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I have a MacBook Pro running Lion but I have no recovery partition so I cannot use the Find My Mac feature in iCloud. Is there way to reinstall to get a recovery partition without having to wipe the machine?
MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.7.2)
You can just re-install Lion, it won't wipe the machine, and it should only take about 20 minutes or less.
If you bought Lion at the MAS, simply go back and download it again (hold Option key while going to Purchases). It should re-install right over your current setup giving you the recovery partition. You can also check these:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4718
How do you know you don't have a recovery partition?
it's hidden.
hold command R while rebooting. and if it doesn't show up then you don't have a recovery partition.
Babowa's links should set you on the right path.
I wasn't sure if the OP had checked that or not - also, I think (but am not quite sure) that the warning only shows up if there really isn't one, for instance on my Macbook I know that there isn't one because I cloned the system back and the warning about needing one shows up in Find my Mac.
Thank-you everyone for the assistance. I tried the reboot and confirmed the partition does not exist. This is my first Mac and I bought it used. The person that I bought it from wiped and reloaded everything and when he did the install he didn't create a partition. I'm going to have to go buy Lion from the app store and reinstall to get the partition. Since it's only $30 it's not a big deal. I can create a USB recovery drive at the same time.
I am two days into the Mac experience and loving it so far. : )
I'm glad you're buying it because you'd be running into problems down the road most likely because: the Lion license from MAS is NOT transferable - that means your seller should have wiped Lion and reinstalled the original system and give you the install disks (that is what the SLA spells out). Did s/he do that (give you the original disks)? If not, you may want to inquire about them - you may need them at some point for troubleshooting/running a hardware test/etc.
Thinking about it: hopefully you'll be able to buy/install it because MAS will most likely recognize that you have it installed already (and it was done with a different Apple ID). If it does not work, you will need to original disks to wipe the drive, reinstall the original OS and then buy Lion.
No disks included. When I go to the App store there is no option for me to buy it because it recognizes it as already installed. Any ideas how to get the store to let me buy it?
The problem is also that the previous copy of Lion was purchased with another apple ID and the store is aware of that because of the registration of the apple ID. This question/problem is just now starting to come up and I haven't heard a conclusive and definitive answer from Apple, so the best I can recommend is (in order of preference):
Get the original install disks from the seller and/or prompt him/her to contact Apple to have them replaced.
Set up an appointment at your nearest Genius Bar and ask the Genius to figure it out (and then post their suggestions here!)
Buy a retail copy of Snow Leopard (the previous system) disk ($29); use it to erase your drive, install it, update it, and then go back to the store to buy Lion.
I contacted Apple today. They said I need to buy the USB version of Lion. They have it at my local store so I can buy it online and go pick it up there and not wait for shipping. I'll grab a copy later this week.
I'm surprised they didn't mention buying Snow Leopard disk which could prove advantageous if you experience any problems with Lion. And the cost for you would be less actually: $29 for Snow Leopard disk and $30 for Lion download vs. $69 (?) for the Lion USB thing. My own preference would be to call them back and ask about doing it that way, but this is your decision.
I bought the Lion on USB from the store and did the reinstall. That did the trick! : )
this is the easiest solution, it solved the problem for me.
Yep, this is the way to go to recreate the Recovery HD instead of reinstalling. It works 100% of the time.
I don't know that mucking about in terminal is the best or easiest way to go for a new or inexperienced user?
It was far easier to just put the Lion USB drive in and let it do a reinstall. It didn't change any of my settings or lose any of my data. As a benefit I now have a licensed copy of the OS.
Need to create Lion recovery partition to enable Find My Mac
