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cindyjj

macrumors regular
Original poster
Mar 29, 2014
115
1
So I'm finally ready to reinstall OS X on my Macbook Pro, did the Time Machine Back up, did the command-R, found the screen to reinstall Mountain Lion (which is the OS X I want to keep for now), then got the error message "Temporarily unavailable. Try again later." Not kidding, that was the error message. So, contacted apple support who advised I needed to open ports in my router. I googled how to do this and found some info, but certain numbers are needed to fill in in the configuration page of the router. I can navigate the configuration page a bit, but need to know what numbers I need and how to open the port so Mountain Lion will connect and reinstall.
 
Have you ever purchased it with your Apple-ID? Or did you get a used MBP with a preinstalled version of it?
 
If your system shipped with ML, an Apple support rep should be able to give you a redemption code to download it from the App Store if nothing else.
 
Apple support mentioned nothing of this, just that I'd have to configure a port with the router. I will inquire about purchasing it. The problem is that my computer has to connect with something to get it and it won't connect without a port configuration. Which seems a bit weird to me because I'm not sure the only one who has wanted to reinstall Mountain Lion.
 
We need to know, if you purchased/got the Mac NEW with Mountain Lion on it or an older version of OS X (which?) and if you bought the upgrade to ML in the App Store with the Apple-ID you are currently using?

Or if you bought/got it USED with ML preinstalled, it would be good to know what version of the MBP it is and when it has been purchased new.
 
I have new 2011 late Macbook Pro, it came with Lion. I downloaded ML but don't remember from where. How do I check purchases at the App Store? I went to my itunes and couldn't find it.
 
Screen Shot 2016-01-02 at 18.04.06.png


If you downloaded it for free anywhere in the Internet you can only install Lion trough Internet Recovery.

For Internet Recovery hold those keys directly after turning on your Mac:

Screen Shot 2016-01-02 at 18.10.46.png


Or buy Mountain Lion with a code you get from there and redeem it in the App Store:

http://www.apple.com/shop/product/D6377Z/A/os-x-mountain-lion

Then the normal Recovery should work with your Apple-ID.
 
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I have new 2011 late Macbook Pro, it came with Lion. I downloaded ML but don't remember from where. How do I check purchases at the App Store? I went to my itunes and couldn't find it.
Go to the App Store. It's in your Applications folder - or you can choose App Store from the Apple menu.
In the App Store, click the Purchases tab. You might need to log in to your AppleID account to view the items in that tab.
 
@cindyjj

Did you already erase your drive with Disk Utility from the Recover Partition? If yes, you can do it on another Mac by logging in with your Apple-ID before.

You can also use iTunes on any Windows PC. In your Account Information is a purchase list.

Or install Lion first. Then you can look in the App Store. And if it's not there purchase it on the site from my link or upgrade to El Capitan for free.

Have you ever created a new Apple-ID or always used the same?

You could also search in your E-Mails for Mountain Lion, maybe you find an invoice.
 
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@cindyjj

Did you already erase your drive with Disk Utility from the Recover Partition? If yes, you can do it on another Mac by logging in with your Apple-ID before.

You can also use iTunes on any Windows PC. In your Account Information is a purchase list.

Or install Lion first. Then you can look in the App Store. And if it's not there purchase it on the site from my link or upgrade to El Capitan for free.

Have you ever created a new Apple-ID or always used the same?

You could also search in your E-Mails for Mountain Lion, maybe you find an invoice.


Thanks for all that. Just wondering, is this process going to erase my entire computer or will it retain my files? Doesn't matter that much because i did a time machine backup, but need to know what will get erased.
 
Thanks for all that. Just wondering, is this process going to erase my entire computer or will it retain my files? Doesn't matter that much because i did a time machine backup, but need to know what will get erased.

If you erase your HDD with Disk Utility, it'll erase everything.
 
A normal install just installs the OS over the previous one leaving the files intact. To do a clean install you have to manually wipe the drive via Disk Utility in recovery mode. But having a backup is always a smart thing.
 
Thanks for all that. Just wondering, is this process going to erase my entire computer or will it retain my files? Doesn't matter that much because i did a time machine backup, but need to know what will get erased.

Why do you want to install it again if you don't want to make a clean install?

You can't install Lion over Mountain Lion without erasing it first.
 
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