Unknown Serial Number: Need explanation from Apple!

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Level 1

129 points

Unknown Serial Number: Need explanation from Apple!

Hi there,

I was going to sell our old G5 Dual 2.0 and rightly the guy asked for the serial. We gave him but he replied that at Apple Support it's an unknown one...???? Now, because I took the serial on the label outside the box I've just taken out the G5 and verified on System Profile. No surprise unfortunately, the serial was correct. And at the end of this post I'll attach System Profile data.

I bought it in Italy (I have the invoice) on Sept. 30, 2004 from IRPE in Milan. *It was a BTO* that a client didn't want anymore so they discounted: 4 GB ram, Ati Radeon 9800 Pro Mac Special Edition 256 MB, hard disk 250GB. We've been using it with Final Cut Pro and Studio versions untill 2007 when we bought MacIntels.
By the way I'm posting right now from it.

So, I need to know:

- why I can't register it (but we did registered when we bought it) ?

- Why the response from Apple Registration page is a kind of " we took the data but we can't verify it and register i?

- Why as soon as I choose, instead, to register the product in my Support Profile page, it dims out the AUTOMATIC registration routine that I successfully used to register our old Powerbook G4 and instead it tells me " *UNKNOWN Serial number*" or INVALID Serial once typed in?

Thank you in advance for helping me.

Piero
Global Design Italy

Here is System Profile data:

G5

06/01/2011 14:21

Hardware Overview:

Machine Name: Power Mac G5

Machine Model: PowerMac7,2

CPU Type: PowerPC 970 (2.2)

Number Of CPUs: 2

CPU Speed: 2 GHz

L2 Cache (per CPU): 512 KB

Memory: 5 GB

Bus Speed: 1 GHz

Boot ROM Version: 5.1.5f0

Serial Number:CK4 ***VJ

System Software Overview:

System Version: Mac OS X 10.4.11 (8S165)

Kernel Version: Darwin 8.11.0

Boot Volume: System

Computer Name: G5

Power On Self-Test:

Last Run: 06/01/2011 13:36

Result: Passed

Graphics/Displays:

ATI Radeon 9800 Pro:

Chipset Model: ATY,R350

Type: Display

Bus: AGP

Slot: SLOT-1

VRAM (Total): 256 MB

Vendor: ATI (0x1002)

Device ID: 0x4e48

Revision ID: 0x0000

ROM Revision: 113-A14402-126

Displays:

SyncMaster:

Resolution: 1920 x 1200 @ 60 Hz

Depth: 32-bit Color

Core Image: Supported

Main Display: Yes

Mirror: Off

Online: Yes

Quartz Extreme: Supported

<Edited by Host>

G5 2.0 DP, PB G4 1.67, MacPro 2.66, iPhone 3GS, Mac OS X (10.4.11), Final Cut Studio 3, After Effects CS4

Posted on Jan 6, 2011 5:34 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

piero Author

Level 1

129 points

Jan 28, 2011 6:45 AM in response to piero

I answered the question by myself with some help from the distrutor's assistence.

So in a case like ours, here is the solution:

- You MUST have some buying documentation like invoice (better if it has serial on it and *ALWAYS ask for it in the invoice*!!) or receipt or order confirmation/shipping.
- Take a picture of the original box/packaging of your computer in the area where are the labels from Apple with model and serial
- Go to this address https://selfsolve.apple.com/GetWarranty.do and after logging with your Apple ID look for registering form in which you put the serial and upload your proofs of purchase.

After 3/4 days you'll receive an email with Apple answer, and if positive you can go to your Support personal page and register your Legacy Mac or staff!

Take care,
Piero

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Answer 2

BDAqua

Level 10

250,259 points

Jan 6, 2011 12:41 PM in response to piero

Hi Piero,

But why could be a problem publishing the S/N ?

Probably no good reason with older Macs, but it's general principle around here to prevent bogus claims of HW failure I believe, or who knows what info might be stored for that Serial#.

Put your Serial# in at this site to find out more about it...

http://www.chipmunk.nl/klantenservice/applemodel.html

I think since it's now labeled "Legacy" equipment by Apple, they don't even repair them anymore, that likely that Serial# is not on their radar at all.

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Answer 3

piero Author

Level 1

129 points

Jan 7, 2011 2:39 AM in response to BDAqua

Hi BD',

thank you for your answer. I know those guys and I've already checked in 3 different sites that give you information with Mac serials. The G5 was built in Cork, April 2004.

The point is that when I did the same with my last generation Powerbook G4 (just 1 year older) it was easily accepted by the new Service at Apple Support: "My Support Profile". And what is more strange it's that we still have in that page our old beloved G4....!!!!

But because I'm a serious and professional person, I just did another test registering my first iPod 10GB 2002, and guess what? no problems at all!

_So IT IS NOT a question that the G5 is too OLD, AT ALL_!

What I'm asking here to some Apple people, is to contact me in any way they like to find out about this *"missing" unknown" G5*.

I can't post here the pictures of the label from Apple, Cork, Ireland that are on the original box, neither the invoice to prove the story. And I'm not paying (here in Italy they do not offer 800 numb.) to call Apple Service because their mistake.

*The thing is simple*: if I do not receive a proof from either Apple or Irpe, that the G5 is OK, the serial is correct and I can register it, I just go to the police and denounce the fact that they sold me an unknown machine from ... with fake labels on it and fake serial number. So I want all of my money back (+ o - $ 3.000) because *I paid for an Apple Power Mac G5 BTO not for an unknown machine*.

Easy, isn't it?

Piero

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Answer 4

The hatter

Level 9

61,031 points

Jan 7, 2011 5:12 AM in response to piero

All of us here are end users, nothing more than.

Maybe it had a logicboard replacement.

These people sell parts and might know something about what it might mean.

http://www.dvwarehouse.com/Apple-Motherboard-c-245.html

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Answer 5

Jan 7, 2011 6:09 AM in response to piero

Please do let us know what the police say.

My suggestion is, call Apple in your local province and talk to them about it.

Whilst this site is monitored by Apple webmasters, Apple do not reply to queries here.

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Answer 6

BDAqua

Level 10

250,259 points

Jan 7, 2011 12:39 PM in response to piero

Ahh, I see where you're trying it now... it knew my G5 by Serial#. 🙂

Is the Serial# the same on the G5 physically as reported at the Apple Icon at top left>About this Mac.

Then click on More Info>Hardware ?

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Answer 7

piero Author

Level 1

129 points

Jan 7, 2011 1:23 PM in response to BDAqua

Sorry, the post before was for The Hutter.

Yes BD',

the serial is the same on the original box, on the label inside the G5 after you open the door, bottom right on the chassis and finally on System Ptofile info under Hardware.

I know this are users discussion groups, but as somebody said, Apple read'em...

I just do not understand how Apple can't send an automatic msg when you trying to register it, that put you in touch with an Apple person that mail you answers or tips on how to solve the problem. If I bought it as a company, from a well known Apple distributor in Italy, with all the document invoice labels correct, they should fix it.

Last: don't think is a question of motherboard as the serial it's everywhere and it's the same.

Very last: Does anybody know what happen when you register a Built on Order? Does the serial reflect the different options you bought?

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Answer 8

Jan 7, 2011 2:06 PM in response to romko23

romko23 wrote:
Apple do not reply to queries here - NOT TRUE... I have seen Apple employees come in sometimes.. Eric is one of them.. Anyone with a purple "apple" is an Apple employee.

Hello romko23,

Just to be clear, Eric W is an Apple Discussions Host.

As per the Help & Terms of Use (which you can read in full by clicking on the link in the sidebar->:

*Who are the Apple Discussions personnel?*

*Administrators—Administrators are Apple Employees who focus on maintaining, updating, and enhancing the discussion forums. Administrators will also attempt to maintain proper decorum in the discussion forums. Due to post volume and other factors, Administrators may not respond promptly, or at all, to these discussions.*

*Apple Hosts—Hosts are Apple Employees who focus on gathering technical feedback that will be forwarded to the appropriate Apple group. They also help identify possible content for Apple's Knowledge Base and, when possible, they correct erroneous information in the forums. Hosts will also attempt to maintain proper decorum in the discussion forums. Due to post volume and other factors, Hosts may not respond promptly, or at all, to these discussions.*

*Apple Employee—Employees of Apple who are not Discussion Hosts may have an Apple Employee text link that appears when they post. These Apple employees volunteer their time to assist with products for which they are familiar. Since they are answering questions outside of their normal responsibilities, they may not always be available to respond to questions.*
*Important: Employees of Apple Computer, Inc. ("Apple") may respond to issues within this forum. Apple is under no duty to provide a response to an issue, or to do so in a timely manner. If Apple responds to an issue, it is Apple's intent that the information provided is accurate and reliable. However, given the expectation of the forum to provide real-time responses, not all information will be readily verifiable. ACCORDINGLY, APPLE EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, AS TO ANY INFORMATION PROVIDED BY IT UNDER THIS FORUM, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR SATISFACTORY QUALITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NON INFRINGEMENT. Users of this forum may want to refer to information provided by Apple through its Knowledge Base database at www.apple.com/support for more detailed information on a particular issue. Apple may provide information that is relevant to an international issue, which may contain references or cross references to Apple products, programs, and services that are not announced in your country. Such reference does not imply that Apple intends to announce such products, programs, or services in your country.*

Eric may post in and advise OP's as much as possible though more often than not if he does post in he will direct an OP to the correct person to contact within Apple and/or how to do so.

Just thought there might be some confusion as to Eric's role here.

littleshoulders 🙂

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Answer 9

The hatter

Level 9

61,031 points

Jan 6, 2011 5:46 AM in response to piero

And you should not post the actual full SN online.

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Answer 10

piero Author

Level 1

129 points

Jan 6, 2011 7:58 AM in response to The hatter

Thank you!
But why could be a problem pubblishing the S/N ?

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Answer 11

romko23

Level 2

408 points

Jan 7, 2011 9:40 AM in response to cosmichobo

Apple do not reply to queries here - NOT TRUE... I have seen Apple employees come in sometimes.. Eric is one of them.. Anyone with a purple "apple" is an Apple employee.

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