Rogerrrrrr

Q: Can't reinstall Mac OS X Lion on my MacBook Air

Okay I'm going make a long story short I own a MacBook Air. I bought this MacBook Air yesterday off someone and they didn't take anything they gave me the password and everything but they took nothing off so I decided to reset the whole system to its factory settings so I followed the usual steps ( from a tutorial on YouTube )

 

 

1. Press alt+power button

 

 

2. Choose Utilities --> erase Macintosh HD

 

 

3. Reinstall the Mountain Lion OS X through internet.

 

after trying to install the OS X Lion, and entering my apple id an error message pops up, saying:

 

"This item is temporarily unavailable. Please try again later"

 

I don't know what to do, since I have tried redoing these steps on multiple occasions this day, and with two different networks(my network & apple stores wifi). I have to install the OS through internet (or if it is possible, by downloading the OS to an USB stick, and then installing through that).

 

Anyways, I started searching forms online to see if there was anything that I could do but all I can really find is make a bootable UBS drive but how can I do that if I only have 1 Mac and I don't know anyone else who owns a Mac. Every other computer system in my home is PC... I don't have any type of knowledge on macs so If anyone can help me in any type of way I would greatly appreciate it... image.jpg

MacBook Air

Posted on Sep 7, 2014 3:27 PM

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Q: Can't reinstall Mac OS X Lion on my MacBook Air

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  • by FluffyWalrus,

    FluffyWalrus FluffyWalrus Jun 27, 2015 10:37 PM in response to johnatmaysondotus
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jun 27, 2015 10:37 PM in response to johnatmaysondotus

    This actually helped me. My dad gave me his old MacBook (Late 2008) years ago and I have since purchased a MacBook Pro (Mid 2012). I tried resetting the 2008 Macbook to the factory default so I can sell it on eBay. Since I have 2 macs I tried the bootable drive option(I did the Yosemite 10.10 upgrade) that people talked about, but when I finally booted off of the drive it said, "This is not an authorized way to install the OS". According to this website my laptop should be able to run Yosemite 10.10: http://www.zdnet.com/article/will-your-mac-run-os-x-10-10-yosemite/  If it really can run Yosemite then the bootable drive doesn't seem to be an option anyways for this problem in the topic. The way that your post helped me was that you tried a different apple ID. I used my father's apple ID since it was originally his laptop and it worked whereas I got the "This is temporarily unavailable" notification when I tried my own apple ID. When they say" This is temporarily unavailable" it is probably just their less rude way of saying, "This laptop is suspected to be stolen and we will not service it for you". My MacBook 2008 is starting to download OS X Mountain Lion right now  I'm guessing this is some type of security feature so if someone steals your laptop they can't simply format the drive and try to reinstall the OS to use it as their own. However I don't know how people are supposed to sell it then. A seller doesn't want to give their buyer their apple ID just so they can download the OS. I've read a few posts saying they purchased the laptop online and had this problem. I can't imagine how frustrated I would be if that happened to me. Since i'm selling mine I'm going to be nice and have the latest OS already installed and ready to go then i'll sign out of my apple ID. Hopefully years down the road when they want to format their computer again they don't run into this same probably. According to the posts the only other way people got their macs to work was taking it to the apple store. That probably is the easiest way to solve this problem if not the only way if you are not the original owner of the laptop. If you can't bring it to a Genius bar then maybe calling support would help. You probably have to explain your sob story to them, but it appears you have no other choice. I've tried all suggestions in this post with no success until this last one. My conclusion is that if you are not the original owner of the laptop you need to: Contact the original owner for their apple ID(preferably family since anyone else would strangle you for such a request), Bring it in to the Genius Bar(Hopefully they won't charge you), or Call Support(Hopefully they are helpful).

     

    Good luck everyone!

  • by Alifzuhdi,

    Alifzuhdi Alifzuhdi Aug 24, 2015 4:16 AM in response to Rogerrrrrr
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 24, 2015 4:16 AM in response to Rogerrrrrr

    I have this problem as well and already contact applecare for support. The guy give me 2 option. One is to contact the guy who sold the machine to me and ask for the apple ID (which is very hard I think for people to give away their ID) and the second option is to buy 10.6 installation disc from the apple store. I'm not convince yet about the second option so I want to get response from you guys about this.

     

    Does it takes this simple step to reinstall the OS Lion?

  • by FluffyWalrus,

    FluffyWalrus FluffyWalrus Aug 24, 2015 4:33 AM in response to Alifzuhdi
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 24, 2015 4:33 AM in response to Alifzuhdi

    Yes, I would be confident that an official installation disk would fix the problem. Hopefully they don't cost much. I know a bootable drive doesn't work even if you had 2 macs to create one. It gave me the error, "This is not an authorized way to install the OS." I'm sure the disk would work, especially if that is what apple support told you to do.

  • by dianeoforegon,

    dianeoforegon dianeoforegon Aug 24, 2015 10:18 AM in response to Alifzuhdi
    Level 5 (5,412 points)
    Mac OS X
    Aug 24, 2015 10:18 AM in response to Alifzuhdi

    You have a third free option if your Mac meets the requirements. Install a newer OS X. Starting with Mavericks, OS X is a free upgrade.

     

    You also need to look at the apps you have installed before updating.

     

    Any Mac that can run OS X 10.7 Lion or later can run Yosemite. Even most OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard-compatible Macs are eligible, though specific features require newer hardware components.

     

    iMac (Mid-2007 or newer)

    MacBook (Late 2008 Aluminum, Early 2009 or newer)

    MacBook Pro (Mid/Late 2007 or newer)

    MacBook Air (Late 2008 or newer)

    Mac mini (Early 2009 or newer)

    Mac Pro (Early 2008 or newer)

    Xserve (Early 2009)

     

     

    To install Yosemite, your Mac must already be running 10.6.8 Snow Leopard or later to download the new OS from the Mac App Store.

     

    Apple's other official requirements are 2GB of RAM and 8GB of available storage; Personally I feel 4GB of RAM  is minimum. I would recommend 8GB RAM for a better experience with Yosemite .

     

    Suggested:  at least 15GB of disk space available to download the update from the App Store and then install Yosemite, but realistically you should have more than that available for performance reasons.

  • by 23rd455,

    23rd455 23rd455 Oct 4, 2015 2:53 PM in response to johnatmaysondotus
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 4, 2015 2:53 PM in response to johnatmaysondotus

    Thanks for the advice  had similar issues used differ apple id and it reinstalled fine

  • by swapnilspartans,

    swapnilspartans swapnilspartans Nov 1, 2015 1:38 AM in response to Rogerrrrrr
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 1, 2015 1:38 AM in response to Rogerrrrrr

    hi dear i have same problem

    and i m frustated

    can u sen me some video how to fix it

  • by Johnsmith2370,

    Johnsmith2370 Johnsmith2370 Nov 14, 2015 6:11 PM in response to johnatmaysondotus
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 14, 2015 6:11 PM in response to johnatmaysondotus

    Im having same issue

  • by Loner T,

    Loner T Loner T Nov 14, 2015 6:28 PM in response to Johnsmith2370
    Level 7 (23,828 points)
    Safari
    Nov 14, 2015 6:28 PM in response to Johnsmith2370

    What year/model is your Mac? Please check OS X versions and builds included with Mac computers - Apple Support for the lowest OSX version you can install.

  • by Oh Snap,

    Oh Snap Oh Snap Nov 15, 2015 7:06 PM in response to Rogerrrrrr
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 15, 2015 7:06 PM in response to Rogerrrrrr

    I found this while I was looking for answers myself take a gander but read the last paragraph it will help yall

     

     

    Here's Our Problem:

     

     

    I bought a used MacBook Air last year from another region here in Ghana. And the man re-installed Mac OS X 10.8 for me. And I typed my apple ID I have been using on my iPhone and everything has been moving smoothly until I mistakenly 'Erased' my entire 'Macintosh HD'. So I followed some instructions from Apple holding the 'Option' button and etc. But finally, after I type in my apple ID and password in Utilities, I get the error "This item is temporarily unavailable. Please try again later". I have tried again later with other WiFI networks and what not. But still.

    This solved my question Solvedby Kurt Lang on Nov 20, 2014 6:40 AM

    Thank you. Your Mac shipped with Lion. Which means you can do an Internet Recovery startup by turning the Mac on and immediately holding down the  *Command+Option+R keys^ . This will boot the Mac to its firmware. When the work screen appears, you first need to make sure the drive is completely wiped clean, or it may try to install Mountain Lion, which is what the hidden Recovery partition should be. However, you will not be able to reinstall Mountain Lion since it will ask for the former owner's App Store ID and password.

     

    Here is an option:

     

     

    So follow these steps:

     

    1) Make sure you know your router's wireless password since you will be required to have an Internet connection to reinstall OS X. Better would be to use a wired Ethernet connection to your DSL or cable router.

     

    2) When you boot to the Internet Recovery Screen, first choose Disk Utility. When the screen comes up, you will see something similar to this:

     

     

     

     

    I have multiple hard drives here, you will likely only have one showing. But what you need to do is click on the physical drive name. That will allow you to partition the drive. Click on the Partition tab at the right to get this screen:

     

     

     

     

    Where the drop down menu says "Current", change it to something else. Even if the drive is already one partition for the whole thing, and you only want one. In which case, choose "1 Partition". You'll notice that the Options button is now no longer grayed out. Click that and make sure the radio button for GUID Partition Table is selected. Click OK.

     

    Make sure the Format is Mac OS Extended (Journaled). It should be by default. Make the Name anything you want to call it. Click Apply. It will take just 10 seconds or so to complete. When it's done, quit Disk Utility.

     

    3) Now choose to install OS X. The machine specific version of Lion for your Mac will be installed.

    IF

    4) When the install is complete, you can open the App Store and create your own account. Normally, you use the same Apple ID and password you use to access these forums.

     

    5) Then it's up to you what you want for an OS. You can either stay with Lion, or upgrade. It's $20 to purchase Mountain Lion, 10.8.x. You'll receive an email with a redemption code you use in the App Store app to initiate the download and installation. Once you have it installed, that purchase will forever remain under your list of purchased items and can be reinstalled at any time. Or, you can jump all the way to Yosemite, 10.10.x for free. Mavericks, 10.9.x is not on option as Apple has pulled it from the App Store.

     

     

    Here is an Answer you can work with:

     

     

     

     

    !!!!!!!!!!! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !     LOOK DOWN HERE  YOOHOOOO..! ! ! ! ! ! !   ¡!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

     

     

     

     

    $$$$$ SO I HELD THE OPTION, COMMAND AND THE R KEYS DOWN AND A LITTLE WORLD POPED UP WITH A SELECTION FOR WIFI AFTER I ENTERED THE WIFI PASSWORD IT AUTOMATICALLY STARTED A DL IDK WHAT OF BUT WHEN IT WAS DONE 5MIN LATER IT TOOK ME BACKFLIP TO THE SCREEN WHERE THE OPTION OF RESTORE, INSTALLATION,  REPAIR WHERE I WAS HAVING TROUBLE INSTALLATION SOFTWARE AFTER ERASE.  SAYING WAS AVAILABLE TRY AGAIN LATER.  SO ANYWHO I CLICKED THE INSTALLATION FOR  THE OS X IT WOULDNT DO BEFORE.  AND BAM IT WORKED. AND IS NOW DOWNLOADING THE OS X LION SOFTWARE.

  • by Lanny,

    Lanny Lanny Nov 15, 2015 11:25 PM in response to Rogerrrrrr
    Level 5 (7,952 points)
    Desktops
    Nov 15, 2015 11:25 PM in response to Rogerrrrrr
  • by diogosgp,

    diogosgp diogosgp Nov 25, 2015 10:47 PM in response to Rogerrrrrr
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Nov 25, 2015 10:47 PM in response to Rogerrrrrr
  • by applemacbookpro13,

    applemacbookpro13 applemacbookpro13 Dec 5, 2015 5:52 AM in response to Rogerrrrrr
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 5, 2015 5:52 AM in response to Rogerrrrrr

    For me I just had to plug in the charger. Then there were no errors for me.

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