how to find out if a system has a pirated OSX.

sswats

sswats

sswats

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When buying a used mac how can you tell if a system has a copied OSX?

Secondly I work in PC repairs and we want to expand to basic Mac stuff. So regarding upgrading Tiger systems to snow leopard. It doesn't seem to state it on Apple site, but with a clean install they should only need to buy the £30 Snow leopard right without needing to install leopard first, right?

Going back to the dodgy copy question, I am competing with a more dodgy market stall not too far away willing to use copied versions of snow leopard (and windows) What reasons do i give to the customer to avoid copies (apart from the moral argument which often falls on deaf ears). eg with windows, there will be a lack of security updates leaving system open to virus' or the fact that they may eventually get blocked by MS.
So whats the argument for using only legitimate copies of OSX?
 
I don't know about telling whether it is legit or not.

With regards to the retail DVD.

I believe both the Upgrade and the Full Install discs are exactly the same, but by their terms and agreements you need to retail disc if you want to do a clean install.
 
Regarding Windows you will still receive security updates even if your copy is not genuine. Microsoft Security Essentials requires WGA validation - free antivirus might tempt them.
 
There are absolutely no penalties for using a pirated copy. No authentication, no authorisation, no restriction on security updates.

In short, good luck trying to sell it legitimately just round the corner from a pirate...
 
Its a computer market with a few people. I don't know which one specifically does it. just customer came in for a quote about upgrading her Tiger to Snow leopard, I told her software alone is £132. She then told me someone in the market offered to do it all for £45.

But we're far enough away towards the richer part of the area to not need to compete directly. And you mac people tend to like giving money to apple so its usually not too hard to convince them to be legit.
 
Well I know that Apple's own staff will happily sell you a copy of Snow Leopard after you tell them you're upgrading from Tiger, as will Premium Reseller staff.

I know this because I have been both :p

There are genuine benefits to the Mac Boxed Set though - if you're running a Tiger machine your iLife will be '06 most likely, which is pretty much toilet now. It costs extra money, but you get extra stuff, so make her aware of it.

As I said before though I've never met an Apple staff member who would actively try and talk someone out of buying Snow Leopard to upgrade from Tiger, they just make you aware that licensing wise it's not technically covered but it absolutely will work even from a completely blank machine.
 
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sswats said:
eg with windows, there will be a lack of security updates leaving system open to virus' or the fact that they may eventually get blocked by MS.
Click to expand...

Unfortunatly that's just not true with pirated versions of Windows 7. It's a very impressive crack
 
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