Hit brick wall trying to get El Capitan

[Vaslovik]

I'm trying to upgrade from Mountain Lion to El Capitan on my Mac Mini. I go to the app store while logged into my Apple ID, and try to download the free upgrade, and I'm told to log into the account I used to purchase it. But, it's free, and I'm already logged into my Apple ID, and there's nowhere in that window to log into anything, and I have no idea what account they are talking about, so I guess I've hit a brick wall and can't get El Capitan. Anyone know a way around this?

My machine is a late 2012 Mac Mini

Processor 2.5 GHz Intel Core i5

Memory 8 GB 1600 MHz DDR3

Graphics Intel HD Graphics 4000 768 MB

Software OS X 10.8.5 (12F45)

At one time I was able to get a live chat with Apple and they told me I could upgrade straight to El Capitan from Mountain Lion and all would be well, but I can't get that chat anymore or find any way to get it back or open a new one. I don't understand how to proceed from here.

 

[NoBoMac]

Are you the original owner of this machine? If not, sounds like the following was not done before you got the box. Sounds like still tied to the original owner, so, they are the "owner" of the free OS upgrade.

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201065

 

[DeltaMac]

Yes
If you are not using the same AppleID account that was used to originally download El Capitan, then you have to purchase it while logged in to your own AppleID.
I know that El Capitan is free, but you (your AppleID account) can't download El Capitan, unless you used YOUR AppleID to download it originally.

 

[jrazor]

Hello,
quick question on the "ownership" issue of OS X that I am hoping someone can answer here.

* reason for question is that we are looking to upgrade a few Mac Pro 1,1 (2006) machines to El Capitan and don't want to shoot ourselves in the foot (ouch, that hurts)

If I do the "upgrade to OS X El Capitan" and the sell the machine...
... how can the subsequent user upgrade the machine?
... or is there some way to remove my "Apple ID" from the machine so that the new user can do their upgrade in the future?



Thank you...

 

[\-V-/]

You can make sure your ID (and anything else for that matter) is removed by doing a clean install of El Capitan ... meaning making a bootable flash drive or external drive ... booting from that drive ... erasing the entire drive with Disk Utility ... then installing El Capitan.

 

[jrazor]

You can make sure your ID (and anything else for that matter) is removed by doing a clean install of El Capitan ... meaning making a bootable flash drive or external drive ... booting from that drive ... erasing the entire drive with Disk Utility ... then installing El Capitan.

This assumes that you (me in this case) does not do any "updates" that apple may be asking to do... Yes?

 

[DeltaMac]

This assumes that you (me in this case) does not do any "updates" that apple may be asking to do... Yes?

No, that won't make any difference at all.
If you erase the hard drive, then install OS X on that erased drive, then you simply stop after the install is complete. You just don't do any setup from the install.
Shut down your Mac, and it is then ready for the new owner/user, who will put in their own AppleID info, and finish the rest of the user setup at the next boot.
Easy...

 

[Weaselboy]

Hello,
quick question on the "ownership" issue of OS X that I am hoping someone can answer here.

* reason for question is that we are looking to upgrade a few Mac Pro 1,1 (2006) machines to El Capitan and don't want to shoot ourselves in the foot (ouch, that hurts)

If I do the "upgrade to OS X El Capitan" and the sell the machine...
... how can the subsequent user upgrade the machine?
... or is there some way to remove my "Apple ID" from the machine so that the new user can do their upgrade in the future?

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201065

First follow the step at this link.

Then all you need to do is a command-r boot to the recovery partition, then use Disk Utility to erase Macintosh HD. Then quit Disk Utility and click reinstall OS at the top. You will be asked for your AppleID to download the installer. When the OS install is done and the setup screen comes up, just power it down. Your AppleID will not be associated with this Mac when you sell it. You entering your AppleID in that earlier step just allows the download and does not tie your AppleID to the machine.

The only hangup is the new owner will not be able to do an OS install because he never "purchased" El Capitan. To get around that all he or she needs to do is once they setup the machine, go to the App Store and purchase El Capitan under their AppleID and just cancel the download. That way if they want to reinstall they can use their AppleID just like you did.

 

[\-V-/]

This assumes that you (me in this case) does not do any "updates" that apple may be asking to do... Yes?

No. OS updates don't require an Apple ID. You only need an Apple ID to download El Capitan. A fresh install will not require an Apple ID. Only after you sign in with your Apple ID will it be tied to that computer when you try and use the recovery partition. But if you do a clean install from an external drive, the Apple ID will not be tied to your Apple ID.

 

[Weaselboy]

Only after you sign in with your Apple ID will it be tied to that computer when you try and use the recovery partition.

It does not really tie your Mac to that AppleID. The issue is an AppleID that has purchased El Capitan will be needed if you try to do a reinstall from recovery. But there is really no linkage to the old ID. I think we are saying the same thing here and I'm only trying to clarify for anybody reading.

 

[\-V-/]

It does not really tie your Mac to that AppleID. The issue is an AppleID that has purchased El Capitan will be needed if you try to do a reinstall from recovery.

That's what I was trying to say.

But there is really no linkage to the old ID. I think we are saying the same thing here and I'm only trying to clarify for anybody reading.

Sometimes my gibberish needs clarification.