Mismatched Serial Number?

[chrfr]

El Capitan is no longer supported by Apple, thus the reason you are not able to login to FaceTime or iMessage.

If you want to know how to continue to use FaceTime and iMessage, go to Apple store or contact Apple CSR directly.

FaceTime and iMessage work fine in El Capitan, and Apple does still support it.

 

[KGB7]

FaceTime and iMessage work fine in El Capitan, and Apple does still support it.

So what’s the solution??

 

[chrfr]

So what’s the solution??

The problem is all about the invalid serial number. As mentioned in post #25, this is a problem that Hackintosh users have.
A search for "FaceTime iMessage Hackintosh" may lead to some results that resolve this.
[doublepost=1510231906][/doublepost]

w87390qunysra

which is too many characters to be genuine.
I haven't tried removing each character one by one until I may get a valid number though!

This serial number is most likely the actual serial number of the logic board which is always different than that of the computer itself. Unfortunately whoever installed it made the mistake of encoding it with that serial number, not the computer's serial, which would have been the correct number to put in there when replacing the board.

 

[Fishrrman]

You were gifted with a 9-year-old MBPro that still works.

Regardless of the "serial number mismatch" -- does it boot up OK?
Once up-and-running, does it work well enough?

If that's the case, FORGET ABOUT the serial numbers.
Just use what you have and be happy with it!

Old saying:
"If it ain't broke, don't fix it!"

 

[Intell]

So what’s the solution??

The solution is to use a proper serial number, which cannot be done in this case. A hackintosh trick may work, but as the Macbook is now iMessage and FaceTime will never work on it.

 

[MacLuke91]

I had the exact same problem. Mine MacBook Pro 2007 logic board was replaced through Apple's Exchange and Repair Extension Program and the technician did not put in the correct serial number on the new logic board. Unfortunately I found it out years after replacement, because it wasn't causing any trouble before Apple begin using that SN for authentication purposes.

So to answer your question. There is no way how to rewrite your SN once it's already flashed into the logic board. But there is a solution how to make your FaceTime and iMessage get working.

Since it was a couple year ago I don't remember which method worked for me so you will have to try.

First method:
Connect your MBP to another mac using firewire 800 and start up your MBP while holding T key. FW icon appears on your monitor. Then go to system preferences on that another mac and select your MBP (which is in Target Mode) as a startup disk. Reboot and try to login into FaceTime and iMessage. It should work and if not there is a

Second method:
You will have to disassembly your HDD/SSD from your macbook and assemble it into another compatible mac. Login into FT/iMessage and switch those hard drives back. Don't know if SATA->USB reduction will do the trick.

Hope it still work.

 

[Richdmoore]

I do want to point out for others that google this issue and have a blank serial number (instead of having the wrong one as the OP stated), and for computers that are vintage/obsolete and apple won't touch, there have been leaked copies of the Blank Board Serializer software available on the web's more questionable file storage sites/torrent sites.

I don't think I can post direct links to them on macrumors forums, but some searching with google will probably find them.

(If your mac is still eligible for service, that of course is the preferred course of action vs trying to find the leaked software.)