[TommySix]

I'm new to Macs and I just want to know how I can check if a machine is set up to be registered to a particular company, a setting that you put in when you first set up the machine along with owner etc.

Also, can I change this assignment say if I changed jobs?

Cheers

[Cold Warrior]

when a new Mac is booted for the first time, or one reinstalls the OS, it goes through the set-up and registration process. That's when the registration info is sent to Apple (assuming there's an internet connection).

You may be able to re-run the setup/registration utility to re-send newer or updated registration information, but I've never messed with that so I don't know how.

[TommySix]

Cheers I'm aware of that, but how do I CHECK this info on a computer that has already been set up?

[Art Vandelay]

You don't. Apple doesn't store the registration info on the computer.

[larkost]

You could call AppleCare and ask. Or better yet, send them an email with your serial number and that question.

[Cold Warrior]

Are you worried about it phoning home or something?

[analogika]

Are you worried about whether it's stolen?
Or are you worried about whether anybody could find out *that* it's stolen?

[TommySix]

We have several work machines that we bought and some are second hand. We want to check everything basically (ie if they're stolen) and also to find out which computers are registered to which company (we have a sister company sharing the office and the purchase and set up was pretty haphazard and I've been tasked with tallying all the machine details, serials, software licences etc)

Its all a bit complicated! But thanks for the advice guys!

[Person Man]

Originally Posted by TommySix 

We have several work machines that we bought and some are second hand. We want to check everything basically (ie if they're stolen) and also to find out which computers are registered to which company (we have a sister company sharing the office and the purchase and set up was pretty haphazard and I've been tasked with tallying all the machine details, serials, software licences etc)

Its all a bit complicated! But thanks for the advice guys!

Ok. OS X is different from Windows in that there are no serial numbers for the operating system. Since there is no serial number, there is no individual or company that the copy of the OS is registered to. That information is not stored anywhere in the OS. There is no way to tell whether the operating system is pirated or not by looking at data on the computer. Just make sure you have a license (i.e. a physical CD with the OS, or a number of multi-license papers covering the numbers of machines) for each machine and can prove that if you get audited.

There is also no activation of the OS. You don't need to register to have access to all the OS functions. Nothing gets crippled if the OS can't contact Apple.

So, just write down the serial number of the machine for each company.

Now, individual software packages, like Office, iWork, Photoshop, etc, DO use serial numbers and put their registered user info in easily accessible places, just like on Windows.

Does this answer your question?