dordogne wendy
Level 1 (0 points)

Q: problem reinstalling operating system onto second hand imac

Hi there

I am new to the forum so please go easy on me! I have a Macbook Pro that I bought earlier this year and today I bought a second hand iMac from someone. They have cleaned the system and were going to reinstall the operating software but I asked them not to as I know my son had problems updating software on his 2nd hand macbook for the same reason.  I thought I was doing the right thing, letting me be the person to install and hence own the software on the imac.  However I am having problems -  When I go in to install the software it asks where I want to install it so I said the hard drive and then it asks for my Apple ID.  The mac then says "This Apple ID is only valid for purchases in the UK iTunes store. You will be switched to that store. And then nothing happens!

 

Now it is true that I am in France at the moment and that I have an Apple account (which I opened when I was living in France) but it is linked to a UK bank account so perhaps that is the problem.

 

Maybe I could open another Apple account but I don't know if this will cause me to have problem for my two computers regarding them talking to each other if each one is on a different account. Please does anyone know why I can't get the system set up and running? Any advice would be really gratefully received.

 

Many thanks

iMac

Posted on Dec 4, 2015 3:19 PM

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dordogne wendy

Q: problem reinstalling operating system onto second hand imac

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  • Helpful answers

  • by rkaufmann87,

    rkaufmann87 rkaufmann87 Dec 4, 2015 3:46 PM in response to dordogne wendy
    Level 9 (58,174 points)
    Photos for Mac
    Dec 4, 2015 3:46 PM in response to dordogne wendy

    It would be helpful if we knew what version of OS X shipped with the computer new and what version you are attempting to install. Also what year iMac is it, if you don't know locate the SN and research when it was made. Please answer all questions, others we don't have enough info to help you out.

  • by dordogne wendy,

    dordogne wendy dordogne wendy Dec 5, 2015 12:11 AM in response to dordogne wendy
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 5, 2015 12:11 AM in response to dordogne wendy

    Thanks rkaufmann87 for your reply. OK so the imac is an early 2009 one, 20" so I believe it is an A1224 model -  I don't know any more than that as I can't get the details off the computer, don't have the original receipt and can't see a serial number on the computer (where would I find it?). I guess it will have been the normal OS version for its age but I don't know -  but the previous user was using some version of Yosemite. 

     

    I stopped them from reinstalling the software as I thought it would cause problems later on - perhaps that was a bad decision.

     

    So when I put the computer on I get the apple logo and it takes a few moments to open (with horizontal bar and inch or two below the apple logo showing progress.  Then it opens with OS X Utilities and I have the following options

    Restore from time machine backup

    Reinstall OS X

    Get help online

    Disk Utility

     

    So I have been clicking on Reinstall OS X

    and then it goes to OS X YOSEMITE (to set up the installatino of OS X 10.10 click continue

    then it says to download and restore OS X your computers eligibility will be verified with Apple

    then it goes to license agreement (so I agree)

    then it asks me to select the disk to install it to (so I choose hard drive and click install)

    then it says signing into the app store and then asks for apple id and password (but by this point I have the rainbow beachball going but on the part that asks which drive to install onto)

    so then I enter my id and password

    and then it says "This Apple ID is only valid for purchases in the UK iTunes Store. You will be switched to that Store. (so I say ok as I have no choice.)

    And then it just goes back to the screen which says OS X Yosemite, OS X will be installed on teh disk Mac HD and at the bottom Back and Install which we had before and it I click install it just goes round in the same loop so it doesn't install.

     

    Hope this helps someone to know what the problem is. Many thanks

  • by K Shaffer,

    K Shaffer K Shaffer Dec 5, 2015 1:05 AM in response to dordogne wendy
    Level 6 (14,279 points)
    Desktops
    Dec 5, 2015 1:05 AM in response to dordogne wendy

    You should be able to locate the product serial number on the computer, to  further identify it...

    • Identify the model of your iMac - Apple Support

     

    A link within the article says where to look for the actual number imprinted on the iMac itself.

    Usually this is only the start of identifying what OS X it may have shipped with, and then you

    may find the original owner had upgraded the computer using their Apple ID at some point

    and then did not revert the computer to its original as-shipped OS X, prior to resale....

     

    If none of those were done, you still may be able to work around any residual issues.

     

    • What to do before selling or giving away your Mac - Apple Support

     

    • How to reinstall OS X on your Mac - Apple Support

     

    • OS X: About OS X Recovery - Apple Support

     

    If the computer model is older and may have shipped with system install media on DVD,

    that is the version that would be installed first; or with an optical drive, the last supported

    OS X on DVD media (snow leopard 10.6) would be installed, if compatible, so the next

    user/owner could then go set up the later OS X based on Apple ID. Later macs which

    shipped with an OS installed and no optical drive, use the internet & OS X recovery.

     

    Depending on the vintage or build year model identifier, OS X version support varies.

     

    Perhaps the earlier respondent will reply with more specific ideas; given the time zone

    differences and weekend obligations, some of us are in different cycles of the day.

     

    Good luck in this matter!

  • by rkaufmann87,

    rkaufmann87 rkaufmann87 Dec 5, 2015 7:52 AM in response to dordogne wendy
    Level 9 (58,174 points)
    Photos for Mac
    Dec 5, 2015 7:52 AM in response to dordogne wendy

    Forget about Yosemite right now, my recommendation would be to get Apple's retail upgrade Snow Leopard DVD ($20) and use that to do an erase and install of the HD.