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Messages won't work with iMessage after Mountain Lion install

I previously had Messages Beta installed on both my Macbook and iMac and they worked great. Now I upgraded to Mountain Lion and Messages works fine on my iMac, but not on my Macbook. It defaults to Bonjour and when I enter the Apple ID info I get a message "Your Apple ID "xxxxxxxx@xxxxx.com" can't be used to set up iMessage at this time.", and it says to contact customer support. What is causing this and does anyone know how to fix it?

MacBook (13-inch Aluminum Late 2008), OS X Mountain Lion

Posted on Jul 25, 2012 10:29 AM

Reply
36 replies

Jul 31, 2012 11:46 AM in response to celliott147

Hi celloitt147,


Whilst Messages Beta was around I got the impression that linking a MobileMe name (username@me.com) to an iCloud account (Also username@me.com) created a situation where you were then asked to Close the MobileMe account.


I think this then effectively closed the linked ID as a whole to some parts of the services that Apple offer.


As I said I got this Impression but no-one seemed to confirm that when setting up their iCloud @Me.com name they had managed to use the same @me.com name.


My Own experiences is of linking an external email to Apple (But Apple ID) to an iCloud issued @me.com.

This gives me two names (using the same password) to access my iTunes, App Store Apple Support Communities.


However for iMessages they are two different IDs when used in Messages and sending iMessages.

Also only one of them is a Valid AIM Screen Name in Messages.


Similar to the @Mac.com to @Me.com or linking them at the .Mac to MobileMe change over I think thre iCloud process allows the creation of two IDs of the same name. (I can't prove this though).

If this is then followed by the closing of the MobileMe part it seems that access is also denied.


I also have @mac.com account where I have removed the linked email address on the Apple ID site which may also be causing me some issues (See my reply to Michael Paine on the 30th)



User uploaded file
7:46 PM Tuesday; July 31, 2012

Please, if posting Logs, do not post any Log info after the line "Binary Images for iChat"


 iMac 2.5Ghz 5i 2011 (Lion 10.7.2)
 G4/1GhzDual MDD (Leopard 10.5.8)
 MacBookPro 2Gb (Snow Leopard 10.6.8)
 Mac OS X (10.6.8),
"Limit the Logs to the Bits above Binary Images."  No, Seriously

Aug 1, 2012 2:05 PM in response to MVMVM

I had the same issue after updating from Lion to Mountain Lion. Apple care had no clue. So, I figured it out. I have one account for iTunes/Puchase call it itunes@hotmail.com and another for iCloud, call it icloud@me.com.


On my iphone, under the Settings | Messages, I had only the phone number as a way to be reached fro messages. So, I added my icloud@me.com address. Then went back to my mac and BINGO! I was able to logon to iMessage.


Not sure I understand exactly why, but it worked: so make sure that your iPhone/iPad allows to receive messages to that email address too!

David

Aug 16, 2012 1:23 PM in response to Ralph-Johns-UK

Ralph, you were absolutely right. After about 2 weeks working with Apple Support, it just started working. When I called my rep to ask, he confirmed it was a server issue where in the transition, my ID had been duplicated. The weird thing was that I encountered no problems until moving from Lion with the beta to Mountain Lion with the final release. My MobileMe @me.com and my iCloud @me.com are exactly the same.


The strangest thing was that I couldn't log into iMessage until after logging into FaceTime. Supposedly the verification server is the same, but I had to do FaceTime first.

Aug 16, 2012 2:45 PM in response to celliott147

Hi,



FaceTime first.

Thanks for that.



User uploaded file
10:45 PM Thursday; August 16, 2012

Please, if posting Logs, do not post any Log info after the line "Binary Images for iChat"


 iMac 2.5Ghz 5i 2011 (Lion 10.7.2)
 G4/1GhzDual MDD (Leopard 10.5.8)
 MacBookPro 2Gb (Snow Leopard 10.6.8)
 Mac OS X (10.6.8),
"Limit the Logs to the Bits above Binary Images."  No, Seriously

Sep 12, 2012 12:36 PM in response to moh8021

Hi,


The main suggestion in this thread is to use iTunes and go to iTunes Support and then Contact Support so that someone from Apple who can deal with Apple IDs can then change the Status of your Apple ID.


Jumping in on a Thread that has been marked Correct (Solved/finished) without apparently reading the suggestions and saying you don't know what to do leaves a lot to be desired.



User uploaded file
8:36 PM Wednesday; September 12, 2012

Please, if posting Logs, do not post any Log info after the line "Binary Images for iChat"


 iMac 2.5Ghz 5i 2011 (Lion 10.7.2)
 G4/1GhzDual MDD (Leopard 10.5.8)
 MacBookPro 2Gb (Snow Leopard 10.6.8)
 Mac OS X (10.6.8),
"Limit the Logs to the Bits above Binary Images."  No, Seriously

Sep 13, 2012 1:25 PM in response to moh8021

Hi,


At the bottom of the iTune Store page

User uploaded file
Uploaded with Skitch!



This will launch/Start a web page

User uploaded file
Uploaded with Skitch!


And the next page show you this (Top of page)

User uploaded file
Uploaded with Skitch!


You then have to chose a Topic.

User uploaded file
Uploaded with Skitch!


The next page will suggest changing your Password but beneath that it says More Option and offers an email link

Use this link.



User uploaded file
9:25 PM Thursday; September 13, 2012

Please, if posting Logs, do not post any Log info after the line "Binary Images for iChat"


 iMac 2.5Ghz 5i 2011 (Lion 10.7.2)
 G4/1GhzDual MDD (Leopard 10.5.8)
 MacBookPro 2Gb (Snow Leopard 10.6.8)
 Mac OS X (10.6.8),
"Limit the Logs to the Bits above Binary Images."  No, Seriously


Message was edited by: Ralph Johns (UK)

Sep 14, 2012 4:09 AM in response to Sooks569

A guy called David on another discussion posted this and it worked for many of use first time:


I had the same issue after updating from Lion to Mountain Lion. Apple care had no clue. So, I figured it out. I have one account for iTunes/Puchase call it itunes@hotmail.comand another for iCloud, call it icloud@me.com.


On my iphone, under the Settings | Messages, I had only the phone number as a way to be reached fro messages. So, I added my icloud@me.com address. Then went back to my mac and BINGO! I was able to logon to iMessage.


Not sure I understand exactly why, but it worked: so make sure that your iPhone/iPad allows to receive messages to that email address too!

David

Messages won't work with iMessage after Mountain Lion install

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