Installing Yosemite without Apple Id

Yes, erase the disk and install Snow Leopard. This will return it to the state it was in at purchase, depending on whether the SL disk is the one which came from the computer or the retail version, bought separately - this latter doesn't install the bundled applications, so the original one is best and should be included with the machine when you sell it. Then it's up to the purchaser to make his own arrangements for upgrading.

Probably too late but there is an Internet recovery mode ( as oppose to disk recovery) which will install original OS and no log in details required. I actually came across this option accidentally when disk recovery failed.

Start up from the Snow Leopard disc, then from the Utilities menu choose Disc Utility and use that to erase the disc. Format it to OSX Extended (Journaled).

Hello,

This thread is a bit old, so I'd like to check what you propose.

I am prepping a mid-2011 iMac to give away.

The machine shipped with Snow Leopard - I still have the disks! - but I upgraded to El Capitan, which is thus the latest version "on the machine."

Acc to Apple's instructions as well as an Apple users' forum, I signed out of all my accounts and wiped the HD. Upon reboot, it takes me to OSX utilities, I click on "Reinstall OSX," it offers to reinstall El Capitan. When I say OK and agree to the conditions, it checks the computer's credentials and then asks me for my Apple ID, which I do not want to put in.

So in essence, I never get to the second part of Apple's instructions above, which is "reinstall OSX." I have left the computer on the Disk Utility page, and/or shut it down.

Should I boot up from the Snow Leopard disk and let the next owner figure out the upgrade?

Is there something I am missing?

Thanks!

Well, I ran into a new problem... : I started up from the SL disk. Got to the page where it says "to set up the installation of Snow Leopard, click Continue." I did so, got a list of the possible disks (including my partitioned external hard disk which I forgot to unplug), but there was a yellow warning triangle on my "Macintosh HD" which is of course where I wanted to install OSX. And I could not click on that disk for installation - it says "Mac OS X cannot start up from this disk."

Is that because El Cap is still installed on that disk? I thought I had completely erased it.

If so, I will have to go back to square two.

Thanks

I checked using Disk Utility. The Macintosh HD is listed as "not bootable" - which makes sense because there is nothing on it.

I'm not expert on such things, but since the machine wanted to reinstall El Cap, could it have been from the Apple disk image containing OS X Base System which I also see listed in Disk Utility?

Thanks!

Uh-oh: With about 30 min to go on the installation, the computer started beeping insistently and stopped doing everything (including mouse and keyboard). I turned it off.

This does not sound good. I installed two OWC memory bars last year, to upgrade to 8 Gb from the original 4. Ever since, the computer had been shutting down unexpectedly and restarting immediately. I did not remove the memory bars as I thought I needed them for El Capitan. Does the distress beeping indicate I should take them out?

I will look for some advice on this issue, since it is completely different from reinstalling an OS.

Thanks...

You could start by turning it off (disconnect it from the mains), removing the extra RAM and then carefully replacing them, making sure they are properly seated. Then try starting up again. If it goes on failing you will probably need the attention of a service engineer.

Right again Roger! I should have done that months ago, but despite all the how-tos on the internet I was still afraid of reseating the memory bars. I did so and lo and behold, the reinstall worked perfectly. The machine is now ready for its next owner.

And to think that I bought the newer iMac because I was frustrated by that one crashing ... but OK, the newer one is, well, newer 🙂.

For some reason I was unable to mark your reply as helpful, sorry.

You definitely don't want to enter your Apple ID. This would give a purchaser access to your account.

Please see this Apple Help note:

What to do before selling or giving away your Mac - Apple Support

which says, among other things:

'After you reformat your hard drive and reinstall OS X, the computer restarts to a Welcome screen and asks you to choose a country or region. If you want to leave the Mac in an out-of-box state, don't continue with the setup of your system. Instead, press Command-Q to shut down the Mac. When the new owner turns on the Mac, the Setup Assistant will guide them through the setup process.'

It also links to a page telling you how to erase and install Yosemite (though you appear to have done this):

OS X Mavericks: Erase and reinstall OS X

Seems to be working this time. I have no idea why the disk was not fully erased the first time, but anyway hooray!

Unless your computer originally shipped with Yosemite, yes. The newest OS which can be installed without being tied to an Apple ID is the higher of the computer’s original OS or 10.6.8(or 10.7.5 if you happen to have bought a Lion USB thumbdrive).

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Append the last three characters of its serial number to http://www.everymac.com/ultimate-mac-lookup/?search_keywords= , load the page, and check its original OS.

If it’s Mac OS X 10.6.2 or earlier, buy a Mac OS X 10.6 DVD from the online Apple Store or phone Apple and order replacement disks.

If it’s Mac OS X 10.6.3 through 10.6.8, phone Apple and order replacement disks.

If it’s Mac OS X 10.7 or newer, restart with the Option, Command, and R keys held down.

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I should erase it again to be on the safe side, making sure the format is as I described above. The you don't try to boot from it - you remain booted from the Snow Leopard Disk, start the installer, and at the prompt specify 'Macintosh HD'. If it doesn't work I can only suggest you approach Support - http://getsupport.apple.com