought second hand and don't have the osx install disk and the HD crapped out. its a mid 2007 I'm looking for a osx install disc on eBay do I have to use tiger or can I use snow leopard and will any install disk work? does it have to be for a 2007 iMac ?
 
On the 2007 you can install Snow Leopard and upgrade it up to El Capitan. But, as casperes allready said, you need the retail version, that's the coloured one, not the gray disks.
 
Apple is no longer selling the retail Snow Leopard DVD but you can still buy one from Amazon. You do not need the full set, only the install DVD.

 
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Is this the only Mac in the house? You can download a newer macOS from the app store on a another Mac. Then create an install USB Flash Drive with something like Diskmaker X.
 
Ok I ordered a snow leopard retail dvd from eBay the colored one and a ssd. Hopefully this fixes it.
 
Can anyone explain how to install tiger from a usb stick to a new usb hd? The easiest way? Just so happens that my buddy had the disc loaded on a usb stick. Thanks in advance!
 
Can anyone explain how to install tiger from a usb stick to a new usb hd? The easiest way? Just so happens that my buddy had the disc loaded on a usb stick. Thanks in advance!

Unless it is 10.4.10 or later. It will not work.

The latest Mac OS you can run is 10.11 (El Capitan). I would use that for the greatest compatibility. Linked is the Apple support article. A download link for El Capitan is within the article.

To make an installer USB. Use Diskmaker X. You'll need at least version 5 to create an El Capitan installation USB or DVD.

If you need to create an installer USB from Windows. Try using Transmac. This article contains instructions. Note I have not tried this. As I make my installers using a Mac.

If you want something a little older. You can download Yosemite from Apple. I did not see anything older available directly from Apple on a quick search. Although I'd use El Capitan for the greatest software compatibility.


Note: If you upgrade the CPU in your iMac to a Penryn Core 2 Duo. You can unofficially run up to the latest macOS (Catalina) using DOSDude1's patch. Although there are likely some issues getting it running. Plus all the work in tearing it down for the upgrade.
 
She’s back! I installed snow leopard from a retail disc and a new hd. Question now is do I leave it at snow leopard or do I upgrade it, if I upgrade it what is would work best with it. It’s a mid 2007 20 inch.
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Sorry I just saw the upgrade post on how to upgrade to El Capitan. Thanks guys’!!
 
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Trying to install El Capitan but I keep getting a message no packages were eligible for install? I’ll try Yosemite next
 
I got the same message on my 2009 Mac Pro when trying to install El Capitan onto it. You have to check the date in terminal and change it to something around mid 2017. Take a look at this link:

 
Trying to install El Capitan but I keep getting a message no packages were eligible for install? I’ll try Yosemite next

Easy fix. Boot into the El Capitan installer Drive, go to utilities at the top, open terminal, and type this:

Date 080112002019

Then proceed with the install.

(Yosemite would give you the same problem, but it is a much worse OS!)
 
One more question. I want to max out the memory on this, I read it will accept 6gb, 2 in one slot and 4 in the other one. Is this true? If so what memory? Sorry for so many questions I’m new to the Mac game. Thanks
 
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