Internet Recovery - Install from scratch?

[mcmul]

Scenario:

• Purchase MacBook Pro on eBay which comes with no hard drive.
• You've never owned a Mac before, nor an iOS device. (So no Apple ID.)
• Install your HDD/SSD into your new MacBook Pro.

Can I confirm that:

• Apple will allow the download and install of the latest OS to someone with no Apple ID using Internet Recovery?
• Internet Recovery will allow the reformatting of any hard disk installed into the bay (to discount for things like NTFS, FAT32)

I want to be 100% sure on these points.

 

[maflynn]

This apple KB article seems to indicate that you can. How ever if the mac you bought is older and has no hard drive, it may not have that ability.

What model did you buy.

 

[Nermal]

That will work if it's a 2012 or newer machine. For a 2011 machine it must have the necessary firmware update and must have shipped with Lion (otherwise it'll ask for an Apple ID).

In any case it'll install the OS that the computer originally came with; you'll need to "buy" the latest version from the App Store once it's all up and running.