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Re-installing OSX without an Apple ID

davehutch

davehutch

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Mar 5, 2009
725
32
Croxley, Herts
Hi all, last night I secure-erased my old MBP (after de-authorising and signing out of everything etc).
I'm now at the stage of reinstalling OS X but it asks for my Apple-ID, which obviously I don't want to enter as I'm selling the MBP.
I think I've already worked out that I can install the original OS (which was Snow Leopard) and I have the DVD for this.
It's an early 2009 17" MBP unibody so my question is, do I have any other options to consider for instance, using Internet Recovery, or should I re-install SL from the DVD then ask the new owner to use their own Apple ID to update to Yosemite?
 
I think you should reinstall Snow Leopard and then let it without any your personal information. The new owner can use his/her own Apple ID to update to the new OS X.
 
There is no need to set up the machine with your AppleID. Nor is there a reason to set up anything at all. After you install the OS, just shut down the machine. The new owner will set up and create accounts when they start up the machine for the first time.
 
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chabig said:
There is no need to set up the machine with your AppleID. Nor is there a reason to set up anything at all. After you install the OS, just shut down the machine. The new owner will set up and create accounts when they start up the machine for the first time.
Click to expand...

On the contrary. In order to install Yosemite, you need to enter your AppleID. Please see my OP.
From other posts on t'interweb, I think there might be a chance I could install Lion using Internet Recovery.
Then when I restart the Mac it will ask for Regional setup etc., at which point I'll shut it down, give it to the new owner and ask her to log into the App Store with her own AppleID to update to Yosemite.
I'll let you know how this goes as I'l be re-installing the OS tonight
 
davehutch said:
On the contrary. In order to install Yosemite, you need to enter your AppleID. Please see my OP.
From other posts on t'interweb, I think there might be a chance I could install Lion using Internet Recovery.
Then when I restart the Mac it will ask for Regional setup etc., at which point I'll shut it down, give it to the new owner and ask her to log into the App Store with her own AppleID to update to Yosemite.
I'll let you know how this goes as I'l be re-installing the OS tonight
Click to expand...
Read the reference maflynn posted, especially steps 5 and 6, which confirm what I stated. Your AppleID is your permission to install the system (because the software is going to be downloaded from the App store, and you need an account to do that). It's doesn't become part of the installation nor is it there after the system is installed.
 
chabig said:
Read the reference maflynn posted, especially steps 5 and 6, which confirm what I stated. Your AppleID is your permission to install the system (because the software is going to be downloaded from the App store, and you need an account to do that). It's doesn't become part of the installation nor is it there after the system is installed.
Click to expand...

Thanks. Yes I did read that yesterday but couldn't see a definitive statement about the AppleID not remaining on the machine. Nor is there a reference to Yosemite, so thought I'd better ask.
 
davehutch said:
Thanks. Yes I did read that yesterday but couldn't see a definitive statement about the AppleID not remaining on the machine. Nor is there a reference to Yosemite, so thought I'd better ask.
Click to expand...
I see what you mean and I'm sorry I posted with attitude. It's ok to use your AppleID to authorize the installation from the App Store. There will be no remnants after the system is installed.
 
Erphern said:
If you install the OS from a USB stick, you don't have to use your Apple ID.

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201372

Boot from the USB stick, use the Disk Utility before installing, erase your computer's disk partitions, and then install.
Click to expand...
Mmm. Problem is I can't download Yosemite because it's already installed on my new Mac.
Turns out my original disk is Leopard and I can't find the Snow Leopard disk yet either :(
 
davehutch said:
Mmm. Problem is I can't download Yosemite because it's already installed on my new Mac.
Turns out my original disk is Leopard and I can't find the Snow Leopard disk yet either :(
Click to expand...
Check out the purchase tab in the App store. You may be able to re-download it.
 
Use internet recovery. It will reinstall the version of OSX that was on your machine when it originally left the factory. Unlike normal recovery mode, no Apple ID is required for this.
 
bmclaurin said:
Use internet recovery. It will reinstall the version of OSX that was on your machine when it originally left the factory. Unlike normal recovery mode, no Apple ID is required for this.
Click to expand...

Can't use Internet Recovery. I don't think that was an option for this machine.
I hold down Alt-Cmd-R and it keeps opening OS X Utilities which wants to install Yosemite.
 
davehutch said:
Mmm. Problem is I can't download Yosemite because it's already installed on my new Mac.
Turns out my original disk is Leopard and I can't find the Snow Leopard disk yet either :(
Click to expand...

You can. It's still on the front page of "Featured" in the App Store as a matter of fact. Download it, then there are many guides online as to what you have to do in order to create a bootable USB drive.
 
Dark Void said:
You can. It's still on the front page of "Featured" in the App Store as a matter of fact. Download it, then there are many guides online as to what you have to do in order to create a bootable USB drive.
Click to expand...

I tried, from the App Store as you say, but I get a message saying that it can't be downloaded because it's already installed.
I've bitten the bullet and signed in with my AppleID to reinstall Yosemite.
I'm hoping that when El Cap comes out, she won't have any issues upgrading the OS...we'll see I guess.
I've searched all over the house and in the attic for the SL disk but to no avail and I'm buggered if I'm going to buy another copy just to upgrade from Leopard, so she can upgrade to Yosemite.

Surely most people don't bother with all this faff do they? Don't most people wipe their data, then just sell it?
 
davehutch said:
I tried, from the App Store as you say, but I get a message saying that it can't be downloaded because it's already installed.
Click to expand...

Sorry about that, I had no intention of posting misinformation, just could have sworn that is how I created one in the past. It must have been Mavericks that I was on then.

If you're paranoid about your ID, sign in, set everything up and change your password. If you're just worried about whether or not it will cause issues for the new owner - I don't believe so. Should be able to just sign in with any ID to access the App Store.
 
Dark Void said:
Sorry about that, I had no intention of posting misinformation, just could have sworn that is how I created one in the past. It must have been Mavericks that I was on then.

If you're paranoid about your ID, sign in, set everything up and change your password. If you're just worried about whether or not it will cause issues for the new owner - I don't believe so. Should be able to just sign in with any ID to access the App Store.
Click to expand...

I imagine you're right. It just seems like a large PITA technicality in the end. After all, if I have SL, she can upgrade for nothing anyway. I'm just saving her the trouble
 
davehutch said:
I imagine you're right. It just seems like a large PITA technicality in the end. After all, if I have SL, she can upgrade for nothing anyway. I'm just saving her the trouble
Click to expand...

Discs are more reliable and cause way less trouble in my opinion. I still have the install discs for my notebook that came with Snow Leopard as well as the Applications DVD for some reason. I suppose the Applications DVD is worthless since all of that stuff is free on the App Store. I'll keep that SL disc for a long time though. You can edit those and use them on any Mac that can accept the OS, regardless of whether or not it is the exact computer that shipped with it.
 
davehutch said:
I imagine you're right. It just seems like a large PITA technicality in the end. After all, if I have SL, she can upgrade for nothing anyway. I'm just saving her the trouble
Click to expand...
What you should to is tell the new owner they should login to the App Store under their own AppleID and purchase Yosemite, then just stop the download. That way if they ever need to clean install they will be able to.

But what others have told you is correct. Entering the AppleID from recovery just allows you to download the OS and it does not leave your AppleID on the machine at all.
 
Weaselboy said:
What you should to is tell the new owner they should login to the App Store under their own AppleID and purchase Yosemite, then just stop the download. That way if they ever need to clean install they will be able to.

But what others have told you is correct. Entering the AppleID from recovery just allows you to download the OS and it does not leave your AppleID on the machine at all.
Click to expand...
Thanks everyone for all of your help.
Much appreciated
 
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Dark Void said:
Sorry about that, I had no intention of posting misinformation, just could have sworn that is how I created one in the past. It must have been Mavericks that I was on then.
Click to expand...

No, you're quite right; I did this a few days ago via 10.10.2, to make a 10.10.3 USB installer. It downloads and then you can quit out of the installer. Not sure why the OP isn't able to - must be some other variable in play.
 
Erphern said:
No, you're quite right; I did this a few days ago via 10.10.2, to make a 10.10.3 USB installer. It downloads and then you can quit out of the installer. Not sure why the OP isn't able to - must be some other variable in play.
Click to expand...

Hm, good to know, although I still don't know the issue for or against it so I'll chalk this one up as a lesson learned under the "maybe" category.
 
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