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Buying a used Mac? Check these six things first
A second-hand Mac can be a bargain or a brick. Here's how to check which macOS it will run, whether it's locked to someone else's account, and where to buy safely.
Read more →How to check a macOS installer is genuine
Found an old “Install macOS” app on a drive or a forum? Two built-in Terminal commands show whether Apple really signed it, before you trust it with your Mac.
Read more →Booting an older Mac from an external drive? Use an SSD, not a hard drive
Installing Catalina or later on an external hard drive can end in a “Your computer restarted because of a problem” loop. Here's why the change in how macOS lays out its disk makes an SSD essential, and how to set one up.
Read more →macOS Golden Gate drops Intel Macs. Here's what to do if you have one
macOS 27 Golden Gate runs only on Apple silicon, so macOS Tahoe 26 is the last stop for Intel Macs. Here's how to keep yours safe, useful and reinstallable for years.
Read more →Why can't you find old macOS versions in the App Store?
Search the Mac App Store for “Mojave” and you'll get nothing, even though Apple still offers it. Here's where old installers actually live and how to reach them.
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