MAC A1278 New HD, Install From ThumbDrive, Still Asking For MAC ID

[Michale32086]

I got an old A1278 MAC from a pawnshop. It's old but functional..

I had some issues getting it going and doing a wipe on it.. I am installing YOSEMITE on it but even though I replaced the HD and am installing from a thumbdrive, it's still asking for an Apple ID..

As I said, this is a really old MAC so I would not have thought that the Apple ID would be embedded in the firmware... Is it??

Any help would be most appreciated..

 

[Fishrrman]

Can you boot to INTERNET recovery?
Command-OPTION-R
at boot
(keep holding this key combination down for a while)

Ethernet works best for this, but if you're using wifi, you'll need your wifi password.
Be patient as the globe spins -- the utilities take a little while to load.

Can you get the internet utilities loaded?
If so, open disk utility.
VERY IMPORTANT STEP -- IF there is a "view" menu, go to it and choose "show all devices".
(you can't see the internal drive until you do this)

Now, look at the "list on the left".
The internal drive should be on "the top line".
You want to erase it.
Click on it and click erase.
I would choose "Mac OS extended, journaling enabled, GUID partition format".
Now quit disk utility and open the installer.

The installer may offer some other OS version than Yosemite. My advice is take whatever is offered to you, and try to run with that for now.

Click through.
The Mac will reboot one or more times, and the screen may go dark for a minute or more with no other indication of activity. Be patient.

When done, you should see the initial setup screen (choose your language).
At this point, either attach your backup so you can migrate when prompted, or just go ahead and create a new account.

Good luck.

 

[Michale32086]

Thanx for the reply....

Can you boot to INTERNET recovery?
Command-OPTION-R
at boot
(keep holding this key combination down for a while)

Ethernet works best for this, but if you're using wifi, you'll need your wifi password.
Be patient as the globe spins -- the utilities take a little while to load.

Can you get the internet utilities loaded?
If so, open disk utility.
VERY IMPORTANT STEP -- IF there is a "view" menu, go to it and choose "show all devices".
(you can't see the internal drive until you do this)

No view....

Now, look at the "list on the left".
The internal drive should be on "the top line".
You want to erase it.
Click on it and click erase.
I would choose "Mac OS extended, journaling enabled, GUID partition format".
Now quit disk utility and open the installer.

The installer may offer some other OS version than Yosemite. My advice is take whatever is offered to you, and try to run with that for now.

Click through.
The Mac will reboot one or more times, and the screen may go dark for a minute or more with no other indication of activity. Be patient.

When done, you should see the initial setup screen (choose your language).
At this point, either attach your backup so you can migrate when prompted, or just go ahead and create a new account.

Good luck.

When I tried to ERASE the very top drive (1TBST100 blaa blaa) I got an error that said it couldn't erase the drive..

I did ERASE the MAC OS partition and that worked..

I then backed out and ran the install and the same thing happened..

It got to this point:

And that's where I get stuck...

Thanx again for the reply..

 

[Fishrrman]

It looks like the original owner (or previous user) who pawned it never bothered to "sign it out" of the App Store.

There's probably no way to reach this person now.

So... my guess is you are NOT going to be able to remove that warning.
There may be ways around this that I'm not aware of.

Best advice I can offer (and hoping you didn't pay too much):
Get a Mac from a more reliable source.

 

[Michale32086]

Thanx for the replies... I wouldn't have thought that would be an issue with the older macs...

Oh well, live and learn..

Thanx again..