Clean Install (for selling) Requires My Apple ID?? I wanted it CLEAN!

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Clean Install (for selling) Requires My Apple ID?? I wanted it CLEAN!

I erased the drive of a computer I am selling, and am now going to install a fresh copy of mountain lion. I am using a bootable USB someone made at the office. Everything is going smooth and I am able to install from the USB, but now it's asking me for my Apple ID to verify that I am deemed worthy of installing the OS. I I thought the point of erasing the drive before a sale was to clear out any traces of my ID and password history.... 😕

iMac (27-inch Mid 2011), OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.5)

Posted on Mar 30, 2015 5:23 PM

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Answer 1

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Niel

Level 10

726,707 points

Mar 30, 2015 5:28 PM in response to elgraso

You need to use the computer's original disks instead of that thumbdrive.

(125178)

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Answer 2

elgraso Author

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Mar 30, 2015 5:26 PM in response to Niel

according to this thread, you cant buy such a thing.

can I get mountain lion on disc

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Answer 3

petermac87

Level 5

7,447 points

Mar 30, 2015 5:27 PM in response to elgraso

He means the original OS X that came with the Mac.

Pete

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Answer 4

elgraso Author

Level 1

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Mar 30, 2015 5:28 PM in response to petermac87

oh i see..... hmm... don't have those anymore...

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Answer 5

Niel

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726,707 points

Mar 30, 2015 5:31 PM in response to elgraso

Click here, phone Apple, and order replacements; if they tell you to buy a Mac OS X 10.6 DVD from the online Apple Store, say that it won't work(that Mac requires at least 10.6.6, and the retail DVDs are 10.6.3.)

(125179)

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Answer 6

elgraso Author

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Mar 30, 2015 5:32 PM in response to Niel

is there any way to use my Apple ID just for the install, then somehow wipe all of that info off of it again?

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Answer 7

Niel

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Mar 30, 2015 5:35 PM in response to elgraso

No. Any copy of Mac OS X 10.8 or newer, as well as Mac OS X 10.7 copies which originated from the Mac App Store(almost all of them), will be tied to an Apple ID.

(125181)

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Answer 8

John Galt

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140,942 points

Apr 3, 2015 6:42 PM in response to elgraso

Are you certain your iMac shipped with those discs? About August 2011 is when Apple started shipping Macs with Lion already installed, and you would not have received them in the box. Your model may have shipped with either Snow Leopard (which would have had discs) or Lion (which would not).

You can find out easily enough. Boot OS X Internet Recovery:

using three fingers press and hold the following keys: ⌘(command), option, and R.
With a fourth finger press the power button to turn on the Mac.
Keep the other three fingers where they are until you see the "spinning globe" icon.
This method forces the Mac to download its originally installed OS from Apple's servers, which will not require an Apple ID to install.

If you are still asked for your Apple ID, you will need to obtain a replacement System Install DVD from Apple.

FYI here are Apple's instructions for selling a Mac: What to do before selling or giving away your Mac - Apple Support

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Answer 9

elgraso Author

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Apr 3, 2015 6:45 PM in response to John Galt

thanks John.

it got me up to the Lion install, and then popped up the same apple ID roadblock.

If I take it to Apple Genuis can they install Mountain for me?

if not, then Lion at least?

With Mavericks apple said it "doesnt believe people should have to pay for an OS"... but they sure are trying hard to make sure that I own a copy.

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Answer 10

Niel

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726,707 points

Apr 3, 2015 6:48 PM in response to elgraso

Whatever copies they might install will be tied to an Apple ID, unless they happen to have and give you a Lion install thumbdrive, which is highly unlikely. Except for that, the newest OS that can be installed on your Mac without being tied to an Apple ID is 10.6.8.

(125432)

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Answer 11

elgraso Author

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Apr 3, 2015 7:02 PM in response to Niel

but they CAN install a Lion copy without my ID?

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Answer 12

Niel

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Apr 3, 2015 7:07 PM in response to elgraso

Unless they happen to have and give you a Lion install thumbdrive, no. Any other copies, if not tied to your Apple ID, will be tied to an Apple-internal one, which can cause the new owner problems.

(125435)

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Answer 13

elgraso Author

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Apr 3, 2015 7:18 PM in response to Niel

sweet jesus theyve made this complicated...

so the only way to sell this computer clean is to track down the "System Install DVD from Apple." on ebay?

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Answer 14

elgraso Author

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Apr 3, 2015 7:27 PM in response to elgraso

this thread (http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=1215292) says that you can make your own bootable USB (http://holgr.com/blog/2011/02/creating-a-bootable-os-x-10-7-lion-disc/) that does NOT require Apple ID...

what do you think?

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Answer 15

Niel

Level 10

726,707 points

Apr 3, 2015 7:34 PM in response to elgraso

1. Phone Apple as described above and order them. It's likely that a physical Apple Store has them or can do this, but they basically won't be able to install a clean copy of 10.7 or above.

2. Even if the installation doesn't require an Apple ID, if a reinstallation requires connecting to Apple's servers, it will.

(125438)

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