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on first install of Lion on 2011 MBA when you go to the Appstore you get option to install the iLife apps for free.

To confirm your eligibility for that 'free purchase' it checks the unique identifier of your machine, makes sure its not yet been logged against another AppleID, and then associates the apps with your AppleID

i.e. that unique machine id is the machines 'free iLife coupon' and it only gets to redeem it once.

Once its presented the iLife apps get permanently logged against whichever AppleId was being used at that time.

End result: Original owner, using that same AppleID in future, can redownload those apps as many times as they please, cos ever since that first download they're associated with his/her AppleID.

Silly end result (ie the one the OP finds themselves in) - a subsequent owner doing a clean install can't redeem the free iLife apps that should have come with the machine, as the 'coupon' (unique machine ID) has already been redeemed by original owner and associated forever more with his/her AppleID.

Even more ridiculous end result - I upgraded two of my SL machines to Lion and, as I understand it, neither would be eligible to a free iLife apps update. If Id wanted the iLife apps on either of them Idhave had to buy it at least once. But.. having now bought a 2011 MBA, and got it to associate the free iLife apps that it's entitled to with same AppleId as the other machines, I could now download them onto all three of my machines!

to OP I'd suggest the only things you can do short of returning the machine for a refund, is to try to get someone at apple app store support to reset your machines unique identifier on the database. So that next time its queried it shows as not yet having been used to redeem the 'free iLife apps', OR to have them reassign the iLife apps that were redeemed with it over to your AppleID (rather than the AppleId of the original installer) so that next time its queried it comes back as the correct AppleID (ie your one) and lets you download them.


Trouble with either of those is they're open to potential abuse, and there simply might not even be an appropriate procedure in place within the App Store admin software to allow them to do that.

Things were never this complicated when new computers came with install media, (or at least an install image set that could be placed on physical media)...
 
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After spending an hour on the phone with senior customer relations rep, he took my information and said he'd have to call me back and that it could take a couple days because they have no idea what the deal is.

If you go to this Apple page and click on the My Products tab and log in, does your MacBook Air show up there?
 
Silly end result (ie the one the OP finds themselves in) - a subsequent owner doing a clean install can't redeem the free iLife apps that should have come with the machine, as the 'coupon' (unique machine ID) has already been redeemed by original owner and associated forever more with his/her AppleID.

It's a "silly end result" that was pointed out when the App store first opened. In return for being able to use the apps on all the Macs *you control* the software is no longer transferable. So when you resell, those apps don't go with the machine. This applies to purchased Lion upgrades as well.

Apple refurbished computers are given new serial numbers so are not going to have this problem. Open box computers are another issue entirely. Aren't open box items sold "as is" anyway?
 
It's a "silly end result" that was pointed out when the App store first opened. In return for being able to use the apps on all the Macs *you control* the software is no longer transferable. So when you resell, those apps don't go with the machine. This applies to purchased Lion upgrades as well.
Aren't open box items sold "as is" anyway?

Absolutely not, you still have the full 14 day return period as well as the standard year manufacturer's. They even let me inspect it before I bought it because I said that if there is even a hairline scratch I don't want it (which is when he offered the inspection.)
 
Absolutely not, you still have the full 14 day return period as well as the standard year manufacturer's. They even let me inspect it before I bought it because I said that if there is even a hairline scratch I don't want it (which is when he offered the inspection.)

Then I'd suggest you either return it or give in and buy the apps yourself. Maybe BB will offer you the boxed iLife (do they have it?) to encourage you not to return it. Apple's system (and license) only gives iLife to the original purchaser so you have a real battle on your hands!
 
I'm talking about experience, not something I read. :rolleyes:

The same exact Lion that I'm using on my MBP 08 is the same that I loaded on to her 2011 Air. Using Disk Utility to restore onto the USB.

Maybe the 2011 air does have a special build, but the regular build surely works on the 2011 air.

I guess this guy doesn't know what he's talking about either: http://hints.macworld.com/article.php?story=20110831105634716

You just got the one Air that works... :rolleyes:
 
Resolved!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

(First read the emails in the image below)
Now let me clear up that after the 2nd email you see below, he recommended restarting, and if that didn't work, to reinstall lion.

I was then instructed to do the following, which worked!!

1) In Finder, click on the Go menu.
2) Click Go to Folder.
3) Enter ~/Library/Caches/com.apple.appstore/
4) Drag adoption.plist to the Trash.
5) Restart and see if they appear in purchased items.

PS: LMFAO to the last paragraph of my first post. If I only knew...
 

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It's a "silly end result" that was pointed out when the App store first opened. In return for being able to use the apps on all the Macs *you control* the software is no longer transferable. So when you resell, those apps don't go with the machine. This applies to purchased Lion upgrades as well.

it has some justification as a restriction in exchange for multiple installs over X machines of purchased software and OS upgrades.

However the iLife apps are still being touted as part of the out of the box mac experience, not part of the additional software you can get for a mac, or the upgraded operating system you can stick on an older mac.

in the 'Why you'll love a mac' page prospective macintosh adopters are presented with:

'All the software you need is built into every Mac. '
Which goes on to list Garageband iMovie and iPhoto alongside iCal Safari and iTunes..

Its a bit off for those apps to get the same treatment as OS upgrades, and purchased software. A better scenario, in light of the decision to abandon physical media which they were bundled onto in the past, would have been to make them the exception to the rule and use the qualifying hardware as the validation for download from AppStore, not the logged in AppleID.

Edit - looks like the OP got the result he was looking for and had the licence reset :)
 
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Its a bit off for those apps to get the same treatment as OS upgrades, and purchased software. A better scenario, in light of the decision to abandon physical media which they were bundled onto in the past, would have been to make them the exception to the rule and use the qualifying hardware as the validation for download from AppStore, not the logged in AppleID.

All they needed to do was to continue with the old model -- the OS DVD that came with a Mac had all the iLife apps on it while an OS DVD bought in the store had only the OS. They just needed to have the recovery download contain the iLife software as well as the OS. Problem solved, and also prevents the iLife apps from being used on other systems for which they weren't licensed.
 
(First read the emails in the image below)
Now let me clear up that after the 2nd email you see below, he recommended restarting, and if that didn't work, to reinstall lion.

I was then instructed to do the following, which worked!!

1) In Finder, click on the Go menu.
2) Click Go to Folder.
3) Enter ~/Library/Caches/com.apple.appstore/
4) Drag adoption.plist to the Trash.
5) Restart and see if they appear in purchased items.

PS: LMFAO to the last paragraph of my first post. If I only knew...

Glad to hear you got this resolved. Since this thread may be helpful for others that will follow in your pioneering footsteps, you should change the subject to reflect that it pertains to an iLife reinstall.
 
Glad to hear you got this resolved. Since this thread may be helpful for others that will follow in your pioneering footsteps, you should change the subject to reflect that it pertains to an iLife reinstall.

Funny that you mention that because I thought about that. What should I title it?

They just needed to have the recovery download contain the iLife software as well as the OS.

That would be the best thing to do but I highly doubt they will because that would add an extra gig and a half to the process and it already takes FORever to go through the process of a network restore.
 
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Funny that you mention that because I thought about that. What should I title it?

Maybe something like: How to reinstall iLife on an open box return disc less Mac?

That would be the best thing to do but I highly doubt they will because that would add an extra gig and a half to the process and it already takes FORever to go through the process of a network restore.

I think the way it is set up now should work fine (once the bugs are worked out of procedures like this) as iLife is/was an optional reinstall even with discs and should be kept that way.
 
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Contact for identical issue.

Do you still happen to have the case number or the technician that actually got this resolved information? Phone/extension or email? I'm going on day three and hours of phone time with the same issue and they tell me it can't be done this way. Thanks in advance, this is ridiculous!
 
Do you still happen to have the case number or the technician that actually got this resolved information? Phone/extension or email? I'm going on day three and hours of phone time with the same issue and they tell me it can't be done this way. Thanks in advance, this is ridiculous!

I do not. I do know, however, that this was a long and irritating issue and anything other than what I submitted in red WILL NOT WORK. I tried EVERYTHING. You need to call and be firm. If they tell you that's not the way again ask to speak with a supervisor and tell them you've researched the issue online. I don't see how when you explain it they wouldn't see the light anyway because the average user wouldn't know anything about it. I'm sorry I couldn't be more help, I know how you feel.
 
Ok, looks like I have this problem too with an amazon warehouse deal machine. I did a clean reinstall with a new SSD and only used my apple id but I guess the previous owner claimed the ilife package under their id.

Before I contact support I looked in the specified folder and I don't have a adoption.plist file in that folder.

Has something changed in the way this all works to anyones knowledge? (yes updates below)

Has anyone else had success in calling in to get the ilife apps reassigned to their account?

edit: Minor addition it does not appear to be possible to purchase the apps either, all I see is an accept button which leads to id verification and the message you don't own it.

edit2: I found several threads in the apple support community that if you keep contacting support and get a "Customer Relations agent" or a "Senior Advisor" they can issue voucher codes to add to your iTunes account so you may also own the ilife suite.

This is a big mistake as the software should be tied to the computer, apple even says so on http://www.apple.com/ilife/ "All a part of every new mac."

So I will be calling in tomorrow and seeing if I can get this resolved, wish me luck.
 
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First step in the runaround, apple support directed me to the app store support at:

http://www.apple.com/support/mac/app-store/

So I will do that and see what happens. By all accounts it isn't a simple or easy process.

Also apple support was completely unable to pull up my computer serial number. Even if I copy paste the SN into the support website it says invalid. Wonder what that is all about.

A little less impressed with my first mac now.


Update: They directed me to Apple Store Customer Support, so that's step three I guess.
Dear Scott,

Sarah here, from the iTunes Store Customer Support Team, happy to be of assistance to you today. I understand you cannot download iMovie, iPhoto or GarageBand as the applications are assigned to another Apple ID. I can certainly appreciate that you would want this resolved right away and I would be more than willing to direct you to the appropriate department on how you can receive more information and get this resolved, as this is not an issue that iTunes Support can assist with as it is out of our scope of support.

Your request for assistance has reached the iTunes Store Customer Support team, which answers questions exclusively about iTunes Store billing and accounts and downloading purchases from the iTunes Store. Although this team does not offer sales support for the Apple Store, I'm happy to guide you to some Apple resources that should help.

Many issues can be resolved by visiting the Apple Store Customer Support website:

http://www.apple.com/support/store

If you would like further assistance, please call Apple Store Customer Support at 1-800-MY-APPLE (1-800-692-7753). Please inform the advisor that you cannot download iMovie, iPhoto or GarageBand as the applications are assigned to another Apple ID. Help is available from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. CT Monday through Friday, and from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m CT on Saturday and Sunday.

For information about Apple support options, please visit:

http://www.apple.com/support/contact

I hope this information has been helpful and you are able to resolve the issue with Apple Store Customer Support. Take care, Scott.

Sincerely,

Sarah
iTunes Store Customer Support


Another update:
Apple Store Customer Support at 1-800-MY-APPLE (1-800-692-7753) escalated the case to the iTunes store for an exception called RTA which by all accounts sounds like what I need. Also they were the only ones that could see my serial number and asked me to put in a purchase date which is also good. Seems like these are the guys that can make things happen, not applecare or the app store. Unfortunately the RTA process is a 24-72 hour response time. Apple store customer support isn't able to directly issue a voucher but they are apparently the only ones that can make the app store understand the situation.
 
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Ok, looks like I have this problem too with an amazon warehouse deal machine.

Seems to me you should be having an issue with Amazon. I don't know what an "Amazon Warehouse Deal" is, nor how much you paid, but you probably have been better off with an Apple refurbished machine. They are issued fresh serial numbers. Open-box systems (assuming that's what the Amazon Warehouse Deals are) are always somewhat of a risk.
 
Seems to me you should be having an issue with Amazon. I don't know what an "Amazon Warehouse Deal" is, nor how much you paid, but you probably have been better off with an Apple refurbished machine. They are issued fresh serial numbers. Open-box systems (assuming that's what the Amazon Warehouse Deals are) are always somewhat of a risk.

It isn't limited to amazon, anyone and everyone selling a lion computer will have this problem. Apple used to send disks with the computers and if you had that you were good. But now that they don't and use the app store you have this situation.

IMO to fix this apple needs to tie these apps to the machine serial number, not an apple ID. In the meantime fix the runaround process for support.

Or you could say they only come with new macs. IMO this isn't right as you can cheat and to get these apps all you would have to do is buy a mac, sign in and then return it. You then have ilife on all your machines, because it is tied to your apple ID.
 
The issue is that the software used to belong to the machine, but now it belongs to the original purchaser of the system. Software cannot be transferred, so the personal sale of a system simply doesn't include software other than the original operating system. Unless Apple has a way to revert the software license anyone could buy a new Mac, install the latest iLife on all of their systems, and return the Mac. The new software sales model has advantages, but also disadvantages.

Generally open box purchases are sold "as-is". This is no different than some physical item not being in the box. If Amazon (or some other vendor) is implying that the Mac is "complete" they should provide the DVD with iLife on it.
 
You grasp the situation but I don't think you grasp the intent. Was the intention for it to work that way now which is a departure from the past or is this a mess-up? I am on the side that this is a mess-up, as in this is unintended consequences of moving to the app store model and a diskless distribution method.

If the intent was for it to forever be linked to one persons account no mater if they returned the machine or not then we wouldn't see them issuing voucher codes for the applications on apple support communities and everywhere else. Besides, how crazy would that be? The software belongs to you even if you return it and the machine? That stinks of a mess-up.
 
Yay, downloading now.

Dear Scott,

Good Morning! Elaine here again from iTunes Store Customer Support.

The iLife apps have been released from the other account and you should now be able to accept them on your computer. Please try accepting these apps again. You should see your iLife applications appear in the Accept portion of the screen. Click Accept.

You may be asked for your Apple ID and password once again. Your iLife applications now move to the Purchased section. These applications are part of the software that came with your Lion based computer. Your account will not be charged for them. Click Install to compete installation of your applications.

I hope the above information is helpful in resolving the issue you reported Scott. Thank you for being a valued Mac App Store customer. Have a great day.

Total time to resolve about 29 hours, two half hour phone calls and about five emails. Not terrible but far from good.

My advice is to go straight to Apple Store Customer Support at 1-800-MY-APPLE (1-800-692-7753). Applecare mentioned in the top post can't really help you.
 
I tried what was said on this thread and it worked on my used Mac Mini. I called the number listed and spoke to a iApps specialist
Sterling Rios
iApps Senior Advisor

He talked to his engineers got everything done in less than 45min. They solved it by using vouchers.

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