Can my friend use my OSX install DVD?

A friend of mine just bought a second hand MacBook off of Ebay,
only problem is his OSX install is quite cluttered and the MacBook didn't come with an OSX DVD!?

Now obviously its a good idea to wipe the hard drive and reinstall OSX. Can he use my OSX DVD to reinstall the OS? (Surely he should be able to do this?)

Mine is from a new 2.2ghz MBP

Many thanks
Matt

 

Guys, none of this is relevant to the OP's question.

Anyway, if it's the same version of OS X, I can't see a problem.
If you're installing a newer version than what's already on the Macbook, you're bypassing the $129 Apple charges for the newer version, and so effectively it's pirating.

EDIT: Actually, I'm not sure if they sold any Macbooks before Tiger came out... maybe they didn't. So as long as they're both Tiger, I'd say it's fine.

 

I wouldn't want to do anything illegal - how about I buy a copy of Leopard, and GIVE my friend my OSX DVD? Hows that?

 

That's not a bad idea. I don't think there's anything different between the MacBook and MacBook Pro Install Discs...so it should be fine. However, in the future, remind your friend not to buy any notebook if it doesn't come with reinstall CD/DVDs.

And to swarmer, yes, all MacBooks come (and came) with OS X Tiger - Intel. Tiger was released in 2005, and Apple switched to Intel in 2006, so all MacBooks and MacBook Pros come with Tiger only.

 

If you or your friend live near an Apple Store, drop in and see one of the Geniuses. The OS can be reinstalled there, and probably for free.

My son was given an ancient G4 with the same problem, PLUS what was in that computer was in Chinese. We barely get by in English! We took it to the store and a fresh copy of the OS (in English lol) was installed with no charge.. The gent doing the work wouldn't even accept a cup of coffee (Peet's has a shop right next door). Good luck.

 

Really? Wow, I didn't know that. Then again, there's no Apple Store here in Vancouver for me to find out .

That is awesome.

 

I dont think you can use your MBP disc. If the processors are of the same type, then it may work, But generally the install discs that come with apple computers are made specifically for that model. You can't use a old Macbook's disc with the new Macbooks or vice versa either because the older model is Core duo vs the newer Core 2 duo. If you try it, the installation says that this disc can't be used with this system or something like that.

 

Correct. Apple will only allow like-for-like Macs to use each others install disc. Any Macbook can use another Macbook's disc. What can't be done is use a MBP's disc inside a standard Macbook. Likewise an iMac can't use a Mac Pro's install disc.
I'm not convinced that you can't use a Macbook Core Duo's disc with a Macbook Core 2 Duo but I wouldn't be surprised if that was true.

Now while it's true that Apple will indeed install a fresh copy of OS X on your computer for you if you bring it into the Apple store they still need a reason for doing it. They have to be servicing your computer at the genius bar so they won't just do it for nothing.

 

That's not correct. As I posted above, the work was done for my son and the Genius would not even accept a cup of coffee. No other work was done to that machine. The only explanation we gave was exactly what I stated earlier: we needed the OS to be reinstalled in order to use the machine. And, BTW, the work was done at the direction of the store manager (she was the first person we spoke to at the counter and weren't aware at that moment that she ran the store).

Please clarify or correct other posters when you're sure about what you're posting.

 

^ That is very generous.

Someone please correct me if im wrong. With Windows you have to validate XP/Vista at which time they map the CD key to your hardware, is there no such thing with OS X?

 

No. However, it probably won't work as stated above. It needs to be the same type, so MacBook to Macbook, not MacBook Pro. Call up Apple or stop by a store, they have been good in the past about replacing OS discs.

 

I have one more question. So my OSX DVD won't work in my friends MacBook. Fair enough. So when I go out next month and buy Leopard, will I have to specify I want a MBP version? (because I've ordered one online already, maybe I should cancel my order)

 

I don't believe there are any differences between the Leopard retail discs...or at least, if there is, I've never seen any "OS X Leopard - MacBook version" or "OS X Leopard - MacBook Pro version" so if there actually are differences, Apple isn't being evident about it.

 

The install DVDs won't work. The mb will kernel panic once you try to boot to the disks. The disks have to be from a mb to work on another mb.

 

It has to be the same type, quite likely even the same model. But if it didn't come with a disc, then either it is refurbished/second-hand and he's out of luck OR a mistake. All new Macs come with the discs, so contact the reseller to get discs if it's not a refurbished or second-hand machine.

 

I got my macbook refurbished from Apple and it came with 2 discs for OS X.

 

it is possible to put tiger onto thinkpads with the discs so i doubt very much putting a newer tiger version number on an older machine would not be a problem especially if it orginally came with tiger....
most apple stores are very helpful anyways i would just try one of them....

 

Is it possible to install OS X on a PC? Yes. Is it allowed? No. Apple's EULA states that OS X can only be installed on Apple hardware, so yeah.

 

LOL Apple's EULA's are definately not worth comment

My point was that the installation was not a hardware issue but simply useing a version number that was the same or greater then the gear was shipped with.....

 

Now that's surprising. I was fixing a friend's old ibook g4 and needed to determine whether the problem was hardware or software. Problem was that she didn't have her osx install discs, so i took it to the mac store to see one of those geniuses. The guy was adamant that he could not install a copy of osx on the ibook. I even said that i would buy the software if it installed fine. The dude told me that he didn't have any software available nor could he clone the hard drive in there. He just told me to call up apple to request the restore disks. Lets just say i left an unhappy camper.

 

I have ot ask you guys, how does Apple handle OS X licenses?
Windows is such a pain with it's keys, but I've installed OS X on my MBP several times without any hitch. And I don't understand how come I never put in a key.
Is a key encrypted on the disc?

 

Maybe you caught him on a bad day? If it matters or helps anyone, the store I always deal with is in Burlingame, CA. The service is friendly and, for me, has always been great.

 

The only key Apple uses for Mac OS X is honesty.

 

That and a Trusted Platform Module chip that needs to be in your computer to make it difficult to run on non-Apple hardware (which wouldn't have come with a copy of OS X).

So essentially there's a hardware "key". (Although that key isn't specific to any one version of OS X.)