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Level 1

4 points

"This apple ID has not purchased OS X Mavericks"

I recently bought a Macbook Pro from eBay, it came with Mavericks on it. I have no idea what the other person used it for, so I wanted to delete all the data.

I followed the instructions online to reset it, holding Option + Apple + R when restarting, then formatting the disk, and installing OS X Mavericks from there.

I run into this issue though, whenever I log in, it says "This Apple ID Has not purchased OS X Mavericks"

What can I do? I have the OS X Snow Leopard Disc the person mailed with the laptop and there is no disc drive. So now I'm stuck with a Macbook Pro that doesn't do anything...

What to do?

MacBook Pro, OS X Mavericks (10.9), Can't Install OS X due to Error

Posted on Dec 12, 2013 6:45 PM

32 replies

MegawattApps Author

Level 1

4 points

Dec 13, 2013 9:00 AM in response to MegawattApps

I went over to the Apple store and they tried to help but were completely useless in the end. They aren't allowed to do the very simple option of signing in with their own account, so they had to go through all these other methods to try installing OS X.

They said the system had some Kernel Panicking, which doesn't bother me because it was working fine before this, so they scheduled an appointment for that. I tried the external drive method, I asked them if I could borrow an external drive, and they gave me one, it didn't work, it didn't power on, so they opened a brand new one right before my eyes and that one also didn't power on when plugged in. They said it was because the machine already has a disc drive in it, but it doesn't because that one was replaced with a hard drive, and the disc drive is not usable anymore.

So they asked me to call up Accounts, which then transferred me over to Technical Support, the guy stuck with me on the phone for a long time going through all these different methods but again, none of them worked. The simple answer is to sign in with an account that has OS X Mavericks on that account downloaded.

I tried downloading it from the Apple computers but login was disabled, I don't know anyone with a Mac that is accessible anytime soon so I can't sign in on theirs and download it.

tl;dr

If someone can let me use an account that was used to download Mavericks and making an account from scratch is fine as well, that would be great and I will mark that answer as the best answer.

MegawattApps Author

Level 1

4 points

Dec 13, 2013 9:03 AM in response to Csound1

Csound1, yes Internet recovery is possible...

How do you think I was able to get to that page in the first place? That's how I got there. However, this Macbook Pro does not have any operating system on it right now so I'm essentially stuck with a heavy brick.

If someone can help out, I can provide them with an account to download OS X Mavericks, or make one for me, if it works I'd be grateful and I'll mark it as best answer.

MegawattApps Author

Level 1

4 points

Dec 13, 2013 9:07 AM in response to BobRz

Internet recovery is possible and that's what I was trying, but it gives me the error of it not installing.

I went to the Apple store and tried out everything except downloading the Mavericks installation itself because it wouldn't let met log in, and the employees there also didn't want to sign in with their own accounts...

So I tried out the external drive method but the external drives would not power on for some reason, tried out giving it to them and they tried to install it through methods unknown, but nothing has worked out so far.

If someone can make an account for me or I can provide them with one, download OS X Mavericks through that account, then that would be the best method IMO, I'd be grateful and I'll mark your answer as best.

Csound1

Level 9

59,973 points

Dec 13, 2013 9:47 AM in response to MegawattApps

That's not going to happen, buy an external drive and follow the instructions posted earlier to reinstall from the disc.

You can buy a drive for less than $30

Csound1

Level 9

59,973 points

Dec 13, 2013 10:07 AM in response to MegawattApps

MegawattApps wrote:

Internet recovery is possible and that's what I was trying, but it gives me the error of it not installing.

No you were not, Internet Recovery only installs the OS version that the Mac was supplied with, and does not require a login. You were using Recovery, which was installed when Mavericks was installed, and can only be used by the account holder that originally downloaded it.

Cut your losses and return this machine (if you can) if you can't then buy an external drive and start over with the original disc.

Never buy a Mac that has not been prepared for sale by the owner, it requires a lot if work on your part to fix their omission.

MegawattApps Author

Level 1

4 points

Dec 15, 2013 8:38 PM in response to MegawattApps

I solved the problem by going to the apple store and they reset things for me by installing Snow Leopard on it again. It wasn't until my second visit though so yes they might take a while. My overall rating of them in resolving this issue is 1/10. They did it in probably the least efficient way possible and some of the employees are extremely rude.

Feb 14, 2014 10:41 PM in response to MegawattApps

Glad you solved the issue, but in the future, there is a very easy fix for this.

First, using any other computer, log on to the app store and initiate a download of Maverics using YOUR login information. The app store will log this information so once you try accessing Mavericks in recovery mode, it will accept your Apple ID. Worked for me...

Feb 22, 2014 7:00 AM in response to sctrojan551

Im having the same problem. Will the orinigal owner be able to login back in his macbook pro after im done with the download? And he already his mavricks on his mac, does that matter?

Thanks

Apr 20, 2014 10:07 PM in response to MegawattApps

This work for me I spend hours on this hope I help you guys ...

Option 1: With the computer off, power it on. As it's turning on, press and hold Command + Option + R. This it the Internet Recovery option. It will download the OS that shipped with the Macbook Air. From there, they can associate Mavericks with their Apple ID and update to 10.9 from whatever the internet recovery installs on there.

Apr 20, 2014 10:11 PM in response to Csound1

Don't sell your computers guys this work !!!

Read this !!!,!,,,,: With the computer off, power it on. As it's turning on, press and hold Command + Option + R. This it the Internet Recovery option. It will download the OS that shipped with the Macbook Air. From there, they can associate Mavericks with their Apple ID and update to 10.9 from whatever the internet recovery installs on there.

Apr 20, 2014 10:20 PM in response to MegawattApps

Guys I spend a lot hours on this hope I help you out !

: With the computer off, power it on. As it's turning on, press and hold Command + Option + R. This it the Internet Recovery option. It will download the OS that shipped with the Macbook Air. From there, they can associate Mavericks with their Apple ID and update to 10.9 from whatever the internet recovery installs on there.

EMW76

Level 1

0 points

May 3, 2014 8:24 PM in response to sctrojan551

I had the same problem for similar reasons. This worked like a charm. Easy peasy.

May 22, 2014 9:07 AM in response to Right Answers

This doesn't work - 'cmd + optn + r' takes you to the same place as holding 'option' down on statup and choosing 'recovery'. So trying to reinstall OS X simply prompts for your Apple ID to verify your machine in either case.

Csound1

Level 9

59,973 points

May 22, 2014 9:13 AM in response to beelzebomb

beelzebomb wrote:

This doesn't work - 'cmd + optn + r' takes you to the same place as holding 'option' down on statup and choosing 'recovery'.

Not on any Mac I have ever tried it, and that's quite a few.

May 22, 2014 9:41 AM in response to Csound1

Same or similar, either way you get the option to install OS X and then are prompted for your Apple ID and password. I've literally just tried both these methods ('option on startup and 'cmd/option/r on startup) half an hour ago.

"This apple ID has not purchased OS X Mavericks"