Unable to update bundled iMove/iPhoto/GarageBand?

Paleshadow,

Just to be clarify:

1. Have you been having this problem on a new MacBook Air that was preinstalled with Lion?

2. Have you gone through steps 1-4 in Paul Hutchins post above from August 10 ?

3. And then have you deleted the .plist file from the proper folder in your Library and then restart your computer, as described in Saul 's post from the link I posted on Sept 17th?

4. And then try to update the iLife apps from the App Store after logging in to the App Store?

Hi,

I am experiencing the exact same problem with iPhoto/iLife on my ´brand new´ iMac

I have spent an hour with Apple support and they had to escalate to their engineers and have promised to return to me over the weekend.

In essence I seem stuck in a circle:

• System Update tells me all programs are up to date
• The Mac App store tells me there is an update available for iPhoto. But trying to update gives me the message that I need to use the Apple ID they were purchased with. Removing iPhoto and trying to accept the apps under the ´Purchesd´ tab gives me the message that these apps can not be accepted on this computer.
• Manually updating gives me the message that this version of iPhoto needs to be updated through the Mac App Store

I have tried all the good and well meaning advice in this thread, but the problem still remains.

I have no idea how to solve this at this point, except waiting for apple´s feedback. I have to say its not the best first impression of the Mac experience.

kind rgrds

DPerl:

(1) Yes

(2) Multiple times each, in a variety of permutations and combinations. (E.g.: Sign my Apple ID out of the App Store, remove my Apple ID from my account Users & Groups, remove the plist file, restart; then follow steps 1-4 in the Aug 10 post, ensure the plist file is still absent, restart; then attempt to update per Saul.)

Now, it's worth saying that I tried the Aug 10 solution (without success) back in August when I purchased the computer, and then dropped the issue, returning to it only yesterday after updating the OS to 10.7.2. In particular it's possible that the 10.7.2 update has somehow killed Saul's solution, as unfortunately I never tried it under 10.7.1.

I am experiencing the exact same problem with iPhoto/iMovie/GarageBand on my brand new MacBook Air and have wasted literally hours on the phone to Apple support.

• Software Update doesn’t have any new software for your computer at this time.
• You have updates available for other accounts.
• To update this application, sign in to the account you used to purchase it.

The application was preloaded on the MacBook I did not purchase it on a different account. I only have one Apple ID and have only ever had the one ID.

I have now scheduled a call through Apple Express lane for a callback on Wednesday October 19.

Have you deleted the .plist file as detailed in this link, which I posted earlier in this forum?

This completely cleared up this problem on my new Macbook Air.

Look for Sauls post on August 27th..

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/3201787?answerId=16174450022#16174450022

Well, I got this solved by having contacting Apple Support since the .plist fix or other fixes were not working for me. After being shuffled through departments, I got a Tier 2 support person on the iTunes Store team. After proving the purchase date of my Mac mini, he just ended up providing me with codes to add the iLife apps to my account, at which point, I could (finally!) update my apps.

Hi,

I also got this resolved today with redeem codes from Apple support.

kind rgrds

I had a call from Apple support yesterday and I suggested they provide me with codes for the iLife apps to resolve the issue, as I had heard that others had received these as a fix. I was told "we don't do that" and told to reset my password and try various other solutions, including my girlfriend logging into her iTunes account on my computer, despite the fact that she has never used my MacBook! After wasting another 45 minutes on the phone I was told that I would be contacted by the iTunes Store (Mac App Store) via email. Here is the email message:

When iLife applications such as iPhoto, GarageBand etc come pre-installed you need to accept the item in the App Store before re-downloading or updating the App.

Here are the steps to accepting the install of the program:

1.) Double-click the App Store icon in the dock.

2.) Enter your Apple ID and password.

3.) Click Purchases.

If you haven't previously accepted your bundled iLife applications within the Mac App Store, you should see your iLife applications appear in the Accept portion of the screen. Click Accept.

You may be asked for your Apple ID and password once again. Your iLife applications now move to the Purchased section. These applications are part of the software that came with your Lion based computer. Your account will not be charged for them. Click Install to compete installation of your applications.

Apple technical support and iTunes/Mac App Store Customer Support seem to pass this issue back and forth and neither seem willing or able to resolve the issue.

I think that if there are folks here who are still experiencing an unresolved issue with this that you should call Apple Care immediately and when the first line Apple Care service agent answers the phone, request that your call be immediately excalated to Customer Relations. Be polite, but firm, and state that the call needs to be forwarded immediately to Apple Customer Relations. The ACR agents are the highest authorized agents in Apple and can do just about anything within reason to resolve a customer's issues. If you have been dealing with this for an extended period of time, do not be shy about asking them to not only resolve the issue with redemtion codes, but ask what they can do to compensate you for the lost time and inconvenience. A nice discount for your next Apple purchase may be included. (I got my iPad 2 for US$100 off the Apple price with such a discount.)

I am sorry to hear that you guys and I am sure THOUSANDS OF OTHERS are not having any luck solving your problem, by deleting the .plst file from your library. You have my sympathies. I spent well over a month this summer having the endless conversations and emails with Itunes Support, begging them to send me the redemption codes (which other had reported solved the problem) and having them continue to insist that this was not a real solution and therefore they wanted more time for their engineers to figure it out.

Finally, 2 weeks after SAUL posted his .plst solution on another forum, https://discussions.apple.com/thread/3201787?answerId=16174450022#16174450022 I found the post and tried it and it solved the problem on my MacBook Air. I thought we had found the universal solution, but apparently, given the fact that at least 2 of you have reported here that that does not clear up your problems, this problem still is in need of a universal solution.

It is pretty clear by now, from all the posts in this and other APPLE user forums dealing with this issue, that the redemption code solution has worked for everyone, and this ought to be the way APPLE handles this routinely.

During my long oddysey this summer, I not only escalated to Customer Relations, but I got in touch with the OFFICE OF THE CEO. I have to say that they were both sympathetic to how I this problem was (mis)-handled, and I had a long discussion about how APPLE SUPPORT is NOT handling this very well and what they could do about it. When I heard that a couple of you were being given the redemption codes without your having to go down on your knees, I assumed that APPLE had finally gotten the word out to all support people and this would be the quick resolution to anyone with this problem;

APPPARENTLY I WAS WRONG. Some of you are still being given the run around. I agree this is OUTRAGEOUS. For my part, I will be in contact with my contact in the CEO's office again, direct him to this forum, and ASK ONCE AGAIN, that they get on the stick and make these darn redemption codes available on the FIRST CALL by anyone who needs them!!

Let's keep posting here, I do believe that at least a couple of executives, who do have the power to make executive decisions, are or soon will be looking at this forum.

Hang in there guys,

I know they will make this right!! (At least I hope so.)

Resolved:

I purchased a Macbook Air and did a fresh install of OS X Lion.

My iLife apps dissappeared after that and when i tried to install them i got told that i have already accepted them and they should show up in my purchase list, but they didnt.

Apparently they are hidden apps, to unhide them:

Go to Mac App Store

Sign In

Under Quick links, go to Accounts tab

You should see a 'Hidden purchases' tab there under 'iTunes in the Could' heading (screenshots attached)

Click Unhide and your apps will show in purchase history where you can download them.

Resolved:

I purchased a Macbook Air and did a fresh install of OS X Lion.

My iLife apps dissappeared after that and when i tried to install them i got told that i have already accepted them and they should show up in my purchase list, but they didnt.

Apparently they are hidden apps, to unhide them:

Go to Mac App Store

Sign In

Under Quick links, go to Accounts tab

You should see a 'Hidden purchases' tab there under 'iTunes in the Could' heading (screenshots attached)

Click Unhide and your apps will show in purchase history where you can download them.

My partner and I purchased two 27inch iMacs on the 24th November. I have exactly the same problem. I can't accept the bundle software for iphoto, imovie and garageband, not can I update iphoto via the App Store. Despite numerous phone calls to Apple Support, and emails to iTunes Support no-one has yet been able to provide a solultion on an iMac which is less than 2 weeks old. Oddly, my partner was able to up date his accept his bundled software and update iPhoto with no problem whatsoever. The Apple technicians have talked me through all the 'solutions' mentioned above and we've also tried having my partner log in as a guest with his Apple ID and have created a 'test' administrator with an Apple ID to see if that would work. I've totally frustrated and disgusted by the whole affair given the amount of money we've spent in buying these two machines.

Same problem here. Deleted .plist file, deleted iPhoto, reïnstalled Lion, nothing helps.

When I go to the app store I see three iLife apps under purchases. But when I click 'accept' I get a message that my new MacBook Pro can't accept the apps. 😟

Talked to support yesterday for almost an hour. No solution yet.

It seems that the appstore doesn't recognize the relation between my Apple ID and my MacBook Pro properly.

I'm not happy with the new way Apple's distributing apps. iLife is not part of the (hidden) install disk. During the install the apps are downloaded from the store. I wish they would include a dvd with all the software with each new Mac.

In the end I have no iPhoto at all.

There are two ways to fix your problem with iLife updates. The first solution is to take your iMac to the Genius Bar at your local Apple Store, although I wouldn't like to to haul a 27" iMac around! I had the same problem with my MacBook Air, which is easily portable. It takes about 2½ hours to reinstall Lion but they fixed mine at Meadowhall. If you follow this route future updates for iLife will be through software update rather than the app store.

The second solution is to ask Apple to send you the codes to download the iLife apps from iTunes. This is not as simple as it sounds because they will tell you that they don't do this, but if you ask them loudly enough they will do so eventually! If you try this route and have no success then you may wish to contact me and I will try and help you?