Longtime Mac Experts Only: Issues installing OS X Lion

Here's a doozie for you:

I have a 2012 MacBook Pro (Serial Number C0***1G4) that I am trying to donate to a student.
I erased disk and now cannot install Lion via "Internet Recovery Mode". I don't have original disks.
So I purchased OS X LION SINGLE UNIT-INT from Apple and received a redemption code.
Code requires the App Store to download, which I can't launch on old MacBook that needs it.
So I tried downloading it on my working Mac but it won't let me download without installing it.
Was going to try making a bootable USB with it, so tried to "redeem" download again (it never did download first time) and now App Store throws message "you already redeemed this". UGH.
I tweeted to @applesupport and am getting useless replies. Not sure if I am being clear or if this is really that complicated.

Any ideas on how to get this poor 2012 MacBook Pro working so I can donate?

Thanks in advance,

Natalie

[Personal Information Edited by Moderator]

Posted on May 14, 2020 11:45 AM

Top-ranking reply

Androish

Level 8

39,549 points

Posted on May 14, 2020 11:56 AM

If you have another mac you can use.

I would advice you to make a bookable installer of Catalina and use that to install Catalina, that way you dont have to worry about licence at all, as Catalina is free for all mac's that support it.(2012 mac shuld)

This article explains all you need to make a bootable installer:

How to create a bootable installer for macOS - Apple Support

Good luck!

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Longtime Mac Experts Only: Issues installing OS X Lion

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