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Author Topic: Identifying OS without booting?  (Read 3891 times)

Offline MamaMoose

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Identifying OS without booting?
« on: November 10, 2009, 08:46:43 AM »
I have a volume whose OS I am not sure of. I do not want to boot the volume for various reasons but I want to identify the specific OS. I tried to boot the system with the option key selected so I could see all bootable volumes displayed. The volume in question showed that it was an older version of the Mac OS. This surprised me as I thought this was a current backup system (OS 10.5.8) so I am not sure what is going on with this volume. If I open the volume on my desktop, is there any file I can access that irrefutably shows the OS version?

Thanks,

MamaMoose
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Offline Paddy

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Identifying OS without booting?
« Reply #1 on: November 10, 2009, 11:34:45 AM »
Interesting question, Tom. Took me a few minutes to find a file that reliably IDs the system, but I think this should work (works on my two different versions of X):

Root level (not user)->System->Library->CoreServices->highlight Finder.app

The version number will be the same as the OS. Another one to check, also in CoreServices, is SystemVersion.plist. You will need to open this in something like BBEdit or TextEdit - it's a text file.
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Offline jchuzi

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Identifying OS without booting?
« Reply #2 on: November 10, 2009, 01:08:22 PM »
QUOTE
Root level (not user)->System->Library->CoreServices->highlight Finder.app
That works, but instead of highlight, you must do a Get Info.
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Offline Paddy

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Identifying OS without booting?
« Reply #3 on: November 10, 2009, 01:40:43 PM »
Actually, Jon, you don't need to do a Get Info - at least you don't if you're in column view in the Finder, which is the only view I ever use, so I guess I just assumed that everyone else uses it too! wink.gif The last column is a "Preview" which shows the version number, among various other useful bits of info like the file size.
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Offline jchuzi

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Identifying OS without booting?
« Reply #4 on: November 10, 2009, 02:25:33 PM »
Right you are, Paddy. I always use List view so I didn't see it.
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Jon

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Offline sandbox

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Identifying OS without booting?
« Reply #5 on: November 11, 2009, 09:35:17 AM »
Menu>apple>system preferences>start up disk/

once to click on it ....it will give you a list a startup disks and their OS's
« Last Edit: November 11, 2009, 09:35:49 AM by sandbox »
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Offline Paddy

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Identifying OS without booting?
« Reply #6 on: November 11, 2009, 10:09:28 AM »
SB, that's what Tom did. He just wasn't sure that he believed what he saw and wanted another way to confirm it, short of booting into the system in question. wink.gif
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Offline Xairbusdriver

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Identifying OS without booting?
« Reply #7 on: November 11, 2009, 01:14:01 PM »
What is "List View"? tongue.gif
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Offline jchuzi

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« Reply #8 on: November 11, 2009, 01:28:50 PM »
QUOTE(Xairbusdriver @ Nov 11 2009, 02:14 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
What is "List View"? tongue.gif
That's a quick look into Franz's biography.  whistling.gif
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Jon

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Offline Xairbusdriver

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Identifying OS without booting?
« Reply #9 on: November 11, 2009, 01:45:42 PM »
QUOTE
he believed in preserving artistic individuality
That's why I don't care for him! Everyone should always use "Column View"!!! rant.gif laughhard.gif
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THERE ARE TWO TYPES OF COUNTRIES
Those that use metric = #1 Measurement system
And the United States = The Banana system
CAUTION! Childhood vaccinations cause adults! :yes:

Offline MamaMoose

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Identifying OS without booting?
« Reply #10 on: November 12, 2009, 02:51:35 AM »
WOW!. Thanks all. Nine replies - well there is no question that this problem is solved. Thanks again TSers  for answering my question in clear, understandable prose. It's not often I get a response from most Tech Support people that I understand and can fix the problem immediately.  Some software companies should take note how TS is an example of how to do things correctly.

Tom
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Offline sandbox

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Identifying OS without booting?
« Reply #11 on: November 12, 2009, 06:09:40 PM »
QUOTE(Paddy @ Nov 11 2009, 12:09 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
SB, that's what Tom did. He just wasn't sure that he believed what he saw and wanted another way to confirm it, short of booting into the system in question. wink.gif


I see...ops....FYI....there are no CoreServices in OS 10.3.9 so the path that you've suggested is limited to newer OS's.
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Offline Paddy

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Identifying OS without booting?
« Reply #12 on: November 12, 2009, 06:23:00 PM »
Tom said he was using 10.5.8 and 10.4.8 shows in his sig, so I think he's ok on that one, SB. wink.gif

Tom - change your sig to reflect your current system! biggrin.gif
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Offline Xairbusdriver

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Identifying OS without booting?
« Reply #13 on: November 12, 2009, 06:24:57 PM »
QUOTE
Tom - change your sig to reflect your current system!
And also include your SS#, bank account numbers and associated PINs. thanx.gif tiphat.gif scram.gif
« Last Edit: November 12, 2009, 06:25:17 PM by Xairbusdriver »
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THERE ARE TWO TYPES OF COUNTRIES
Those that use metric = #1 Measurement system
And the United States = The Banana system
CAUTION! Childhood vaccinations cause adults! :yes:

Offline sandbox

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Identifying OS without booting?
« Reply #14 on: November 12, 2009, 06:34:18 PM »
QUOTE(Paddy @ Nov 12 2009, 08:23 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Tom said he was using 10.5.8 and 10.4.8 shows in his sig, so I think he's ok on that one, SB. wink.gif

Tom - change your sig to reflect your current system! biggrin.gif


yup..he did....my FYI was just for general application of the solution across the spectrum of Mac OS's. hi.gif
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