Reformatting a Lion Computer to Sell

Question

Level 1

10 points

Reformatting a Lion Computer to Sell

I am getting ready to get rid of a MacBook Pro that I have installed Lion on and was wondering about reformatting it. Since I bought Lion on the computer with my Apple ID, is this computer going to be permanently tied to my Apple ID? I assume even if I reformat the computer, since it's using my authorized copy of Lion it would still be using my Apple ID. Does anyone have some insights in to this or know if there is a way of getting around this short of finding a Snow Leopard disc and using it to reformat the computer?

Thanks guys!

MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.7.2)

Posted on Oct 25, 2011 6:46 PM

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Answer 1

Lanny

Level 6

13,235 points

Oct 25, 2011 7:28 PM in response to danjo34

Use the gray DVDs that came with your Mac to erase (use Disk Utility's repartition tab) restore it to its original OSX version. You should provide those discs with the Mac when you sell it.

Boot from the Gray DVD by holding down the "c" key while restarting. Open Disk Utility and use the repartition tab to erase the internal HD's contents. Then install OSX from the gray DVDs.

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Answer 2

danjo34 Author

Level 1

10 points

Oct 25, 2011 8:13 PM in response to Lanny

That's a good point, and I will probably end up just doing this, but I was just curious if there was a way to do this and leave Lion installed since I am selling it to a friend and wanted him to have the newest software. Unless there is some other solution, I will probably do this and then he will have to update to Lion himself. I imagine that is the best way to do it.

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Answer 3

baltwo

Level 9

62,386 points

Oct 25, 2011 10:46 PM in response to danjo34

Lion's useless to your friend, since he'd need your apple ID to reinstall or update. Surely, he can afford the $30 USD cost.😉

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Answer 4

babowa

Level 9

78,580 points

Oct 25, 2011 11:11 PM in response to danjo34

leave Lion installed since I am selling it to a friend and wanted him to have the newest software.

Additionally, the SLA for Lion specifically states that if the computer was upgraded to Lion, it will have to be wiped and the original OS version reinstalled.

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Answer 5

Sjazbec

Level 4

1,674 points

Oct 25, 2011 11:21 PM in response to danjo34

All apps dowloaded from MacAppStore ( also for iOS appstore ) can't be sold, they are only licensed to you, your credentials, your Apple-ID. Aside from being useless to the buyer it would be a violation of the AppStore rules.

These limitations are also one of the reason why most apps are drastically cheaper in MAS vs their boxed cousins.

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Answer 6

danjo34 Author

Level 1

10 points

Oct 25, 2011 11:22 PM in response to danjo34

Perfect guys, thanks. This helps a lot. I will plan on reverting it back to the original OS before I get rid of it. Thanks again.

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