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From: super70s <super70s@super70s.invalid>
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Subject: Re: Has all the data disappeared off my old core2duo iMac?
Date: Mon, 10 Jun 2024 21:09:02 -0500
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On 2024-06-10 14:16:49 +0000, Alan Browne said:

> On 2024-06-10 09:40, Amanda Ripanykhazov wrote:
>> On 6/9/24 7:40 PM, Percival John Hackworth wrote:
>> 
>>> Sounds like a dead or dying hard drive.
>>> 
>>> Install a new disk into the machine and reinstall MacOS from the network
>>> (command-R from boot).
>>> Attach the old drive to the system with a USB cable. Amazon sells ones from
>>> Sabrent but there are others.
>>> When the new install asks if you want to migrate from another machine, select
>>> the old drive as the source OR use your latest Time Machine Backup.
>>> 
>> Thanks guys! I kinda knew that was the position, - I was just hoping 
>> that I might have overlooked some option for reading what was on the 
>> drive.  But short of re-building whatever the Master Boot Record is 
>> called on a Mac, I do accept that this is unlikely.
>> 
>> I'm pretty sure this is just a backup computer and whatever is on it is 
>> somewhere else as well so it just isnt worthwhile spending too much 
>> time getting it working.
>> 
>> I also agree that this whole situation only arises because the drive is 
>> on it's way out and the computer urgently needs throwing away,  rather 
>> than wasting time pulling it apart to put a new HD in it
> 
> 
> What year is the computer? That it wants to "El Capitan" suggests 2015 
> which (to me) is not an old computer.  Core 2 Duo suggest closer to 
> 2010 if not older...
> 
> It could be (with a new drive and install) a great starter Mac for 
> someone out there with modest computing needs.

A few years ago I bought a used iMac Intel Core i5 (Mid-2014) that had 
Mavericks installed on it. I transferred El Capitan from an Intel Core 
2 Duo over to it (using CC Cloner) and tried to upgrade the new machine 
to Big Sur (the maximum OS it will run) from the network. Instead it 
installed Mojave. Actually I'm glad it turned out like that, GUI-wise. 
Strangely it keeps an "upgrade to Big Sur" reminder in the Software 
Update control panel.