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Mac N00b struggling

michael2k6

By michael2k6
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michael2k6

michael2k6

Posted
Posted

Hi all,

 

So, someone I know contacts me and asks me to give them a hand with the MAC. We've all been here one way or another...

 

So i turn up, and see the mac and the accounts on it and recognise it - it used to belong to another friend, and know he's a mutual friend of these people.

It had a faulty power supply and that was repaired by an authorised apple peoples.

 

There are 3 user accounts on it, 2 from the original user and one from the new user. The original 2 are admins and the new one is the new owner, but is not an admin account.

 

So i couldn't do basic things like change the default wireless network.

Needless to say through a few simple steps i created myself a new admin account, removed the old two, and made the current one an admin. I'll not post the method as it's in the wrong part of the forum for prying eyes but those of you who i'm hoping for a reply from will probably know!

 

So the new problem.

She asks me to create a share to the laptop so we can move things around. So i figured that out.

Then we wanted to put itunes on it. So i moved the music over the network and exported the playlists, put the music on, imported playlists working ok.

Time to plug ipod in. This ipod cannot be used with this version of itunes.

Download new itunes.

Cannot be installed with this version of the OS. Ok can acrifice that.

 

So another problem is hotmail. Can view inbox but cant read emails. It says we need a new version of safari, or firefox etc.

Ok, so download safari. Can't install it. need to upgrade OS.

 

Download firefox. Can't install it. Need new OS.

 

Ok, so this is starting to get annoying. So i look for an updates process and find one. But obviously it's for updates to that OS, not a new OS.

 

So i go for the link on OS updates. It turns out we're on Tiger and we need a Snow Leopard. So i go online, look for Snow Leopards, and it tells me I can have a snow leopard for £25 on an upgrade disc, but i can't find a downlaodable version or even a version to buy online.

 

So i look it up on a few forums and someone mentions something about a box set, which I didn't understand much of because it was a bit vague. But things were pointing at going to the apple shop and buying something for £25 which would solve my problem.

 

So i go the 30 miles to the nearest apple shop with said friend in tow, and see a genius. He informs me that it's not about snow leopards any more its all about the lions. But I can't have the Lions without the Snow Leopards and what I now need is a box set, which is £122.

This is considerable more than £25. And by this point i'm thinking I'm buying some sort of expensive safari documentary series.

 

So I'm then told that they don't have it in stock anyway and I have to buy it online. But that I also can't download it and I have to have it delivered on a disc. So I can't download it and rip it to a disc.

 

I'm then told that actually, there's no activation etc and he borrowed his mates discs to do it. So if i know anyone, I can do that. Erm. As much as I don't think an apple employee should be saying that, it's apreciated so fair enough, nothing like being a good salesman lol. So I leave the genius and go buy some jeans while i'm there.

 

So I spot a currys and think you never know. I ask the man if they have any snow leopards and he says that I can get it online and download it, but I'm better off with a Lion, although a snow leopard should be in stock should I want one.

 

So now i've heard it all.

 

All I want to do is run apple software on an apple PC. I've never known such a thing from a windows machine. Forgive me mac fanboys - i've given it a chance - I have an iphone and things its great - but on this imac, within 10 minutes of only ever using a mac to connect it to a wireless network, i've managed to give myself full admin rights to it, and the files of the other administrators full control over the other admin accounts, etc, and can't do simple tasks due to the age of the OS - fair enough, Windows needs updating, but how old is XP now? Not come across any issues with simple tasks like checking email in a browser or installing itunes. Is it a nice way of apple making money by limiting their own software to the versions it will install on? Or is it genuinley necessary? I don't understand why the new components aren't free as an OS update online.

 

And can anyone tell me where to go from here? Do i purchase some sort of leopard? And does anyone have any knowledge of whether it has to go through quarantine, or if i can have it delivered to another address? (I may not be in, the neighbours wouldnt apreciate it - my grandma loves animals and has a garage to store it in until i get home).

Also, is the leopard delivered in cub form or adult? i can fit a cub in the car, if it's an adult i'll how to borrow a friends van, incurring yet further expense for the expected damage, as the last time i transported a leopard in a van, it pulled out the ply lining, we can only assume this one will do the same. And, if I have to buy the Lion, can i purchase them both at the same time? And do they come in the same crate? I'm not sure how a snow leopard and a Lion will react to being in the same van. Unless they're both cubs?

 

As you can see, i'm very confused and any help with the situation would be greatly apreciated.

 

Mic

 

My posts are my own and do not represent the opinion, strategies or views of my employer or their associates.

SYNACK

SYNACK

Posted
Posted

Its an Intel one, just put Windows on it, much easier :D ...

 

Seriously though if you have access to another mac you should be able to download the Lion stuff and then use the utility to make it into a bootable USB key which you should then, if I understand it right, be able to do a fresh install of that. I could be completely wrong though as usually my only involvement with Macs is to cast a distainful eye over them when nessisary.

GrumbleDook

GrumbleDook

Posted
Posted
If it came with Tiger I would check the spec and see if it will be happy with Lion first ...think of it like going from XP to Windows 7 .... quite likely to be possible but do you want to? Also check about upgrading the RAM too.
michael2k6

michael2k6

Posted
  • Author
Posted

it looks like a sealed unit lol i'll give it a poke.

cheers guys. yeh i'd thought about the spec but the genius told me that it would be ok, thing is, i dont know what i want, i don't know if i have to have lion, or if snow cat will do?

 

Cheers Guys

Arthur

Arthur

Posted
Posted

Would it be possible to post the Mac's model ID and the amount of RAM it currently has? To do this click the Apple menu (top left), then go to About This Mac and click the More Info... button. This will open System Profiler. The model name/number will be listed under Model Identifier (for example, mine is Macmini3,1).

 

Alternatively, copy-and-paste the model ID or the last three characters of your Mac's serial number (also in System Profiler) into the website below and it will tell you the exact spec.

 

http://www.everymac.com/ultimate-mac-lookup/

3s-gtech

3s-gtech

Posted
Posted
As above posters have suggested, post the spec. If it's a later PPC model, no Snow Leopards or Lions for you - Leopard (10.5, still a great OS) will be the latest you can use.
michael2k6

michael2k6

Posted
  • Author
Posted

THanks peoples. Next time I can get my hands on the MAC which will probably be tonight or Sunday i will post the spec and model.

I'm not bothered which animal I have so long as i can run the latest version of safari and itunes, with the ipod - i'll post the model of ipod too.

SYNACK

SYNACK

Posted
Posted (edited)
THanks peoples. Next time I can get my hands on the MAC which will probably be tonight or Sunday i will post the spec and model.

I'm not bothered which animal I have so long as i can run the latest version of safari and itunes, with the ipod - i'll post the model of ipod too.

 

If it is older and PPC based then you may have trouble with this as Apple support lasts until they release their next version. As such I am reasonably certain that I heard that the latest version of Safari and some other stuff simply won't run on an older Mac. They may need to follow Apple recommended practice and just buy a new one.

 

The other options are using a different browser like Firefox and possibly an older version of iTunes which may still support the iPod.

Edited by SYNACK
michael2k6

michael2k6

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Thanks Synack.

They may just follow Sanderson recommended practise and not get another apple (mainly becasue then i can support it lol).

Firefox didn't want to work either but i didn't play around trying to find an older version that will load on tiger but actually be useful for browsing. I might have another go at it.

Itunes does install, it moans that the ipod isnt compatible :( i think.

Arthur

Arthur

Posted
Posted (edited)
I think you'll only get Snow leopard on that, Lion requires "Intel Core 2 Duo, Core i3, Core i5, Core i7, or Xeon processor" whereas that mac just has a core duo.

You can install Lion on a Core Duo Mac (at least unofficially). ;)

 

512MB isn't a lot tho, would be the first thing to bump up if they can afford it!

Definitely! Upgrading the RAM to 2GB would be the first thing I would do too. Instructions on how to do this with the early 2006 iMac can be found here (or

YouTube video).

 

I would go with one of the 2GB memory kits below since they are both are guaranteed to be compatible with your iMac.

 

Kingston 2GB (2x1GB) DDR2 667MHz 200-pin SODIMMs (P/N: [url="http://goo.gl/51REo"]KTA-MB667K2/2G[/url])
[url="http://store.cbccomputers.com/products.asp?partno=KTA-MB667K2%2F2G"]£22.27[/url]

Crucial 2GB (2x1GB) DDR2 667MHz 200-pin SODIMMs (P/N: [url="http://www.crucial.com/uk/store/mpartspecs.aspx?mtbpoid=0C4FC4B8A5CA7304"]CT541065[/url])
[url="http://www.crucial.com/uk/store/listparts.aspx?model=iMac%202.0GHz%20Intel%20Core%20Duo%20(20-inch)&Cat=RAM"]£23.99[/url]

 

Alternatively, you can save a few £s by buying this generic RAM. However, there is a small chance it may not work.

Edited by Arthur
michael2k6

michael2k6

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Thanks for all your help.

I'll get the garunteed RAM ordered and into it straight away.

In terms of upgrading, i'll be happy with the snow leopard, but what features do I lose if i done put leopard on in between?

featured_spectre

featured_spectre

Posted
Posted
Go with Snow Leopard. With the horror stories I have heard about OSX Lion, its not worth upgrading to that (unless you do server version which you shouldn't be doing on that machine). Snow Leopard was/is solid as a rock in my opinion.
HodgeHi

HodgeHi

Posted
Posted

Lion server is utter pants as well, so I would steer clear of it completely. Lion is 10.7 in case you weren't sure

 

Snow leopard (10.6) can boot and install directly from the DVD so no need to install leopard (10.5) beforehand. You can possibly get snow leopard from places such Used Mac at Scrumpymac.co.uk

  • Thanks 1
Arthur

Arthur

Posted
Posted

Why would michael2k6 need the server version of Mac OS X? Seems strange to even mention it. :confused:

 

I would go for Snow Leopard too. Strictly speaking you are not meant to go from Tiger to Snow Leopard (skipping Leopard), although lots of people do it...

 

To be clear, installing the $29 upgrade to Snow Leopard on a system not already running a properly licensed copy of Leopard is a violation of the end-user license agreement that comes with the product. But Apple's decision is a refreshing change: rewarding honest people with a hassle-free product rather than trying to punish dishonest people by treating everyone like a criminal. (Source)

 

By the way, Lion won't work because the Finder is a 64-bit only app.

mac_shinobi

mac_shinobi

Posted
Posted
Why would michael2k6 need the server version of Mac OS X? Seems strange to even mention it. :confused:

 

I would go for Snow Leopard too. Strictly speaking you are not meant to go from Tiger to Snow Leopard (skipping Leopard), although lots of people do it...

 

 

 

By the way, Lion won't work because the Finder is a 64-bit only app.

 

Never knew that but I got Leopard with my 2008 Mac Pro , did a fresh install of Leopard , repaired permissions before and after each update(s) until it was on the last update and then went ahead and upgraded to snow leopard, it completely borked it up so ended up doing a format and fresh install of snow leopard

 

Obviously then upgraded my RAM and boot drive to an SSD ( all OWC stuff ) and luckily apple gave me 10.6.3 dmg to install snow leopard for future ref.

 

Currently have 18gb ram, 240gb 6gbps owc ssd and 2 quad core xeon cpu's, still old in comparison to todays mac pro's sigh at least with regards to cpu, ram and bus speeds.

Arthur

Arthur

Posted
Posted
I mentioned lion server as thats the only decent lion product

If Lion is rubbish, then Lion Server has to be rubbish too...

 

I want to clarify a couple of things before I dive into the review proper: First, just like previous versions, Lion Server is very much just OS X with server functionality laid over top of it. In appearance, performance, system requirements, and operation, it is mostly identical to OS X client. (Source)
AntonioRocco

AntonioRocco

Posted
Posted

Hello Arthur

 

Lion Server at the moment has gone pretty much the same way that Snow Leopard went the first time it was released. Hopeless and frustrating! Which appears to be the case if you read the horror stories over on the Lion Server Support Forum:

 

https://discussions.apple.com/community/servers_enterprise_software/mac_os_x_lion_server

 

However as is usual with most Support Forums, most (not all) will post if there are problems. Very few post reporting no problems at all. Most of those that post mentioning problems are having them because they've 'rolled their own' versions of Apache or Perl or SQL or Ruby and Samba and so on. Upgrades and/or Migrations from one version to another never go too well once you move away from Apple's stock install. Having said that some of the posts mentioning Open Directory being supremely mangled on Migration or Upgrade are disturbing.

 

I've not had a chance to install/test Lion Server yet so I can't say one way or another. But - as alluded to before - there were many were moaning how 'bad' 10.6 Server was, when it first came out, when compared to 10.5. I remember someone saying 10.5 Server was twice as bad as Vista and that's saying something! Personally I've never had a problem with Vista. Then again my needs are simple and I don't expect too much.

 

In my experience (and possibly yours?) OS X Server does not generally begin to 'settle down' until the .3 and/or .4 Updates are released. I half expect 10.7 Server to follow the same pattern.

 

The 10.7 Client OS is actually OK and I and others have been running it quite happily the day it was released. It also works fine with AD and/or OD. Granted there are a few differences but nothing really major. Hopefully others may find this link helpful which lists some of them:

 

Apple Tips Some Changes in Lion

 

HTH?

 

Antonio Rocco (ACSA)

  • 2 weeks later...
michael2k6

michael2k6

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Just wanted to say thanks all the RAM is in and the Snow Leopard (Snowflake) has arrived. He did not arrive on a crate nor in a cage, but in a small cd package. He now lives in the MAC.

 

Thanks

Mic

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