Stuck in catch-22, please help !
Since I cannot afford to purchase new Macbooks, I have always relied on eBay for my purchases. I recently "upgraded" from an early 2008 MB to a late 2010 MB. Because the previous owner had not cleared his data, I used instructions that I found here in the forums to 'restore macbook to original factory settings'.
I called Apple and they said here's how you restore:
1. Start computer up, holding OPTION key
2. Select Recovery
3. Select language (I'll choose English)
4. Disc Utility
5. Macintosh HD
6. Select Erase tab
7. Erase Disc
8. back to OSX Utilities - Select Reinstall OSX (this makes it so your most recently installed operating system will be restored. I bought my Macbook as a Leopard, but it runs Mountain Lion now.)
9. Reinstall to Mac HD
Well, when I get to step 9, it wants the apple ID that was used to purchase Mountain Lion. I did not purchase Mt Lion - it was already installed on the used MB. I have tried reinstalling Snow Leopard (time machine back-up from my 2008MB) but the msg says that I cannot do that because it is a different model MB. I tried purchasing Mt. Lion, but it is not available for my 2008 MB. HELP ! !
MacBook, OS X Mountain Lion (10.8)