Wiping/renovating/refreshing an old, slow A1304

You may have to acquire an external USB optical drive such as the

model had as an option when it was new. However the original has

been replaced by a later model, for all Macs without superdrives.

The $79 Apple USB Superdrive would work to install the original DVD

media or replacement of the system software as shipped; this may be

available from AppleCare or Apple Sales support, for a fee. A serial

number and model number would likely be required to match them.

The computer could likely use a retail OS X 10.6.x installer on DVD

if you had the USB SuperDrive or suitable similar product to use it.

With that, the Mac App Store, App Store, and iTunes Store, etc are

available once the computer is able to run OS X 10.6.8 fully installed

and updated through Software Updates. (Then it can see Mac Apps.)

The Lion OS X 10.7.5 is not that much of a prize, but it may run

better given the limited and not upgradable hardware in the MB/Air.

Mavericks is a stretch, even with an SSD flash drive. And no RAM

upgrade path open to it. The unit is at its max in hardware already.

So the USB optical superdrive, and an OS X 10.6 retail DVD are

preliminary suggestions; then look for the same vintage iLife to

match Snow Leopard. (iLife 08 would have been included with

this computer's original Leopard OS X 10.5.5 grey-label discs.)

Anyway, that seems to be about it, at 12:20AM...

Good luck & happy computing! 🙂

Other users with Lion installed had a similar code and issue, there are a few items in this discussion that may be of help. Some others probably won't be so much.

error code 100022

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/3674970

One of the successful solutions was to reinstall the system completely.

Not sure if this helps.

Good luck & happy computing! 🙂

If the computer shipped with a backup or install DVD or flash USB drive

with Lion 10.7 for that computer on it, then that would be the tool to use.

If the computer shipped with an OS X 10.5.x or 10.6 system on DVD,

and the intended method was for the original purchaser to get an

Apple USB superdrive for MacBook Air, (as Apple had one for it) that

disk and a means to install it would be required.

There is another way if you have a computer that has an optical drive

and the MB/Air can sometimes use that other computer + disc drive.

•MacBook Air (Late-2008 and Mid-2009)

How to 'Erase & Install' using Remote Install Mac OS X:

http://support.apple.com/kb/ht3263

If Lion were installed from the internet or an upgrade via the Mac App Store

and If the person installing it chose to make Lion install a Recovery Partition

or Recovery HD on the MacBook/Air hard disk drive, then you may be able to

boot the computer from it; restart with the Command and R keys held down.

You may have to call AppleSupport or AppleCare and ask if you can get a

replacement original system media; if the computer shipped with Lion, then

the device may have been a Flash USB key or boot copy on thumbdrive.

Or it may have had a DVD of the original system, if OS X 10.6 or before.

{While Apple Support OS X info says your MacBook Air model will be able

to run Mavericks OS X 10.9.2, the lack of system resources could make it

slow and balk at running applications or multi-tasking; & it can't see any

hardware upgrades. It is stuck at 2GB RAM, & limited HDD/SDD space.}

For a conversation with Apple directly (online or main phone support) you

would have to provide the MacBook/Air serial number and model identifier.

A replacement would cost a fee, and availability may vary depending on

the actual system media your computer used.

If the computer shipped with an OS X 10.5 Leopard system on backup DVD

you could instead get a retail Snow Leopard DVD; a better base system to

start over with.

Should you have made a good backup method to save your work, and also

an external enclosed hard disk drive to use to restore a working system, then

you would be hours ahead. A quality externally enclosed hard drive can be

used to house a bootable full system clone; a working backup. Preventative.

You may not be able to get a copy of Lion, if the computer did not ship with it

and if there is no Recovery partition or Recovery HD in the MB/Air; you can't

even download it from Internet Recovery, from what I've heard lately. However

given the other issues you say this computer has, the first thing to do would be

to try and save anything off the computer, because any effort now would likely

require the OS X and all drive content (SSD or HDD) to be erased or lost.

If you have access to an Apple Store within some driving distance, you should

see if they have a Genius bar, and schedule an appointment with them in

regard to these issues your MacBook/Air has going on. If there is no Apple Store

(official) you may have to consider paying a specialist independent Apple service

technician at a reseller location to do whatever tech work, save your files to an

external drive, and attempt to install a new system; at a service charge to you.

Some resellers or specialists may have a retail Snow Leopard 10.6 DVD on hand,

while some could install a test system after they'd restored basic function, and

then your totally wiped MacBook would be running clean install. Without DVDs.

So most of this would require you to be ready for the eventuality of needing to

reinstall or perform major system maintenance, ahead of the need; lacking that,

you will have to search out hands-on help, who has the correct software options.

And also one who can do a proper diagnostic to check for other damages, etc.

I've looked around a bit, to see there is a somewhat similar 'restore macbook air'

discussion from these ASC pages, that rounds out what someone suggested an

other owner to try... https://discussions.apple.com/thread/4974418?answerId=21800543022#21800543022

The method you tried to change the Admin password may have caused issues;

so that did not really help address the first (or second, third) set of troubles.

•MacBook Air (mid 2009, late 2008, or original)

Reinstalling applications, reset password, and

using Disk Utility, using the MacBook Air SuperDrive:

http://support.apple.com/kb/ht2735

There are OS X Utilities on the Recovery; Disk Utility, and other tools.

If you had an external enclosed HDD, you could get it ready to be used

as a backup, and see about using Carbon Copy Cloner to make a copy

(clone) on it. This is best done well ahead of emergency to learn how.

Well, I suggest you contact an expert, a specialist, or see if a Store genius

appointment could be made to help you get this MB/Air through this time.

Or if you know of an Apple User group in your area, someone may be able

to figure out the best way to get your MB/Air to work correctly again. The

unit should be tested, diagnostics are free at US & Canada Apple Stores.

Good luck & happy computing! 🙂

Part of the trouble may relate to not using Recovery to reset

the Admin Password; to give it a new name, etc. correctly.

Without a working Recovery or a system DVD + optical drive,

the idea of resetting the Admin password in Terminal is possible

but to re-install OS X from Recovery may be perilous.

A second available computer with an optical drive*, may be used

if you were to obtain the retail Snow Leopard 10.6 install DVD

from Apple, some stores have it; also online, for about $20...

•Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard - Apple Store (US) - on DVD

http://store.apple.com/us/product/MC573Z/A/mac-os-x-106-snow-leopard

•MacBook Air (Late-2008 and Mid-2009)

*How to 'Erase & Install' using Remote Install Mac OS X:

http://support.apple.com/kb/ht3263

•Apple USB Superdrive - Apple Store (US)

http://store.apple.com/us/product/MD564ZM/A/apple-usb-superdrive

•Mac OS X Snow Leopard 10.6 - Support pages:

https://www.apple.com/support/snowleopard/installation/

OS X 10.6 promises to run better on an older MB/Air than Mavericks

given the lack of system resources in that model & no upgrade path

to give it more RAM or more storage drive capacity. 10.9.2 needs both.

Does that model have the smaller 128GB SSD, or a hard disk drive?

One with SSD was an option, at more initial cost than HDD version.

•Apple - Support - OS X - Upgrade:

https://www.apple.com/support/osx/upgrade/

Mavericks would need space in the MacBook/Air hard drive or SSD

or be able to use the storage capacity now occupied by Lion, etc.

The OS X Utilities, if you access them in Recovery mode, could be

able to erase the OS X section and then reinstall Lion, if its there.

Never heard of using Terminal in Recovery to reinstall an OS X.

Maybe someone who has major experience there will reply to that...

Good luck & happy computing! 🙂

Did you read the article about using a Windows PC with an optical

drive, as an optical drive for this MacBook Air? With any of the

correct tools, the task is even easier. A cheaper LG USB DVD drive

that can record & play, may be able to work, instead of a $79 Apple.

Anyway, I think the paths discussed would've worked, if not for that

trying to change the Admin password/name and the Terminal event.

A total erase and reinstall, of a different system, is advised; and

is what I'd do. It may take a few days (or a week+ if here) to get

the retail 10.6 DVD for $20. and a USB Superdrive for up to $79.

Usually an upgrade from Lion to Mavericks requires an Apple ID.

And I'd send it back to Snow Leopard 10.6(.8) for the duration.

Hopefully someone else can see this and get some ideas.

Good luck & happy computing! 🙂