How to recover deleted main OS X Lion and Recovery HD Lion

A couple of questions:

You mentioned a Snow Leopard disk - did that come with the computer when you bought it? Or are you trying to use one from another machine (that probably won't work because the install disks are machine specific)?

And, last question: you do have a bootable clone and/or Time Machine backup?

The first question is important because: if your machine originally had SL and the seller purchased Lion at the MAS, that license is not transferable. If you try to update it or reinstall, there have been reports that it will not work because MAS checks not only for the machine ID (which would match) to authenticate, but also the Apple ID (which wouldn't match since you didn't buy it).

If that is the case, you'd need to purchase Lion. If the machine came with Lion preinstalled, then a license transfer is allowed and you should be able to use the internet recovery option. As for the Windows part of the problem, I will not be able to help at all because I do not run Windows.

Okay, so you got it with Lion installed, but since it's an early 2011, I'd guess it did originally come with Snow Leopard, so you may be running into the "authentication wall problem" with your Lion install.

Not having a bootable clone or a TM backup complicates things tremendously. As I said, I know nothing about Windows, so putting that aside for the moment, the best thing I can think of is to make an appointment at your nearest Genius Bar (make at least 2 consecutive 15 minute appointments) and see if you can persuade them to download Lion for you (tell them you have a slow connection). Also ask them about what was installed originally - they should be able to tell from the build. They may also suggest to purchase a Lion USB stick. Maybe someone Windows savvy will know a better way.....

And, when you get things sorted out, may I suggest you make either a bootable clone or TM backup immediately for future use.

Early 2011 models came with 10.6.4+ machine specific disks, you can call Apple and ask for the 10.6 machine specific disks for that model as it came with Snow Leopard originally.

Your 10.6.3 may have erased the disk, but you can't install 10.6.3 on it because of a lack of hardware drivers for that model on the 10.6.3 disk.

You can chose to stay with 10.6 or use the AppStore to upgrade to 10.7, but get a copy of those 10.6.4+ machine specific disks, even if you don't use 10.6 there are others who are hot to get their hands on them. 😉

If you want Lion directly (without buying the $69 USB), what your going to do is learn how to make a Lion Recovery USB using someone else's Lion Mac, copying their Lion Recovery to the USB then installing Lion from Apple's servers.

There could be a problem if that machine came with 10.6 originally though as the AppleID is tied to the Lion, all you can do is try and see what happens.

http://osxdaily.com/2011/08/08/lion-recovery-disk-assistant-tool-makes-external- lion-boot-recovery-drives/

https://support.apple.com/kb/dl1433

Read more  gems here

https://discussions.apple.com/community/notebooks/macbook_pro?view=documents

If you want Lion directly (without buying the $69 USB), what your going to do is learn how to make a Lion Recovery USB using someone else's Lion Mac, copying their Lion Recovery to the USB then installing Lion from Apple's servers.

There could be a problem if that machine came with 10.6 originally though as the AppleID is tied to the Lion, all you can do is try and see what happens.

Yeah, well, that's why I suggested the Genius Bar - no matter where he gets Lion - unless he purchases it himself, there will be an authentication problem.

I'd already suggested that Apple put a disclaimer on any OS purchase at MAS "this license is not transferable; if you sell this computer, you must uninstall this OS - it will not be usable by another person/Apple ID". Seriously.

babowa wrote:

Yeah, well, that's why I suggested the Genius Bar - no matter where he gets Lion - unless he purchases it himself, there will be an authentication problem.

You might be right. We quite don't know how Apple is going about that really yet as Lion Mac's haven't been on the used market yet, so it will be a experiment of sorts.

If Apple registered a Lion purchase with that machines ID, despite another AppleID being used, it might be good enough for them.

If he tries and it doesn't work he can tell us, if it does he saved $69. 🙂

Still the 10.6 machine specific disks would be the best option, then install the $29 Lion from MAS (which would replace the 10.6 installed), he could resell those 10.6 disks to the highest bidder on eBay and likely come out ahead on the deal. 😁

No, according to the SLA, he better keep the SL disks because, as long as Lion was purchased from MAS, he is oblicated to uninstall it if he sells it and to reinstall the original OS. I just sent in a feedback to add a disclaimer because there have been threads here before - the buyers of used Macs have no idea (and neither do the sellers - who actually reads the SLA). The only time you can transfer Lion is if your Mac came preinstalled with it; otherwise you can't and it won't work because the machine ID and the Apple ID won't match. And getting Lion from someone else would violate the SLA as well; my guess is that is why it is so reasonable: one machine could ostensibly need 3 - 4 "re-purchases" of Lion if the hardware lasts long enough and people only keep it for 2 - 3 years.

After installing Windows 7 ultimate I thought I would be able to boot the Snow Leopard cd and clean install everything after formatting the partion as 1 main journaled drive

The two systems need to be on separate partitions. If you delete the partition and then reformat the disk, it will wipe everything including OSX.

As I understand it, the Bootcamp partition needs to be created from the utility within OSX and after installing the latter. This is because of the order of the partitions on the hard disk etc. This is more critical in Lion because of the Recovery HD partition.

To see the hidden partitions, run the following command in Terminal, then in the Debug menu of Disk Utility select "Show all Partitions".

defaults write com.apple.diskutility DUDebugMenuEnabled 1

Once you are up and running again and for future backup, I would suggest buying an external hard disk and getting a copy of Carbon Copy Cloner (CCC). Then make a bootable clone of OSX and copy your installers on to it.

Cajetan, I read your first post again and again. I think I understand it, but still have problems understanding why you did all this complicated things: did the OS work OK before trying to Bootcamp Windows? Why did you install Windows and then format your drive? You must start all over again (and you did not have the correct disks).

I suggest you forget your computer history, get the Snow Leopard Disks as everybody suggested, install Snow Leopard and use a Virtualizer to install windows as a Virtual Machine. You can use Virtualbox (free) or buy Parallels Desktop or VMware.

When running Snow Leopard you can Download Lion for a few dollars,and install it (but read the links or ds_store carefully, because you want to make a Lion Backup and a Recovery Partition Backup on USB sticks, and that should be done between downloading and installing of Lion). Use the system a while before you upgrade to Lion, to make sure that you have no problems; if you have sort them out first, before upgrading.

Also I have the impression that you forget a bit about the importance of backups: make a clone and make other backups.

Boot the computer and hold down the Command+Option+r keys and that should start the Online Lion Recovery system and allow you to re-install Lion.

If the Command+Option+r does not take you to the online Recovery system then try just the Command+r keys.

It is best to have the computer connected by Ethernet cable to your router for this.

hi shootist, he said he lost the Recovery Partition !?

lex.

LexSchellings wrote:

hi shootist, he said he lost the Recovery Partition !?

lex.

Right if you read my post again you may notice I said the OnLine Recovery system. All newer MBPs, and some older ones after firmware update, can access the Apple Online Recovery system that boots the computer over the internet to a Recovery HD system just like the one include on the HDD when Lion is installed.

On some MBPs using the Command+r key combo will take you there, IF you do not have a version of the Recovery HD on your HDD, and on others, mine in particular and I would suspect all Late 2011 model MBPs, you have to use the Command+Option+r keys to access the "ONLINE" RECOVERY SYSTEM.

ha, yes, ofcourse...😊