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kruso2

macrumors regular
Original poster
Oct 26, 2012
144
37
I'm going to sell my MBA with El Capitan public beta installed. Do I have to downgrade it to Yosemite or will I be able to "factory reset" my settings and set up the computer for the buyer and let him continue with the public beta updates? What do I have to do to let him continue with beta releases?
 

Shirasaki

macrumors P6
May 16, 2015
16,263
11,764
Hmm, you need to let him enrol beta program.
But if you don't want buyer to use beta software, use USB stick to install clean Yosemite.
Another note: you should remove this machine from your find iPhone list, in order to not block buyer from using this MacBook accidentally.
 

chrfr

macrumors G5
Jul 11, 2009
13,707
7,278
I'm going to sell my MBA with El Capitan public beta installed. Do I have to downgrade it to Yosemite or will I be able to "factory reset" my settings and set up the computer for the buyer and let him continue with the public beta updates? What do I have to do to let him continue with beta releases?
Use internet recovery and put it back to a standard configuration. If the buyer wants to be involved with a beta operating system, they should register for it and set it up after they buy it.
Most buyers will want no part of beta operating systems.
 

lagwagon

Suspended
Oct 12, 2014
3,899
2,759
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
The beta installed on your MBA is tied to your Apple ID when you enrolled it. So I wouldn't leave it on there when selling.

The buyer would have to re enroll the MBA with his/her own Apple ID if he/she wishes to continue with the beta.
 

mmomega

macrumors demi-god
Dec 30, 2009
3,888
2,101
DFW, TX
I wouldn't leave a beta OS on a device I was selling especially in between builds or prior to GM. I may include the install file on the laptop if that was a selling point but then it's up the them to install.

Internet recovery -> reinstall 10.10.x
 

Erdbeertorte

Suspended
May 20, 2015
1,180
500
Yes you have to sell it with the OS it was bought with. Internet Recovery (cmd+alt+r) will download the latest version of that and has the Disk Utility to delete everything.

But don't forget to sign out everywhere, especially iCloud in the System Preferences and deactivate the Mac in iTunes (for not blocking 1 of the 5 devices), also i would precautionally sign out of Messages, FaceTime and the App Store.
On icloud.com you can delete the Mac and if you have it registered in your support profile with the serial number you should delete it there too, so that the new owner can register it without calling the Apple hotline.


Edit: If the installer does not ask for your Apple ID before starting the installation then you know that is not connected to your Apple ID by iCloud anymore.
After the main installation part has finished and asks for the country, you can just turn it off by holding the power button a few seconds. It will get right back there when it is powered on again.
 
Last edited:

Blue Sun

macrumors 6502a
Feb 11, 2009
989
386
Australia
Definitely do a clean Yosemite install, OP. Don't leave your Apple ID associated with the machine in any way. It will also be good for the buyer, as they will have the usual experience of setting a Mac up for the first time.
 

Erdbeertorte

Suspended
May 20, 2015
1,180
500
@Blue Sun

His MacBook Air seems to be a Mid 2013 one, so the internet Recovery might set it back to Mountain Lion 10.8.5 or Mavericks 10.9.5 if it was bought later. I don't think it was even available with Yosemite, at least not directly from Apple.

But that's no problem for the new owner, he can upgrade free to Yosemite or El Capitan.
 

Blue Sun

macrumors 6502a
Feb 11, 2009
989
386
Australia
@Blue Sun

His MacBook Air seems to be a Mid 2013 one, so the internet Recovery might set it back to Mountain Lion 10.8.5 or Mavericks 10.9.5 if it was bought later. I don't think it was even available with Yosemite, at least not directly from Apple.

But that's no problem for the new owner, he can upgrade free to Yosemite or El Capitan.

I would make a Yosemite USB installer and clean install from that.
 
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