Everett Dick
Level 1 (12 points)
Desktops

Q: Erase a 2008 iMac to give it away

I am trying to erase an old iMac to give to some friends. It is an early 2008 20 inch iMac. I have been trying to follow apple's instructions but I can't get it to go back to the OS that it had when I first bought it. It keeps on insisting on reinstalling El Capitan and using my Apple ID. I need to at least get to a place where a new apple ID could be created and associated with this computer.

 

I have my OS 10.4 install disc but it won't let me run that. I can't get OS X Internet Recovery to do anything other than try to reinstall my software. I have started up on an external drive; on a flash drive; erased and reformatted the hard drive many times and I can't get past this point.

 

I am happy to leave El Capitan on there but I want the machine out from under my Apple ID.

 

Suggestions?????

iMac, OS X El Capitan (10.11.4)

Posted on Sep 23, 2016 11:45 PM

by babowa,Solvedanswer
babowa babowa
Level 7 (32,347 points)
iPad
A:

When they changed the process, I did some extended testing regarding being able to reinstall the original OS; I found that 2 times out of 6, nothing worked. I was able to work with the bootable clone, however, that only worked reliably when I used the clone with the old system on it (as in: erase the drive and clone back the old system) - it was not reliable when I tried to erase and then tried to reinstall from a CD.

 

If your Mac's firmware was updated, then - from what I've read  and experienced - you can't go back to the original OS. It just won't work.

 

FWIW, I think it is absolutely great that you want to do the right thing here so the recipients do not run into Apple ID problems (as they would if you were to give it to them with any OS downloaded from the app store would.

 

And, I just had another thought: El Capitan is no longer available except for this possibility (unless you've purchased it previously) - this is for computers which cannot run Sierra:

 

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT206886

 

Scroll down to "how to get El Capitan" and  "if your Mac doesn't support Sierra".

 

I have not tried this, but it should/may work: you could erase the hard drive from internet recovery, and shut it down before going to the download/install and leave it blank. Help the recipients go to the above link and download El Capitan - during the install, there should be the options to set it up with their own ID, etc. Worth a try, since there aren't many other options.

 

The only other option: take it to a Genius Bar appointment and beg for help.

Posted on Sep 25, 2016 3:24 AM

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Everett Dick

Q: Erase a 2008 iMac to give it away

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  • Helpful answers

  • by Rudegar,

    Rudegar Rudegar Sep 24, 2016 1:05 AM in response to Everett Dick
    Level 7 (28,980 points)
    Apple TV
    Sep 24, 2016 1:05 AM in response to Everett Dick

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

  • by Everett Dick,

    Everett Dick Everett Dick Sep 24, 2016 9:36 AM in response to Rudegar
    Level 1 (12 points)
    Desktops
    Sep 24, 2016 9:36 AM in response to Rudegar

    Thanks for the prompt response. The link you sent me on says this:

     

    1. Start up from OS X Internet Recovery by holding down Option-Command-R immediately after turning on or restarting your Mac. Release the keys when you see the Apple logo. Startup is complete when you see the OS X Utilities window.

    2. Open Disk Utility from the OS X Utilities window, then use Disk Utility to erase your built-in hard disk using the OS X Extended (Journaled) format. Quit Disk Utility when done.

    3. Choose Reinstall OS X from the OS X Utilities window, then follow the onscreen instructions.
      This installs the OS X that came with your Mac when it was new. This version isn't associated with your Apple ID. The new owner can then use the Mac App Store to upgrade OS X with their Apple ID.

     

    And this is the problem, it doesn't restore to the version of OS X that came with my mac. It will only restore to El Capitan, and the one associated with my Apple ID. I have tried multiple ways of getting it to do something else and can't figure out how to do it.

     

    I have the old computer directly wired (ethernet) to the modem, so nothing should be between it and whatever apple would be sending.

     

    The place I may have messed up in the beginning is I erased from the very root after having started up on an external drive. But as the above seems to say, once I connect my machine to apple it should know what was on it when I bought it.

     

    I have an OS 10.4 startup disk, but I can't make it start up on the disc. (Yes, I am holding the c when starting.)

     

    I hope this clarifies where my problem is and that you have additional ideas.

     

    Thanks

  • by Old Toad,

    Old Toad Old Toad Sep 24, 2016 10:04 AM in response to Everett Dick
    Level 10 (141,679 points)
    Photos for Mac
    Sep 24, 2016 10:04 AM in response to Everett Dick

    Are you sure you were holding down the Option+Command+R keys while booting.  Leave off the Option key or lift it prematurely and you'll only boot into the local Recovery volume.

    OTsig.png

  • by babowa,Helpful

    babowa babowa Sep 25, 2016 8:07 AM in response to Everett Dick
    Level 7 (32,347 points)
    iPad
    Sep 25, 2016 8:07 AM in response to Everett Dick

    You cannot download the original OS since your model came with install media. Your model also may not be able to be firmware updated to allow Internet Recovery. Here is the info and instructions although, as I said, IR won't work since the original OS was not download from the app store.

     

    About EFI and SMC firmware updates for Intel-based Mac computers - Apple Support

     

    You also cannot boot up with the old media without having erased the hard drive first. I tested this when they first started with the download only options.

     

    The only thing that I've found that will work reliably is if you have (or can make) a bootable clone on an external drive. You boot from that, erase your hard drive, and you can then try to boot from your original install CD.

  • by Everett Dick,

    Everett Dick Everett Dick Sep 24, 2016 11:56 AM in response to Old Toad
    Level 1 (12 points)
    Desktops
    Sep 24, 2016 11:56 AM in response to Old Toad

    Absolutely certain. Absolutely

  • by Old Toad,

    Old Toad Old Toad Sep 24, 2016 12:08 PM in response to Everett Dick
    Level 10 (141,679 points)
    Photos for Mac
    Sep 24, 2016 12:08 PM in response to Everett Dick

    I missed the date of your iMac.  You'll need to restore the system via the system install disks that came with your iMac as babowa described.

  • by Everett Dick,

    Everett Dick Everett Dick Sep 24, 2016 12:32 PM in response to babowa
    Level 1 (12 points)
    Desktops
    Sep 24, 2016 12:32 PM in response to babowa

    Mine is a 20 inch iMac 8,1 which is not listed.

     

    I have a bootable clone and a bootable flash drive.

     

    I re erased and formatted the drive, then shutdown, unplugged the external and tried starting up holding the 'c' key to make it start on the dvd. I have now tried this with both my OS 10.4 and OS 10.2 disks and all I get is a folder with a '?' flashing on the screen.

     

    My goal is just to get it up is such a fashion that I can change the apple ID to a new one that my friends will create. I just want to give a running machine to them, so they can register with apple and then we can upgrade whatever needs upgrading. I tell you this again because it might give you another thought on a work around that I might use.

     

    Thanks for the suggestions.

  • by Everett Dick,

    Everett Dick Everett Dick Sep 24, 2016 12:34 PM in response to Old Toad
    Level 1 (12 points)
    Desktops
    Sep 24, 2016 12:34 PM in response to Old Toad

    Please see my response to babowa, any ideas you have would be appreciated

  • by Everett Dick,

    Everett Dick Everett Dick Sep 24, 2016 12:38 PM in response to Old Toad
    Level 1 (12 points)
    Desktops
    Sep 24, 2016 12:38 PM in response to Old Toad

    Please see my response to babowa, any ideas you have would be appreciated

  • by babowa,Solvedanswer

    babowa babowa Sep 25, 2016 3:24 AM in response to Everett Dick
    Level 7 (32,347 points)
    iPad
    Sep 25, 2016 3:24 AM in response to Everett Dick

    When they changed the process, I did some extended testing regarding being able to reinstall the original OS; I found that 2 times out of 6, nothing worked. I was able to work with the bootable clone, however, that only worked reliably when I used the clone with the old system on it (as in: erase the drive and clone back the old system) - it was not reliable when I tried to erase and then tried to reinstall from a CD.

     

    If your Mac's firmware was updated, then - from what I've read  and experienced - you can't go back to the original OS. It just won't work.

     

    FWIW, I think it is absolutely great that you want to do the right thing here so the recipients do not run into Apple ID problems (as they would if you were to give it to them with any OS downloaded from the app store would.

     

    And, I just had another thought: El Capitan is no longer available except for this possibility (unless you've purchased it previously) - this is for computers which cannot run Sierra:

     

    https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT206886

     

    Scroll down to "how to get El Capitan" and  "if your Mac doesn't support Sierra".

     

    I have not tried this, but it should/may work: you could erase the hard drive from internet recovery, and shut it down before going to the download/install and leave it blank. Help the recipients go to the above link and download El Capitan - during the install, there should be the options to set it up with their own ID, etc. Worth a try, since there aren't many other options.

     

    The only other option: take it to a Genius Bar appointment and beg for help.

  • by Everett Dick,

    Everett Dick Everett Dick Sep 25, 2016 3:24 AM in response to babowa
    Level 1 (12 points)
    Desktops
    Sep 25, 2016 3:24 AM in response to babowa

    I don't know exactly why this time when I started up on my restore thumb drive and decided to try an install, so I could follow your advice, a miracle happened:

     

    it gave me the option to create a new apple ID

     

    So I took it and ran and now I can give them the new computer and tell them their life story as created by me.

     

    I did not want to take a chance on not getting another chance.

     

    Thanks for your help.

  • by babowa,

    babowa babowa Sep 25, 2016 8:14 AM in response to Everett Dick
    Level 7 (32,347 points)
    iPad
    Sep 25, 2016 8:14 AM in response to Everett Dick

    Great to hear that it got resolved!