Serial # Problem

I don't understand you when you say "And I can't contact the Apple website for help because they ask me for the serial as well." Why can't you provide them with the serial number of the machine? If the Apple representative can't help you, see if your local Apple store can help you, provided there is one near you.

 

Try to double and triple check the O vs. 0 and 1 vs. I distinctions. I often just don't recognize it and transcribe the wrong thing. To be safe, just cut and paste from "About this Mac." Good luck.

 

I had this problem with a Mac Pro, had to call Apple to get them to register my serial into the system. They also asked me of the date when I purchased so they can give me an accurate start date for my warranty.

Supposedly if you buy it from a third party vendor, the serial numbers of computers sitting on their shelves are not registered yet so Applecare warranty won't start on them prematurely.

 

Following Thiol's line of thinking, you could try copying and pasting the serial number directly from the window in System Profiler (About This Mac) into the web page or wherever you're required to activate the thing. Milk could be on to something, though.