Updating OS on a New Mac...While Keeping it Virginally New

September 20, 2009 10:24 AM

I'm donating a Mac laptop, and it's loaded with 10.6.0. I want to upgrade it to 10.6.1, but then still have the computer start up for them "virgin" (i.e. with the "welcome to macintosh" rigamarole and with no other accounts appearing). [NOTE: you may believe that's a silly thing to desire. Your disdain has been pre-registered, but I stupidly persist in hoping for this result]. Is there any way to update the OS and then completely erase my own footprints?

One way to do this would be by using another computer as the startup disk, attaching the gift computer via firewire disk mode, and updating the OS that way. But I'd want to repair permissions after the updating, and I've read that you're not supposed to repair when started up from another disk. Also, I'd like to use "software update" to check as to whether any other files need updating......and I think that only works from the startup disk, as well.

Thanks!

posted by jimmyjimjim to computers & internet (9 comments total)

this article has instructions on how to do it.
posted by mrg at 10:41 AM on September 20

Seriously, 'Repair Permissions' Is Voodoo.
posted by strangecargo at 10:49 AM on September 20

Seriously, 'Repair Permissions' Is Voodoo.

Voodoo, but mostly benign voodoo.
posted by nathan_teske at 11:23 AM on September 20

Take the laptop that is at 10.6.0. Clone it. Apply that image to an external drive.

Hook up the drive. Apply the update from the finder. You should have 10.6.1 on the external. Clone that, apply back to laptop.

If that doesn't work, boot the donated laptop in target mode, apply the update from another mac.

Alternatively, gift it and tell them there is an update they should apply?
posted by cjorgensen at 11:30 AM on September 20

Great stuff, thanks everyone.
posted by jimmyjimjim at 11:35 AM on September 20

You know, there'll be another update a few weeks later that they'll have to do anyway, so I wouldn't get too hung up on getting 10.6.1 on there.

I would remove all but root, delete the .AppleSetupDone file so it starts up with Welcome to Setup... and be done with it.
posted by rokusan at 11:46 AM on September 20

Where are you donating it? If you're donating it to an organization and not a person directly, the org is likely to erase it anyway for the sake of reliability and safety. (They don't know you or what might be installed on the machine, or what issues it might have.)

I would just erase it, install the Snow Leopard DVD, shut it down, and slip the DVD into the box. When it boots for the first time, they can create a new account with their name on it. Software Update will run and they'll get whatever is the latest version of the OS.
posted by Mikey-San at 2:33 PM on September 20

I do this from time to time. What Mikey-San said.
posted by dinger at 5:49 AM on September 21

Two on-topic replies, and five people questioning my assumptions (though I tried to stave off the latter by specifically and pointedly requesting that people respond to my question as stated without questioning the question). That's actually a pretty good ratio! And, thankfully, I did get an answer there, amid the questioning of my question.

I could have offered a detailed explanation for why I need the solution I've requested help with, but I figured that would just be yet more juicy bait for off-topic picking away at. And, anyway, it's likely that no amount of explanation, defensive anticipation, or out-and-out begging would ever be sufficient to stave off what's become the default tactic of many, even most, answerers. It's viral. It's become "the culture".
posted by jimmyjimjim at 8:10 AM on September 21