yehudisb

Q: Received used macbook; cant install OS?

Got my friends old MacBook after mine died.  She had already erased the Hard Drive before giving it to me. I'm trying to reinstall the OS (Maverick) so I can start new. But it won't accept my Apple ID? When I enter it and try to install, I get the message 'This Item is Temporarily Unavailable' and a Cancel button. Have tried over and over. Please help!

MacBook (13-inch Mid 2009), None

Posted on Aug 8, 2016 5:04 PM

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Q: Received used macbook; cant install OS?

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  • by Limnos,

    Limnos Limnos Aug 9, 2016 4:00 PM in response to yehudisb
    Level 9 (53,622 points)
    Mac OS X
    Aug 9, 2016 4:00 PM in response to yehudisb

    You have installed Mavericks previously? Mavericks is no longer available unless you have installed it previously.

  • by K Shaffer,Solvedanswer

    K Shaffer K Shaffer Aug 10, 2016 5:44 AM in response to yehudisb
    Level 6 (14,244 points)
    Desktops
    Aug 10, 2016 5:44 AM in response to yehudisb

    Your friend may be able to help you set up the MacBook correctly, by following

    information from this Support page that helps ready the Mac for another owner.

     

    Certain computers may be too old to see upgrade or use online Recovery

    to restore versions of OS X; if the Mac shipped with DVD media, it likely

    has to use that path in order to gain access to the Mac App Store.

     

    You have mention of a 2009 MacBook in your post. -- What do you have?

     

    That model could have shipped with a Snow Leopard version installer DVD

    and if so, that is the key to gain access, update; then upgrade via App Store.

     

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

     

    If the computer shipped with an OS X on included optical disc media that is

    the path to install a new system; Snow Leopard 10.6 is available on DVD

    from the Apple Store online. With that (if OS X Recovery/internet recovery

    does not function) you could then gain access to Mac App Store to upgrade.

     

    • About OS X Recovery - Apple Support

     

    With the computer serial number and general identification you could get

    official replacement OS X install DVDs from Apple Support AppleCare for

    a fee. -- These would be for the vintage of that Mac; before OS X 10.6.8

     

    A correct OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard on DVD, from Apple Store, is likely required:

     

    • Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard - Apple:

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

     

    Once you have correct disc media, & install it, then you'd run 'software update'

    from the Apple left side drop-down menu in Finder. That would get final step

    to OS X 10.6.8, this would allow the older Mac to see the Mac App Store, &

    there is where you could see what later OS X may run in a vintage MacBook.

     

    A separate link to the update part, required after installing Snow Leopard from

    a retail DVD, is available as download for later offline use from Apple Support.

     

    This item is not a complete system, and is supplemental to the main installer.

    • Mac OS X 10.6.8 Update Combo v1.1

     

    If the computer is too old to run El Capitan, you may be able to buy a download

    code for Lion OS X 10.7.5, or Mountain Lion 10.8.5 online to use in App Store.

    Usually a Mac that could run Mavericks, should be able to run El Capitan; while

    some features may not be supported in the older hardware.

     

    Your friend may have some system DVD media for that computer, if not included.

    See what ones there are, and then consider the upgrade path to access App Store.

     

     

    Good luck in this matter!

  • by yehudisb,

    yehudisb yehudisb Aug 10, 2016 5:51 AM in response to K Shaffer
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Notebooks
    Aug 10, 2016 5:51 AM in response to K Shaffer

    THank you. She did not have the original disk, but told me the MacBook had actually first belonged to her son, and when we used HIS Apple ID/password to reinstall Maverick it worked! I was then able to use my own info to upgrade to El Capitan.

  • by K Shaffer,

    K Shaffer K Shaffer Aug 10, 2016 11:55 AM in response to yehudisb
    Level 6 (14,244 points)
    Desktops
    Aug 10, 2016 11:55 AM in response to yehudisb

    The original disc would have you to more easily used the computer or

    also increase its value when nobody personally knows the last owner

    who has a downloaded OS X system on the hardware.

     

    The system DVD media is the key to doing this, from scratch, in older

    computer models that were built before the advent of Mac App Store

    + shipped with systems 'on the cusp' of non-DVD online installed OS X.

     

    A call to AppleCare or sales support, with product serial number, could

    answer questions such as: Did this unit ship with early OS X 10.6 media?

     

    If not, the shortcut would be to buy the Snow Leopard 10.6.3 retail DVD.

    If it did, the shortcut would be to buy the replacement grey label 10.6.x.

     

    {For those on the edge, where later than 10.6.8 systems aren't of any

    significant advantage, some users stay at Snow Leopard if they have

    the other great applications that can use it. Third party apps that cost.}

     

    Glad you were able to make use of another workaround that often does

    not exist if someone bought the computer online, without its software kit.

     

    Happy Trails!