Identify my macbook air 13.3

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Level 1

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Identify my macbook air 13.3

I got an old macBook Air 13.3". I really don't know from what year. All the printed tekst on the backside is worn and illegible, but i can read the serial number but the only thing Apple say about that nummer it is a MacBook Air Originall. Nothing more. No type id, not even a product specification. Nothing.

The man who gave me this computer hasn't used it for years, he doesn't know how old it is, what OS belongs on it. He didn't even know the password. After a lot of research, I was able to change that password via the command line, unfortunately without seeing what the old password was. I was given this computer to practice using an Apple, but also to get to know the hardware better. There were a few persistent problems that made me decide to restore the operating system to its factory settings. And that is where things went horribly wrong. Either I erased the whole disk or part of it, but whatever manual I follow, no key combination works except one. Start up with the Option button pressed. Then I get a white screen with a lock where I have to enter a password. The password I replaced myself doesn't work and I'm sure the firmware password is disabled and has never been enabled. Unfortunately I am not completely sure but I thought OS X Mountain Lion or Mac OS X Leopard was on it. I got it with some art and flying with a Windows PC on a USB Flash drive using TransMac and the .dmg installers. But now that password and the fact that no other key combination works. The only result is a white screen with a maplogo with a question mark in it flashing.

What are my best chances of getting an operating system on it again but also what type of laptop I have here so I can find the right Firmware Restoration for it. Or I'd better throw away the whole hard drive and start all over again.

Posted on Oct 13, 2020 12:01 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

K Shaffer

Level 8

35,314 points

Oct 13, 2020 3:57 AM in response to jos39

Hard to say which one you have. Those are marginal Macs, with few accessories

& required access to/use of dedicated Apple USB SuperDrive; first ones need it.

The "MacBook Air" build name had eleven different constructs, most share certain

identifiers; while as time went on, hardware has changed to an increasing degree.

• Lookup Mac Specs By Serial Number, Order, Model & EMC | everymac (MB/Air)

https://everymac.com/ultimate-mac-lookup/?search_keywords=A1466

(This shows all MacBook/Air build series models, these use identifier: A1466)

"Because there are eleven MacBook Air models that match the A1466 model number, you

may ... lookup yours by EMC Number, Model ID, or Serial Number for greater precision."

• Identify your MacBook Air model - Apple Support

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201862

"MacBook Air models are organized by the year they were introduced,

starting with the most recent." ~ [doesn't show 1st [2008] edition of series.]

Some MacBook models had serial number &/or build year info inside the

battery compartment. (MacBook/Air v1.1 build first introduced in 2008.)

[Started with Mac OS X 10.5.x on DVD~ w/ external Apple USB superdrive.]

Hard to tell which one you have; info in links may help determine its fate.

Getting late/early here; near 3AM now, Tues. Going offline now.

Take care & good luck!🌻|🐝

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Answer 2

jos39 Author

Level 1

8 points

Oct 16, 2020 2:18 PM in response to K Shaffer

Hello K. Shaffer. The thirst link was de most helpful , this was the answer ik got.

W88Enter Mac or Apple Device Identifier:

OWC Special Deals

Keywords=W88293Y9Y51

Showing 1 - 1 of 1

MacBook Air "Core 2 Duo" 1.6 13" (Original) 1.6 GHz Core 2 Duo (P7500)

Intro. January 15, 2008* Disc. October 14, 2008

Order MB003LL/A Model A1237 (EMC 2142*)

Family MacBook Air - Original ID MacBookAir1,1

RAM 2 GB VRAM 144 MB

Storage 80 GB HDD Optical None*

Complete MacBook Air "Core 2 Duo" 1.6 13" (Original) Specs

Bu now i have to go firther. The laptop was, athought very slow, a good working one. It was my intentention to make a fresh install with my own Apple account because the last owner didnt know his password anymore and because he gave it to me in did not want to work in his account. Most of the information about Mac's is in Englisch and my Englische is not much better than what i learned at school 20 years ago. The info i read on the web is very technical and based on very specific pc langause. Most i can read but a nisinterpretation is quickly made and google translate is a real pain in the ***. It is good in tranlating words bus when try to translate a sentence it goes wrong.

My next problem is that while trying to do a fresh instal i sure i made a big mistake. I didit like discribed from an article that told you what to do when you sell your MacBook.

The result is that i have a laptop that does not do a thing anymore. I do not have a second Apple wich i can use to help instal, I do not have any install cd (this laptop doesn't even have a cd player) And this laptop neighter have a Ethernetplug-in. This mac only have 1 usb port and next to that a micro DVI port. And i really shouldn't know what to do with that DVI port. I read it can be used for an adapter to VGA or HDMI.

I also have read an article to connect the Mac to a Windows pc but i dont know how.

Because one of my laptop neighter has a ethernet connection i have a R45 to usb2 adapter with works fine for that windows laptop. when i connect directly to the ISP router. When i try to use is the same way on the mac this mac is not vivible in the network and after 1 minute the connection in had with my router becomes broken. Does this R45 to USB2 adapter working to get internet? I read al lot about

https://www.bol.com/nl/p/belkin-usb-c-naar-gigabit-ethernet-adapter/9200000047937195/

But this is usb c with is different than DVI, I supposr. More connection doesn't havethis laptop. So ove of my questions is, how can my W10 PC connect to the Apple thinths through the router not seem to work.

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Answer 3

K Shaffer

Level 8

35,314 points

Oct 16, 2020 2:53 PM in response to jos39

PS: seems you've an older mac that needs original system; and

your Mac has no optical drive. The original was USB backup(?)

An Apple USB drive for MacBook Air is what's needed for that.

Or Mac OS X 10.6 retail DVD, or 10.7 installer (download?) save

to USB memory stick; may do.

https://everymac.com/systems/apple/macbook-air/specs/macbook-air-core-2-duo-1.6-13-specs.html#macspecs2

Not sure how I may help now, but have to go offline and across

town for a live action appearance; now its near 2PM here in AK.

Sorry to say that your second part here may need additional

attention that my being half-world away won't be much help.

Adapters to use PC and then to MacBook Air? (Maybe/or not!)

But that's in another timezone ~ away from outdoors here.🙂

Tough to try & use internet to get a 10.7 download from Apple.

Take care & happy computing!🌞🌻

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Answer 4

jos39 Author

Level 1

8 points

Oct 16, 2020 7:12 PM in response to jos39

Well, some small update. I already found out my USB to Ethernetadapter must be good enough to get a n internet connection. Bus whun plug it in my router, this router don't see the Mac. So i tried to connect it straigt to my laptop trough the Ethernet connection. Windows dousn't see it either. Filesharing is on en SMB1 is on to.

But no result at al. Ofcourse i can buy another hard drive but new they are to expensive and a used one i can't find. And is is a to big risk to buy another. Maybe the problem is elsewhere. I can here the hard drive running. Is there a way i can look inside that hard drive? I do not have another Apple computer. Are there adapters where this 1.8 inch fits in and i can trough USB with my windows pc?

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Answer 5

K Shaffer

Level 8

35,314 points

Oct 19, 2020 9:50 AM in response to jos39

There were few external adapters, specific from Apple; the internal HDD is earlier

P/ATA (parallel/ATA) and probably difficult to find now; small/slow. ~ Apple part #

Ethernet Optional USB Ethernet Adapter (MB442Z/A)

Modem Optional Apple USB Modem (MA034Z/A)

Optional MacBook Air SuperDrive (MB397G/A)

The technical specs on this force it to be obsolete; hard drive not SATA. Has P/ATA.

Slow HDDs. Rarer to find. Few/no Intel-based computers use P/ATA hardware. Two items

interest (gone?) 1-external USB Ethernet adapter & 1-Apple USB MacBook/Air SuperDrive

And original software? the replacement on DVD ~ Or factory system on USB Key from Apple.

The PATA hard drive is obsolete and probably very rare to find one in working order.

They were relatively inexpensive when new and probably sourced from PC hardware.

Apple original USB part numbered adapters would be best route. A lack of firmware password?

Or Admin Password? These are issues in addition to basic hardware faults. The original Apple USB

Key (flash drive with system) would be rare, if you cannot find whatever that MB/Air shipped with.

From here, my resources are mostly online; and what I remember from very old Mac pre- SATA.

There used to be 'small solid-state-replacement' hard drives; but nobody now has them either.

A later model MacBook Air may be less costly in working condition; although all wear items are

likely next to impossible (or rare and costly) to locate nowadays. Original parts may be fully used.

And 37 watt/hr built-in battery, also difficult to find; working as 'affordable replacement' now.

Not sure what to say. I have an original MacBook1.1, a 'first' edition, has everything and it still works.

A better unit. But not an original MB/Air! With faster larger spec hardware; can still get parts for too.

The aluminum body and thin form factor in first edition, may be rare; not necessarily of value.

Have to do things offline now; the garage needs heater repair, and technician will be here later in AM.

(Near 8:50AM in AK)

Good luck & happy computing!🌻🐝

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Identify my macbook air 13.3

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