New computer
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 30,753
Likes: 4,763
From: Medina, OH
The old iMac lives on. The steps for reusing an old Mac is to hold down the Command+R keys during a boot-up. That puts it in recovery mode. Then reinstall the original operating software. Mac’s before 2012, such as my 2011, can only run older, insecure versions of the operating system that are no longer being updated, so they should generally not be used. I have no intentions of putting personal private information on it, so that’s not an issue. The newest OS it will accept is dated 2018 with High Sierra 10.13.6.
Since my original hard drive crashed, it had to be replaced. Using Disk Utility I was able to erase all the data on that drive before removing it. I then took a hammer to it! There is a U-tube video on how to replace the drive with an original replacement for $99. Which I considered.
Then a retired computer engineer offered to do the replacement with upgrades. He installed a 500GB solid state drive and beefed up the memory from 4GB to 12GB. $137 in parts. Thereby saving a eleven year old $2k computer from its final days in the scrapyard. And it is faster than ever.
Since my original hard drive crashed, it had to be replaced. Using Disk Utility I was able to erase all the data on that drive before removing it. I then took a hammer to it! There is a U-tube video on how to replace the drive with an original replacement for $99. Which I considered.
Then a retired computer engineer offered to do the replacement with upgrades. He installed a 500GB solid state drive and beefed up the memory from 4GB to 12GB. $137 in parts. Thereby saving a eleven year old $2k computer from its final days in the scrapyard. And it is faster than ever.
Thread Starter
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 45,849
Likes: 8,351
From: Mish-she-gan
Yeah, you are referring to the Mac mini . . . that's why I bought extra memory over the base level to start with.
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 37,552
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From: bolton
but it might not do you any good. I suspect the BIOS may be hardcoded.
Registered User
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 65,408
Likes: 4,690
From: Smalltown
When Covid hit, I tried to get a video camera for my monitor. Nope, nothing out there. Everyone was zooming then! 
I didn't pursue it as I have a camera on my laptop. It's just OK, but I can't even remember the last time I used it.
I didn't pursue it as I have a camera on my laptop. It's just OK, but I can't even remember the last time I used it.
Thread Starter
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 45,849
Likes: 8,351
From: Mish-she-gan
Since the laptop camera's are often poor quality many people buy a webcam for them from what I've read.
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 30,753
Likes: 4,763
From: Medina, OH
I bought one, installed it and have never used it! Oh well.....
Registered User
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 65,408
Likes: 4,690
From: Smalltown