Can't completely remove old email addresses

I purchased my MacBook Pro from a friend recently. I removed her email accounts from the mac mail, but it still insists on trying to send all of my emails from one of her accounts. I am able to manually change it when I am composing a message, but have almost forgotten on several occasions, which just would not be ok! I have gone into preferences to try and tell it which email address to send new messages from, but in the drop down it only gives me the option of one of hers or "send from selected mailbox" - my email address is not an option as the default, and it still tries to send from hers when I have "selected mailbox" chosen.

I am on a 2011 MacBook Pro running Yosemite 10.10.3

Any ideas?

Posted on May 30, 2015 5:53 PM

28 replies

babowa

Level 9

78,574 points

May 30, 2015 7:43 PM in response to CinnamonGirlMT

SO far it's letting me reinstall Yosemite, keeping my fingers crossed that it keeps cooperating!

That's not going to solve the problem. Using the regular recovery simply reinstalls the current system which does not do away with previous Apple IDs, Mail accounts, etc. Check this document for your model and firmware version:

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201518

If you can't get a firmware update, you will need to original install disks which the seller was obligated to give to you.

In any case, if it did come with disks, please post exactly which model identifier, year, and OS version it had originally. This is important information as you may be able to simply call Apple and get replacement disks.

May 30, 2015 7:45 PM in response to babowa

THanks! I do have the disks somewhere but we just moved and they haven't emerged from hiding yet. I'm going to deal with the issue for now as I really need the computer working and will search for the disks in the meantime!

Csound1

Level 9

60,063 points

May 30, 2015 7:52 PM in response to CinnamonGirlMT

In an earlier post you said that you had upgraded the Mac to Yosemite, if so whose account was used to download Yosemite from the App Store, yours?

May 30, 2015 8:14 PM in response to Csound1

Yep, I used mine. It just asked for my App Store info like any other item and then installed as usual.

Csound1

Level 9

60,063 points

May 30, 2015 8:15 PM in response to CinnamonGirlMT

When you use command-R (local recovery) you should be asked to supply the password for the user account that downloaded Yosemite, yours in this case. So reboot to local recovery and select Install OS X.

I do not think this will fix the mail sending issue, if that is the only issue don't waste your time reinstalling anything, post back.

babowa

Level 9

78,574 points

May 30, 2015 8:18 PM in response to CinnamonGirlMT

So, could you tell us exactly what was installed when you got this machine?

Which OS was installed?

Did you get the welcome screen and set it up with your own information?

Or was it simply running the OS?

Or is the previous owner's info still there in an account and she or you set up a second account for yourself? (You can check under System Preferences > Users & Groups)

May 30, 2015 8:29 PM in response to babowa

The users part is where I'm stumped. It was still running Lion when I got it but I didn't have to login or anything. The only user account is still her name and no additional accounts, but everything I have been using (iTunes, installing Yosemite etc) has been using my Apple ID. I didn't think anything of the main user account still having her name as everything seemed to be working fine for me until the email thing, so now it seems like it's in some weird limbo using both her old info and my new info.

Lanny

Level 6

13,225 points

May 30, 2015 8:30 PM in response to CinnamonGirlMT

SO far it's letting me reinstall Yosemite, keeping my fingers crossed that it keeps cooperating!

Then you're not doing it correctly, because 2011 MacBook Pros did not ship with Yosemite.

Csound1

Level 9

60,063 points

May 30, 2015 8:30 PM in response to CinnamonGirlMT

What is the problem you are trying to solve, emails sent from the wrong account or something else?

babowa

Level 9

78,574 points

May 30, 2015 8:39 PM in response to CinnamonGirlMT

So she did not erase the hard drive and simply gave you a machine with her account on it. It is, indeed, strange that you have been able to download things unless she never established an Apple ID/iTunes account (which is possible) - that appears to be the only logical explanation at this point in this case.

Personally, I would not want to run a computer with someone else's account on it. I would absolutely erase and start from scratch.

May 30, 2015 8:49 PM in response to CinnamonGirlMT

In addition to babowa's post, if you don't want to start from scratch with the OS, move your files to an external drive. Create a new administrative account. Copy your files back to the new account for you. Create your email account in the new user account. When everything is working OK, delete the old user account.

May 30, 2015 8:52 PM in response to Glenn Leblanc

Thanks everyone! It just finished reinstalling Yosemite and it did serve the purpose of getting rid of her account without having to go back to the original OS. It had me start from the beginning with my Apple ID, new license agreement etc. all trace of the old account is gone!

babowa

Level 9

78,574 points

May 30, 2015 9:00 PM in response to CinnamonGirlMT

Well, that is good to know - considering it is a used machine, it is always best to start from scratch since you simply do not know what kind of stuff is on it.

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Can't completely remove old email addresses