OS X not working right. Can't get to info

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OS X not working right. Can't get to info

Bought a used MacBook Air from a friend and can't get the OS X to work properly. Have a number of Apple gadgets but this is my first Apple laptop.

When powering up I get the OS X Utilities screen with 4 options. I can connect to the net using #3 which is Get Help Online.. I have NO disks or Time Machine BackUp. I cannot get to the serial number of the laptop using the software. I can get to the OS X Utilities screen which says Version 1.0 (48)

I have an Apple account and am logged in by using the portion of the Safari browser that does work.. I keep getting 'certificate error' on every website I visit, including Apple.com and Apple.com/support..

iPod touch, iOS 5, also exact same issue on iPad_1

Posted on Nov 20, 2015 11:08 AM

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Answer 1

TallTex Author

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Nov 20, 2015 11:10 AM in response to TallTex

ignore the bottom line about iPad and iPod touch.. This was added automatically & I did not type it..

I have no problems with my mobile gadgets.

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Answer 2

TallTex Author

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Nov 20, 2015 11:12 AM in response to TallTex

Tried the reinstall O/S from the #1 option and I always get the response: "An error occurred while preparing the installation. Try running this application again." OK -- clicking OK and same response...

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Answer 3

TallTex Author

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Nov 21, 2015 11:10 AM in response to TallTex

Yes, it is Mountain Lion O/S

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Answer 4

TallTex Author

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Dec 5, 2015 9:19 AM in response to TallTex

Do I need to post this request for suggestions in another forum to hopefully get some replies?

Thanks..

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Answer 5

Eric Root

Level 10

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Sep 18, 2016 4:39 PM in response to TallTex

Can you boot normally? Do you have any of your data on the computer?

Run Disk Utility Verify/Repair Disk and Repair Permissions until you get no errors. Reformat the drive using Disk Utility/Erase Mac OS Extended (Journaled), then click the Option button and select GUID. Then re-install the OS.

OS X Recovery

OS X Recovery (2)

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Answer 6

Sep 18, 2016 4:39 PM in response to TallTex

I'm guessing the person you got this Macbook Air from just reformatted the drive partition that contained OS X and left the recovery partition there so you could reinstall the OS yourself using the internet to download the version of OS X it came with. The "Utilities" screen you refer to sounds like you should see what the partition info looks like using the "Disk Utility" program - you should see two or three or possibly more partitions. One of them will be called something like "Macintosh HD" and the other something like "Recovery Macintosh HD". Is that what you see? If not what exactly is there? Why not ask whoever you bought it from what exactly they did before turning it over to you?

Be careful about removing the Recovery partition, as that seems to be the only thing you have at the moment.

Also the "Recovery Macintosh HD" partition will be about 650MB in size and the "Macintosh HD" will be whatever is left normally - there might be a "disk0s1" partition as well that might be 209MB in size as well. Not sure what it's for but better leave it alone as well.

Don't forget that the MacBook will need access to the internet in order to download the Mountain Lion OS X install, so does it? You could start up the "Terminal" app in the list of "Utilities" and run the command "ifconfig -a" in a Terminal window to see if the WiFi or Ethernet is getting an IP address from your modem from your ISP beforehand.

Good luck...

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Answer 7

TallTex Author

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Sep 18, 2016 4:47 PM in response to ReallyDeepYogurt

Thanks for the suggestions on this thread. I could get online but my browsing was very limited and could not login to Apple Store to download anything. I took the MacBook AIR to the Apple Store Genius Bar inside our local mall and Voila -- they noted the problem immediately and hooked their cable up to the port and did a full & complete new install of OS El Capitan. It works perfectly now. I had seen a social media post about the new Sierra O/S which can be upgraded on nearly all Apple laptops so that is why I decided to visit the Genius Bar at the Apple Store and seek their help. Now that I can operate my MacBook AIR normally, I plan to download the Sierra O/S on 9-20-2016 which is when the website says that it will be available. I do have a pretty fast internet cable connection so I don't foresee any future problems.

Thanks again for the offers of assistance. Like I stated, I've used Apple gadgets for several years but this was my first Apple laptop and it does seem to work very efficiently. I was a Windows10 Insider testing the Windows10 O/S before it became available publicly and still love my Windows10, however I am supplementing my expertise now with Apple architecture. :-)

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