Messages won't work with iMessage after Mountain Lion install

Question

Level 1

8 points

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

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Answer 1

Jul 25, 2012 11:26 AM in response to Sooks569

Looks like Apple put out an article about this

http://support.apple.com/kb/ht5419

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Answer 2

Jul 25, 2012 1:14 PM in response to Sooks569

HI,

I must admit to not having two computers to try this on.

The one I do have is an iMac and updated from Lion to Mountain Lion with Messages Beta still active in the Lion build and I did not have any problems.

I can see that the iMessages servers could be getting confused as you are trying to use the same Apple ID on the MacBook as is in use on the iMac.

Try going to the preferences in Messages on the iMac and Disabling the iMessage Account whilst you set up the nmame in a MacBook

9:14 PM Wednesday; July 25, 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

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Answer 3

Sooks569 Author

Level 1

8 points

Jul 25, 2012 2:59 PM in response to Ralph-Johns-UK

I don't think it would matter since I am able to use iMessage with the same apple ID on my iPhone and iPad also.

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Answer 4

Jul 26, 2012 7:40 AM in response to Sooks569

I phoned Apple Care and the call was escalated twice, but the senior representative had access to the validation process.

Looks like apple didn't update their tech support guys on this, so you may need to escalate the call.

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Answer 5

Jul 26, 2012 1:04 PM in response to Sooks569

Hi,

I think it may be about the way Messages tries to register any ID for iMessages as soon as it is entered rather than checking if it is just another device like adding iOS devices.

There is this Apple Doc that tells you have to move things along so it would seem that Apple know of an issue that was not spotted during the testing period. (I doubt many developers ran test versions on two computers)

9:04 PM Thursday; July 26, 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

Reply

Answer 6

Sooks569 Author

Level 1

8 points

Jul 26, 2012 1:21 PM in response to Sooks569

I called Apple Care and they had no clue! The guy talked to 2 supervisors and they didn't know what to do with the customer code either! He had me create another account on my MacBook, again nothing! The next thing they suggest is reinstalling Mountain Lion (but I have my doubts that will do anything either. It sounds like something on their end.

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Answer 7

Kwozzii

Level 1

8 points

Jul 29, 2012 2:05 AM in response to Sooks569

I'm having this problem too with my other halfs MacBook. I can sign into Mesaages with my Apple ID but when I try hers I get the same error as the OP, yet I can sign her into it OK on my MBP and Mac mini....???

Strange but I dunno whats going on...

Kwozzii

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Answer 8

parna

Level 2

295 points

Jul 29, 2012 2:22 AM in response to Kwozzii

Just some thoughts. Seems to me like the issue is on your computer.

Go to KeyChain Acess app in the Utilities folder and check out the keychains. There are various imessage keychains in there - signing in, and tokens - that you could try deleting.

If that doesn't work try deleting the old standbye, the iChat plist files in user/Library

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Answer 9

Sooks569 Author

Level 1

8 points

Jul 29, 2012 12:56 PM in response to parna

Nope! No dice! I even reinstalled Mountain Lion like the Apple Tech suggested. It HAS to be on their end. As one of the first repliers wrote, he had to escalate it twice to get to the Senior Representative (who knew EXACTLY what to do! The message even says I have to contact support to get it to work. Now for some reason I have 5 listings for iMessage accounts listed as inactive and I can't even try deleting them because they are grayed out.

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Answer 10

Jul 29, 2012 3:15 PM in response to Kwozzii

Hi,

Try Starting the computer is Safe Mode and then Restarting normally afterwards.

11:15 PM Sunday; July 29, 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

Reply

Answer 11

Jul 29, 2012 4:32 PM in response to Sooks569

I'm a girl! lol :-D

Have you called Apple Care again? I would keep calling until it's fixed.

When I reached the Senior Rep he had to try a few different things. Whatever he did, it was completely on Apple's server-side, not my computer.

I appreciate everyone trying to help, but I genuinely believe that Sooks' computer is not the problem!

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Answer 12

Sooks569 Author

Level 1

8 points

Jul 29, 2012 4:41 PM in response to fatallonglost

I FINALLY was able to get in touch with someone a few minutes ago that was able to unblock the registration block that they had on my Apple ID! I can't believe that they say that they never heard of this happening before when I've seen others with the same issue. I love Apple but their tech support needs some upgrades!

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Answer 13

Jul 30, 2012 2:27 PM in response to fatallonglost

Here is a similar thread:

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/4146009?answerId=19100440022#19100440022

In all the changes from mac.com to Mobile Me to iCloud I ended up, it turns out, with 2 Apple IDs: xxxx and xxxx@mac.com. They had the same primary email address and this confused iMessage running under Mountain Lion. I changed the primary email address of the unwanted account (xxxx@mac.com) and iMessage now works.

That was fairly easy. The difficult job is convincing Apple to delete my unwanted Apple ID!

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Answer 14

Jul 30, 2012 2:42 PM in response to Michael Paine

HI,

That gave me an idea.

This Portal gives you different access than the Apple ID site.

It can be useful to change emails here rather than on the Apple ID (I found it useful to have these Forums send emails to an email I could not get on to the Apple ID page.)

However it seems I have run out of emails not already linked to Apple IDs

Another idea comes to a grinding halt.

10:42 PM Monday; July 30, 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

Reply

Answer 15

celliott147

Level 6

11,877 points

Jul 30, 2012 10:15 PM in response to Sooks569

I was escalated to senior support and spent an hour on the phone with them. He had no clue and kept consulting the Apple ID department. He said he will call back as soon as he gets an answer or Thursday, whichever is sooner. He then gave me his contact info in case he forgets. We'll see. I've deleted all .plist files, changed password, and they can't figure it out. They keep telling me that I have a .mac account, but I never did. I think it has something to do with the MobileMe to iCloud transition.

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