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General discussion

installing mac on any computer

Jan 25, 2007 11:51PM PST

i built my computer a couple months ago and iwas having a few problems with windows xp, is it possible to buy and install the mac os on my computer, even though there is no association with apple, in other words, can the mac os be installed on any hd with any computer? or does it have to be sold by apple

Discussion is locked

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The short answer is NO
Jan 26, 2007 3:34AM PST

Apple do not allow the installation of OS X on any computer that is not a Genuine Apple computer.

P

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Try Linux
Feb 3, 2007 7:52PM PST

Linux offers a good alternative to Windows XP that is Mac-like in some ways. You don't even need to get rid of your existing Windows XP in order to run Linux, and it can be run without needing to buy a new computer.

Have a look here: www.ubuntu.com

Download or order a free CD, you'll probably like it. Speaking from personal experience, once it's set up it requires almost no maintanance.

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YES You can...
Feb 3, 2007 8:25PM PST

BUt illegally!

It is a hard process and takes time to get started but once u know what to do it is alright.

But it is also no use. This si because of LOTS of driver problems and all so I really wouldnt recommend it. But if u are a die hard kind of guy and simply want it then u can but remember it is hard.

You cant do it with the normal install DVD. It is illegal to install Mac on non apple hardware. So dont ask me. All I am going to say is that search for Mac OS X86. It took me months to do reseacrh at a slow pace and understand it.

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Huh... X86?
Feb 19, 2007 12:25AM PST

That interesting, as I've always wondered if there were some way to accomplish Mac use on a non-Mac PC. I DON'T want to try, happy with the Macs I have (even though I desperately need a new one, seeing as I'm still sitting at 400 MHz, and it's painful sometimes). I would, as you suggested, not really try this unless you are hardcore for trying it. I suggest as others that you try Linux, for sure. To add some advice of a "cheapskate" Mac fan, get a real Mac (sell the PC or keep it for the heck of it) and know that you can keep the Mac updated (OS versions) for a long time. I started with the year 2000 OS (9.1, I think) and currently run 10.3.9 on the PowerBook. On this old thing that's as upgraded as I can go, but I don't see Apple cutting from Intel anytime soon, and they have always been decent about letting you upgrade your system OS without 100s of HW and SW hassles. And they are very solid machines, so take the plunge (and maybe someday you'll cuss Windows the way I do).