I'm dumb. And I'm new to this. I just bought a MacBook Pro 15 in. As I started it it had all the past users info and apps so I decided to factory reset it so I went to google. I tried the first thing I saw which was to erase Macintosh HD in disk utility. Now I'm stuck there and don't have the apple I.D to reinstall mountain lion. please, any help appreciated
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Stuck in Disk Utility, help!
- Thread starter Itdontmatter
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I'm confused, did you boot into the recovery partition and erase the drive and now it is asking you for apple ID before it reinstalls mountain lion? It has been a while since I did this but I didn't think you needed an apple ID. There isn't a creat new ID or something? Or a skip button?
What year is the Macbook? If it is 2011+, you can go to Internet recovery by holding command-option-r at boot at that will give you the OS it came with, likely Lion in your case. You will not need and AppleID to do this if the machine came with Lion.
It sounds like the previous owner updated to Mt. Lion and you will not be able to install ML without his AppleID or paying for it under your own AppleID.
Thats the problem
It did not come with mountain lion as the previous owner installed it from the app store. any way I can undo this? or maybe factory reset in any other way? right when I startup it goes into disk utility and I cant do anything.It is the late 2010-early 2011 release.
It did not come with mountain lion as the previous owner installed it from the app store. any way I can undo this? or maybe factory reset in any other way? right when I startup it goes into disk utility and I cant do anything.It is the late 2010-early 2011 release.
You should have Internet recovery then and can go back to Lion. Did you try the command-option-r boot? That should get you to a spinning globe and in a couple minutes you will see the recovery screen. Start Disk Util and select the drive brand name (like Seagate 500GB or whatever) and erase to Mac OS Extended. By erasing the entire drive instead of just Macintosh HD you will get rid of the Mt. Lion recovery partition and allow the installer to install Lion.
Once you get done with the erase, quit Disk Util then click install OS. That will give you a free DL of Lion (tied to the machine's serial number) with no AppleID required.
This will get you up and running with the original Lion install. From there, if you like, you can go to the App Store and buy Mt. Lion for yourself.
The MacBook you have came with 10.6, Snow Leopard.
Assuming that you can't borrow a friend's install disk, your options are:
1) Take it to an Apple Store. They will be able to re-install 10.6 for you (and I think they'll do it for free).
2) Buy a snow leopard install disk from Apple for $20 (If this is the early 2011 model, then I'm not sure if it will work because yours shipped with 10.6.7 and the install disk is 10.6.3).
3) Call Apple support and they will sell you the recovery CD that came with your MacBook for $20.
Option (1) is probably your best option if you live near an Apple Store. If not, then you can do (3).
Good Luck!!!
Assuming that you can't borrow a friend's install disk, your options are:
1) Take it to an Apple Store. They will be able to re-install 10.6 for you (and I think they'll do it for free).
2) Buy a snow leopard install disk from Apple for $20 (If this is the early 2011 model, then I'm not sure if it will work because yours shipped with 10.6.7 and the install disk is 10.6.3).
3) Call Apple support and they will sell you the recovery CD that came with your MacBook for $20.
Option (1) is probably your best option if you live near an Apple Store. If not, then you can do (3).
Good Luck!!!
Looking again at his date (early 2011) you are correct.
As minifridge points out, you machine will not default back to Lion.
Let's back up a bit. What is your end goal? Do you want to end up on Mountain Lion? If so, can you get to another Mac with 10.6.8 or later at a friends house or the Apple Store? Go to that machine and buy yourself ML in the App Store but do not DL it. Then command-r back to your machine and enter your AppleID you used to buy ML and install.
it honestly doesn't matter if I have mt lion or not. I just need to restart my computer to factory defaults. any way I can do this withought another computer or going to the apple store? Im in need of fixing this today
Nope. At this point you need either a Snow Leopard DVD or a Mt Lion purchase with an AppleID.
Thanks for all the help guys but i just went down to the apple store yesterday and they restarted my laptop on the newest version of Mt Lion for free! Thanks again for all the hep and i advise anyone else who has a problem similar to this to go to the apple store!
Glad you got it worked out.Congratulations.
I'm sorry your first experience was so much trouble.
Enjoy the computer and feel free to ask questions whenever you have them. It's the easiest way to learn.
Good Luck!!!
I'm sorry your first experience was so much trouble.
Enjoy the computer and feel free to ask questions whenever you have them. It's the easiest way to learn.
Good Luck!!!
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Thank you so much!!!!!!!!!!! I just joined to thank you !!!! Life saver