Q: Time Machine On/Off grayed out

Recently purchased a used Imac that had been used in a corporate setting. For some reason I find that I cannot do automatic Time Machine backups.

I can select a backup disk and run manual backups but the TIme Machine On/Off button is grayed out. I suspect that in its past location it was being backed up to a corporate server and that there is some plist somewhere that blocks any other backup with Time Machine. Does anyone have any insight as to what might be the cause and solution. Running El Capitan (but had the same problem with Mavericks) Thanks!

iMac, OS X El Capitan (10.11.2)

Posted on Dec 21, 2015 3:04 PM

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Q: Time Machine On/Off grayed out

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by rkaufmann87,Helpful

rkaufmann87 Dec 21, 2015 4:36 PM in response to ferg52
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Photos for Mac

Dec 21, 2015 4:36 PM in response to ferg52

When you purchase any used computer the first thing that should be done is an erase and install of OS X. You may benefit by looking over:

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

http://www.imore.com/how-reset-your-mac-prepare-it-sale

http://www.computerworld.com/article/2476010/apple-mac/how-to--7-steps-to-sell-y our-mac.html

You will every article suggests doing an erase, the reason for doing so is so the new owner will not be inheriting problems (they may have other hardware issues) and can start with a clean slate.
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by ferg52,

ferg52 Dec 21, 2015 4:38 PM in response to rkaufmann87
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Dec 21, 2015 4:38 PM in response to rkaufmann87

Thanks. I definitely should have done that. I guess I can do a backup and do a clean install and restore my Mac, but I imagine that the troublesome files will still be in there somewhere.
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by rkaufmann87,

rkaufmann87 Dec 21, 2015 4:58 PM in response to ferg52
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Photos for Mac

Dec 21, 2015 4:58 PM in response to ferg52

I Was under the impression you just got the machine and are doing the first backup, how long have you owned it?
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by ferg52,

ferg52 Dec 21, 2015 5:17 PM in response to rkaufmann87
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Dec 21, 2015 5:17 PM in response to rkaufmann87

About a month.
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Q: Time Machine On/Off grayed out

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by rkaufmann87,★Helpful

by ferg52,

by rkaufmann87,

by ferg52,

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by rkaufmann87,Helpful