ironchefchris
Level 1 (13 points)
Desktops

Q: If I deauthorize can I add back apps saved to external drive?

I'm selling my Mac. In order to help with the sale I would like to be able to say that it includes the iWork apps (Pages, Numbers, Keynote) that I purchased when new as well as Aperture 3.  I ask because I don't want to tell a buyer they'll have access to these apps if it's not the case. I live in a country where it's expected that when buying a used computer it will come with the apps already installed. These "extras," even if they're not going to be used, contributes to the resale value.

I've backed up everything to an external hard drive for x-fer to my next computer, including the apps mentioned. If I zero out/reformat the hard disc and then have the new owner create their own Apple ID with which to download either Yosemite or El Capitan (I'm running Mavericks now) would I be able to then connect my external drive to the Mac and copy the apps over to his Applications folder so that he would be able to use them? I no longer care about using Aperture myself, having moved on to Lightroom, and I understand that if this is possible these apps would no longer be under my ID and wouldn't be able to be upgraded, but since I paid for them, I'd like to be able to pass them along with the Mac without having to use my Apple ID to do so.

MacBook Pro, OS X Mavericks (10.9.5)

Posted on Jul 22, 2016 5:48 PM

by babowa,Solvedanswer
babowa babowa
Level 7 (32,078 points)
iPad
A:

Unless you have the install disks for these apps, you cannot legally include them.

 

That also applies to any OS you have downloaded from the app store.

 

In all cases, the licenses for the OS and any apps downloaded from the app store are only valid for the Apple ID used to obtain them and they are not transferable. If you leave those apps and/or the OS, the buyer will not be able to update them or reinstall the OS without your Apple ID and password.

 

So, you will need to completely erase the hard drive and you can then reinstall the original OS the computer came with.

Posted on Jul 22, 2016 9:01 PM

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ironchefchris

Q: If I deauthorize can I add back apps saved to external drive?

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  • Helpful answers

  • by babowa,Solvedanswer

    babowa babowa Jul 22, 2016 9:01 PM in response to ironchefchris
    Level 7 (32,078 points)
    iPad
    Jul 22, 2016 9:01 PM in response to ironchefchris

    Unless you have the install disks for these apps, you cannot legally include them.

     

    That also applies to any OS you have downloaded from the app store.

     

    In all cases, the licenses for the OS and any apps downloaded from the app store are only valid for the Apple ID used to obtain them and they are not transferable. If you leave those apps and/or the OS, the buyer will not be able to update them or reinstall the OS without your Apple ID and password.

     

    So, you will need to completely erase the hard drive and you can then reinstall the original OS the computer came with.

  • by ironchefchris,

    ironchefchris ironchefchris Jul 22, 2016 7:25 PM in response to babowa
    Level 1 (13 points)
    Desktops
    Jul 22, 2016 7:25 PM in response to babowa

    I have the iWork install DVD(s) from when I purchased the Mac new in 2009. They look to be unopened and sealed and I believe that since I purchased iWorks at the same time as the MacBook that Apple had installed iWorks for me. I also have the original OS X Leopard 10.5.7 Install DVD and the Applications Install DVD. Soon after I updated to Snow Leopard, but I don't have access to those discs which are in my home country (I'm an expat). I downloaded Lion and Mavericks at some point. I just inserted the Applications DVD and it just spun around in the optic drive before ejecting itself. Haven't used the optic drive in a long time but an audio disc just played (though the disc could be heard spinning). Don't know if there's an issue or not with the optical drive.

     

    I'm assuming the best thing for me to do before selling is to deauthorize iTunes, etc. and then reformat the hard drive and leave it to the new buyer to install the OS of their choice using their own Apple ID. This is my first experience selling a Mac and I want to be as honest and knowledgeable about the process as possible. With a reformated drive, will the buyer be able to download the OS of their choice with their own Apple ID and without needing to install the original OS install discs? If I reformat the disc, how would I even demonstrate the computer boots up and works? Would I have to show the computer, finalize a purchase, and then reformat the drive and have the buyer come back? Should I download a copy of El Capitan to a separate and empty partition on my external hard drive that I can install should the optical drive not want to play nice with the original install discs?

  • by babowa,Helpful

    babowa babowa Jul 22, 2016 9:01 PM in response to ironchefchris
    Level 7 (32,078 points)
    iPad
    Jul 22, 2016 9:01 PM in response to ironchefchris

    Here is some info; as your machine is older and you do have the original install disks, follow this:

     

    https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201065

     

    when you get to Step 5, follow the instructions by Niel in this thread:

     

     

    https://discussions.apple.com/thread/7611975

     

    You do need to have an OS installed, so it will need to be the original 10.5.

     

    Since you have the iWorks disks, you can include those. If you have the Snow Leopard disk, you can include it. If not, the buyer will need to purchase it. The buyer will need to use their own Apple ID and password to download anything from the app store - it needs to be associated with his Apple ID and the

    machine's (which will no longer be associated with yours at that point), so you can't download it for him. Of course, in order to download anything, he will need to install 10.6.8 first.

     

    The sale of older Macs has become very difficult since Apple changed the rules and delivery of its OS or anything else from the app store. FWIW, your new Mac will need to be sold with the original OS as well.

  • by ironchefchris,

    ironchefchris ironchefchris Jul 22, 2016 9:01 PM in response to babowa
    Level 1 (13 points)
    Desktops
    Jul 22, 2016 9:01 PM in response to babowa

    Thanks for the help. So if I get access to Snow Leopard (perhaps on a thumb drive from someone I believe is a developer) that can be used by the new buyer for the reinstall and then they'd be able to upgrade to a newer OS, likely El Capitan as that seems all that's available at the app store?

     

    If a buyer were to do all of this with their own Apple ID, could they sign off allowing me to log on with my Apple ID and access past purchases so I could reinstall iWorks, and then log off with my ID so the new owner could sign back in? Would they not have access to iWorks that way? Just not sure if optical drive will read the iWorks disc.

  • by babowa,

    babowa babowa Jul 22, 2016 9:28 PM in response to ironchefchris
    Level 7 (32,078 points)
    iPad
    Jul 22, 2016 9:28 PM in response to ironchefchris

    You need to sell the Mac with the original OS, which is 10.5. The buyer needs to get their own Snow Leopard (unless you give them your install disk, not a copy from someone else - that would violate the license):

     

    http://www.apple.com/shop/product/MC573Z/A/mac-os-x-106-snow-leopard

     

    And no, those apps licenses are NOT transferable. If you start doing what you're proposing, you'll be selling pirated software. Do the right thing - just give them the old install media. If they want the new ones, they will need to buy them and download from the app store. You/they can also use an external DVD drive/burner.

  • by ironchefchris,

    ironchefchris ironchefchris Jul 22, 2016 10:01 PM in response to babowa
    Level 1 (13 points)
    Desktops
    Jul 22, 2016 10:01 PM in response to babowa

    Awesome. I live in a developing/third world country where even fewer people use Macs than in the US (for example). There is no official Apple presence. No Apple Store. Nothing. Research shows me that Snow Leopard is only available on CD, not as a download. From what I remember, if you want to upgrade to Yosemite or El Capitan you can only do it from Snow Leopard or more recent, nothing earlier so my original Leopard discs are worthless to anyone who would want to upgrade to anything more recent. I have no idea if Apple will even ship to me and if they do what they'll charge me and how long it will take. I've been a loyal Apple person for years and have made my share of purchases and now when it comes to having access to software I've already purchased in the past it looks like I'm out of luck or have to jump through enormous hoops. Thanks Apple.

     

    End rant. Thanks to you babowa for all the information and help. Much appreciated.