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OSX - Finding serial number of lost discs

D

Droooooj

macrumors regular
Original poster
Is it possible to find out the serial number of the copy of OSX (10.4) I'm using if I've lost the discs?

Ie if I wanted to do a fresh install with borrowed discs, but wanted to keep my legit license, how would I go about it?
 
osx doesn't use serial numbers or licenses. Just throw in the disc and install, It won't ask for any serialkey.
 
OSX doesn't have serial numbers. You need either a retail disk or a restore disk that came with the same model of computer as yours.
 
So I can just do a fresh install with borrowed discs and I'm not breaking any laws?

What's a 'retail disc' by the way?
 
The grey install disks will only work with the model Mac they were sold with. The retail disks will install on any machine, up to a point. A retail install disk for 10.4 will probably not work on a brand new MBP. Apple will replace your original install disks for a small fee, it's called fulfillment disk.
 
old-wiz said:
The grey install disks will only work with the model Mac they were sold with. The retail disks will install on any machine, up to a point. A retail install disk for 10.4 will probably not work on a brand new MBP. Apple will replace your original install disks for a small fee, it's called fulfillment disk.
Click to expand...

My friend lost his install discs for Tiger, and he wants to do a fresh install. He owns an early gen Mac Pro. Do we just contact Apple with this information to get the fulfillment disc? Do you know how much the fee is?
 
And do you only receive the OS associated with your serial number?

I just found out it's a G5 with Panther, but he upgraded to Tiger (but doesn't have the Tiger discs). Is there any way to get the Tiger discs from Apple (proof of purchase or something?)? Or is he stuck with Panther if he goes through Apple?

It's really irritating that they would stop manufacturing the final PowerPC OS and screw over all the people who can't afford to upgrade to the newer Intels (yet).
 
MatchFrame said:
And do you only receive the OS associated with your serial number?

I just found out it's a G5 with Panther, but he upgraded to Tiger (but doesn't have the Tiger discs). Is there any way to get the Tiger discs from Apple (proof of purchase or something?)? Or is he stuck with Panther if he goes through Apple?

It's really irritating that they would stop manufacturing the final PowerPC OS and screw over all the people who can't afford to upgrade to the newer Intels (yet).
Click to expand...

Why not do an upgrade to Leopard 😉 http://cgi.ebay.com/Apple-Mac-OSX-1...Domain_210?hash=item23044a9ff8#ht_4448wt_1154
 
MatchFrame said:
And do you only receive the OS associated with your serial number?
Click to expand...
Correct


I just found out it's a G5 with Panther, but he upgraded to Tiger (but doesn't have the Tiger discs). Is there any way to get the Tiger discs from Apple (proof of purchase or something?)? Or is he stuck with Panther if he goes through Apple?
Click to expand...

Apple would have no way of knowing what you have purchased after the fact.

It's really irritating that they would stop manufacturing the final PowerPC OS and screw over all the people who can't afford to upgrade to the newer Intels (yet).
Click to expand...

No - Apple had been in the intel game for many years... Anybody buying a PPC mac in the intel era had to know that PPC was not going to last and if your Mac was older than that, there probably was not much that your G5 could support that Apple could have done without wasting tons of man hours on supporting older architectures. As for Leopard, thats just the way Apple works - there are other routes that will still legally sell you Leopard.
 
I've become very Snow Leopard-centric and completely forgot Leopard supports PowerPC, too. I was thinking Tiger was the last one to support it. I've always had an Intel Mac Pro, so I've never had to think in terms of PowerPC.

I know that Apple wouldn't know he upgraded his OS through retail, but I was wondering if there was any way to prove it. Probably not. Just wishful thinking for my friend.

I know that "that's just how Apple does things" but it's lame to me that they don't make the final PowerPC OS available for purchase for those who still use (and love) their PowerPC Macs. It's been a few years, yes, but Nintendo made parts available for the NES for 20 years after it was no longer available for purchase. And all I'm talking about is some DVD discs to install it. For purchase.
 
MatchFrame said:
I've become very Snow Leopard-centric and completely forgot Leopard supports PowerPC, too. I was thinking Tiger was the last one to support it. I've always had an Intel Mac Pro, so I've never had to think in terms of PowerPC.

I know that Apple wouldn't know he upgraded his OS through retail, but I was wondering if there was any way to prove it. Probably not. Just wishful thinking for my friend.

I know that "that's just how Apple does things" but it's lame to me that they don't make the final PowerPC OS available for purchase for those who still use (and love) their PowerPC Macs. It's been a few years, yes, but Nintendo made parts available for the NES for 20 years after it was no longer available for purchase. And all I'm talking about is some DVD discs to install it. For purchase.
Click to expand...

If Microsoft had had their way, XP would have died just after Vista was released. The only difference is that Vista was so lame, that they couldn't do it. Now 7 is out, expect both Vista and XP not to be around for very long.

What I'm trying to say is that on a software support front, Apple and MS are very similar.
 
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