Trying to install fresh OS - Temporarily Unavailable

[Amnesia180]

Hi all,

I've got a second hand iMac which was wiped.

Never had one before (my brother does).

It is an iMac late 2009 27"

I've tried logging in with my Apple ID but the message says "Temporarily Unavailable".

The iMac is currently unusable as the only option upon booting is to fresh install Mac OS.

thanks in advance for any help!

 

[DeltaMac]

...
I've got a second hand iMac which was wiped.
...
It is an iMac late 2009 27"

I've tried logging in with my Apple ID but the message says "Temporarily Unavailable".

The iMac is currently unusable as the only option upon booting is to fresh install Mac OS.
...

Then, sounds like the system has not completed installing.
Boot, and let it install the system.

Another tip, if that doesn't work:
What version of macOS are you trying to use/install?
If you don't know, or are not sure about that - maybe your brother can help you by downloading a macOS installer through the App Store. Use that downloaded installer to create a bootable USB flash drive installer for the system. There's several different methods, or you can download the good DiskMakerX app, which makes the task easy.
Once you have the bootable installer, go ahead and use that to boot your iMac.
Go to Disk Utility, then choose your internal drive, then erase it.
Quit Disk Utility, which will take you back to the main menu screen.
Choose "Reinstall macOS", and install to your now-erased hard drive. The installer will copy the system files to the drive, then it will reboot, and complete the install.
A hard drive might take 30 minutes to an hour before the install completes, so be patient...

 

[Fishrrman]

As mentioned above, your BEST option is to create a USB flash drive installer, and re-install the OS of your choice from that.

If you don't have a working Mac at your disposal, I recommend you go to your brother for assistance, as he apparently DOES have a working Mac.

For a 2009 iMac, I'd suggest 10.11 El Capitan. If you can't download it from Apple, there are (cough) "other ways" by which to obtain it...

 

[Amnesia180]

Thank you for the replies.

Why would you suggest not upgrading to OS Sierra?
I Will be upgrading to 16 GB RAM, replacing the original HDD with a new one and adding a 512 GB SSD.

I will try and find someome with a MAC to make a bootable USB for me.
[doublepost=1495731027][/doublepost]Can you confirm if I purhcase this - https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01MYLQ...id=1495730832&sr=8-1&keywords=os+snow+leopard I can plug it straight into the MAC and it will work?

 

[DeltaMac]

Thank you for the replies.

Why would you suggest not upgrading to OS Sierra?
I Will be upgrading to 16 GB RAM, replacing the original HDD with a new one and adding a 512 GB SSD.

I will try and find someome with a MAC to make a bootable USB for me.
[doublepost=1495731027][/doublepost]Can you confirm if I purhcase this - https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01MYLQ...id=1495730832&sr=8-1&keywords=os+snow+leopard I can plug it straight into the MAC and it will work?

Sounds like (mostly) a good plan - except your choice of Snow Leopard.
It's a good place to start, but why pay so much for Snow Leopard? You can still order direct from Apple, for less than $20
After installing SL, you can then get El Capitan through the App Store.
(BTW - you COULD also upgrade to 32GB, if that would be worth doing with an 8-year-old Mac, but still doable.)

 

[Amnesia180]

Sounds like (mostly) a good plan - except your choice of Snow Leopard.
It's a good place to start, but why pay so much for Snow Leopard? You can still order direct from Apple, for less than $20
After installing SL, you can then get El Capitan through the App Store.
(BTW - you COULD also upgrade to 32GB, if that would be worth doing with an 8-year-old Mac, but still doable.)

I've been on the phone to Apple Support and they said I had to go back to OS Snow Leopard, then go to El Capitan (and then Sierra if I so wish).

I'm hoping by going to 16 GB RAM, and changing to an SSD, it shouldn't be too much different in performance to a more modern one, it is still 2.66 Ghz i5 (of which you can still purchase new)?

However, it is my first step into the world of Apple, I picked up the machine for pennies and for the basic GoPro editing I wish to do on it, I hope it serves me well - even if for a year or so.