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Is there any way to create an image of a brand new "unconfigured" MacBook? I want to get an image of this box before the OS installs just in case I have any issues.

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2 Answers

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If you have access to another Mac and the necessary cable, you could boot your MacBook in Target Disk Mode (hold down the T key when powering up). Connect via Firewire or Thunderbolt to another Mac. The drive on the machine in Target Disk Mode can then be cloned.

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The Macbooks include what's called a "Recovery Partition". This partition allows you to troubleshoot and repair boot issues as well as do what's known as an "Internet Recovery", which will do a clean install of Mountain Lion as if it were clean out of the box.

Please see this link for more information: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4718

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These are valid answers once I have logged into the box and done an initial configuration. I want to get a disk image before first configuration. Clonezilla does Linux and Windows images, Ghost, Acronis, Paragon and other packages do Windows images only. Is there a Mac package that provides the same capability – Bill Aug 16 '12 at 18:30
Actually both answers bypass the initial configuration so you should be able to get a clean image with both. – patrix♦ Oct 17 '12 at 13:09

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