OS X for a MacBook Pro without it

[TheBearman]

So a co-worker tells me about a company sale of a used MacBook Pro. Exact version/model isn't available but the 15" MBP is speced wiyh a ntel® Core™ i5—540M 2.53 GHz processor.

The price seems reasonable but there's a catch.....no OS included. I expect it was low-level wiped to remove business data.

So the question is, how do we get an OS to do the initial install? Since all Apple laptops include an OS as part of the price will an Apple store restore the correct (sold with) version for free? Fee?

 

[David2144]

Hdd

They probably took out the Hard Drive. Make sure a drive is included first.

 

[Interstella5555]

So a co-worker tells me about a company sale of a used MacBook Pro. Exact version/model isn't available but the 15" MBP is speced wiyh a ntel® Core™ i5—540M 2.53 GHz processor.

The price seems reasonable but there's a catch.....no OS included. I expect it was low-level wiped to remove business data.

So the question is, how do we get an OS to do the initial install? Since all Apple laptops include an OS as part of the price will an Apple store restore the correct (sold with) version for free? Fee?

I'm sorry, why would Apple give you the OS for free? You can either ask your office for the original discs or pay ~$30 for a new disc.

 

[r6mile]

Assuming a hard drive is included - using another Mac, you could buy Mountain Lion from the App Store, and burn it onto a Dual layer DVD using this method: http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-13727_....8-mountain-lion-install-drive/?tag=txt;title

 

[TheBearman]

Thanks folks for the quick replies. It does include the HD, no details on the mileage. As for paying, don't believe he'd complain about buying it, just wondering if Apple would provide the originally shipped OS for free. I wouldn't expect Apple to provide Mountain Lion, I'd expect paying for that like you would any upgrade.

Should have been clear that this isn't for me (I have enough Apple systems at the moment). The intent is to use this as a "starter" system for their son.

Thanks again.

 

[Chocolatemilty]

Thanks folks for the quick replies. It does include the HD, no details on the mileage. As for paying, don't believe he'd complain about buying it, just wondering if Apple would provide the originally shipped OS for free. I wouldn't expect Apple to provide Mountain Lion, I'd expect paying for that like you would any upgrade.

Should have been clear that this isn't for me (I have enough Apple systems at the moment). The intent is to use this as a "starter" system for their son.

Thanks again.

If it is under an AppleCare warranty, the Genius Bar will provide OS-loading materials for free. I personally saw someone come into my local store with a MBP he'd purchased that was two months from being out of the three-year AppleCare warranty, and they provided him with Mountain Lion with their materials after checking the serial number and seeing it was recently loaded with ML. Apparently, he purchased it for a good price from his neighbor, which is was his work machine that also was low-level wiped. I believe they gave him the Snow Leopard disc as that's what the machine originally shipped with.

 

[johnnnw]

I'm pretty sure you can load the original OS that it was shipped with free as many times as you want...

Not sure why people are saying you need to pay unless I'm missing something.

 

[KUguardgrl13]

I'm no expert, but you might check for a recovery partition that might still have the OS. Otherwise you can download Mountain Lion as some have suggested or order a Snow Leopard disk.