Using a mac from a previous owner
I apologize in advance if this question isn't appropriate for this specific forum but I'm using a MacBook and it seemed like the best place to go to get my question answered.
Here's my problem: I've recently acquired my fathers MacBook and I've deleted all his files and changed over things to make the computer 'my own' as best I could and though I already know changing over permanent things such as the short-name of the Mac is quite near impossible, this does not really bother me. Its been going pretty well until this afternoon I shut down the computer and then turned it back on a couple hours later only to find the desktop completely blank of all my files, the itunes library gone and my bookmarks disappeared. As you can imagine for the next several minutes I was in agony over the thought of losing everything however not believing this to be really true I searched until I finally found all the missing content hidden away quite sneakily in the HD folder. I still have yet to find my missing bookmarks though I've pretty sure I'll have to start there again by scratch. Although I'm very happy to have found all my files again, I'm very worried that this issue will happen again unexpectedly and I'm hoping that there is some solution or explanation out there that can tell my why this happened in the first place and what I can do to prevent it from happening again.
I would be very, very grateful for any advice.
You can reset the password as described in 'Help':
To reset the administrator password using the Mac OS X disc:
Insert the Mac OS X Install disc and restart the computer.
When you hear the startup tone, hold down the C key until you see the spinning gear.
When the Installer appears, choose Utilities > Reset Password.
Follow the onscreen instructions to change the password.
Quit the Installer and restart your computer while holding down the mouse button to eject the disc.
You can only keep existing programs by doing an 'archive and install':
Insert the Mac OS X Install Disc and double-click the Install Mac OS X icon.
Follow the onscreen instructions. In the panel where you select the destination disk, select your current Mac OS X disk (in most cases, it will be the only one available).
Click Options. If you want to save your existing files, users, and network settings, select "Archive and Install," then select "Preserve Users and Network Settings." If you want to erase everything on your computer and reinstall Mac OS X, select "Erase and Install." You can't recover erased data.
Click Continue.
Click Customize to select which parts of Mac OS X you'd like to install, or click Install to perform a basic installation (recommended).
In my experience a clean reinstall is best as errors in the old instal can be carried forward and may cause problems later.
Similar Messages
-
I've just purchased a used iPhone 4S. It's been formatted/restored, but when going through the setup it won't accept my Apple ID because it's still apparently registered to the previous owner. He's removed it from his devices on all fronts iCloud / iTunes etc.
Any reason why its still showing as registered under his ID? Or why it won't accpet mine?
Thanks, any help appreciated. Getting frustrated now. And can't get an appointment at my nearest Apple store before Sunday.Hi Harrison,
The previous owner needs to follow these steps to turn off Find My iPhone on the device. It is currently Activation Locked:
Find My iPhone Activation Lock: Removing a device from a previous owner’s account
Best of luck,
GB -
Ipad needs resetting but because it's second hand the password from the previous owner is still on it and I do not know it, is there anyway around this so I can take all the data off? It's urgent because it is being used as a gift next week!
The previous owner should have reset it back to factory defaults before selling it. What iOS version is the iPad on (Settings > General > About > Version), and has the previous owner left him/herself logged in in Settings > iCloud with Find My iPad enabled on that screen ? If it's on iOS 7 and Find My iPad is enabled then you should contact the previous owner and ask them to remove the iPad from their account, otherwise you or the recipient of the gift will have problems with activation lock : http://support.apple.com/kb/TS4515
To reset the iPad back to factory defaults (if it's not linked to Find My iPad) you can use recovery mode : http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1808 -
if i forget my email & my password in icloud , My iPhone is have a device from a previous owner’s account ?
Activation Lock in iOS 7 > http://support.apple.com/kb/HT5818
JohnMoney1 wrote:
I went through all the steps of resetting the phone now its telling me to give the apple ID of the previous owner but i can't get a hold of them,
Then you have a Device you cannot use. -
How do I reset used ipad mini that has previous owner apple id in it?
How do I reset used ipad mini that still has previous owners apple id in it?
Where is the id showing ? If the previous owner left it tied to his/her account in Settings > iCloud and has Find My iPad enabled on that screen then you will have to contact the previous owner, only he/she can remove the iPad from their account - it will need his account's password to log out directly on the iPad, or he can do it via http://www.icloud.com
iOS 7 and activation lock : Find My iPhone Activation Lock: Removing a device from a previous owner’s account. -
I bought an iPad 2 at a yard sale and now it won't let me change the Apple ID from the previous owner to me. What do I do
If you can't contact the owner, there isn't anything you can do.
-
HT201263 How to activate ipad3 bought from a previous owner
My husband just bought an iPad 3 off craigslist. The guy said it was restored to factory settings but it will not activate without the previous owners Apple ID and password. Of course now he will not answer his call to get it. Is there anyway around this. Can Apple reset it?
The previous user should have done this.
What to do before selling or giving away your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT5661
If the iPad was running iOS 7, iCloud: Find My iPhone Activation Lock in iOS 7
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT5818
iCloud: Activation Lock
http://support.apple.com/kb/PH13695
Activation Lock: Removing a device from a previous owner’s account
http://support.apple.com/kb/TS4515
You probably purchased a stolen iPad.
Cheers, Tom -
HT5293 how do I rename the bluetooth keyboard from a previous owner
how do I rename the bluetooth keyboard from a previous owner many thanks in advance.
System Preferences > Bluetooth. Turn Bluetooth Off. Under Devices listing, click once on the particular keyboard entry. Click the X to the right to remove it. Select Show Bluetooth in menu bar. Under Advanced, check all three buttons and click OK.
Put freshly charged batteries in the Bluetooth keyboard you want to pair. If it has an on/off switch, turn it on, and then also renable Turn Bluetooth On in the above bluetooth preference pane, and it will scan for the Bluetooth keyboard, which you can now name as your own. -
I need help unlocking an ipod that has the previous owners apple id and it wont let me log on and the previous owner, no longer is able to be reached.
You will need to contact the previous owner, only they can reomve it from their account : http://support.apple.com/kb/TS4515
If you can't contact them and get them to remove it then you won't be able to use the phone. -
How do i remove an iCloud account from a previous owner on my macbook
PLEASE HELP. I bought a used Macbook Air for my wife and it has the previous owner's iCloud information. When I try to remove it, it requires his passwork which I obviously do not know. I've tried resetting his password in hopes that it would email it to the iCloud mail set on the device with no luck. Please help.
The first thing to do with a second-hand computer is to erase the internal drive and install a clean copy of OS X. You—not the original owner—must do that. How you do it depends on the model, and on whether you already own another Mac. If you're not sure of the model, enter the serial number on this page. Then find the model on this page to see what OS version was originally installed.
It's unsafe, and may be unlawful, to use a computer with software installed by a previous owner.
1a. If you don't own another Mac
If the machine shipped with OS X 10.4 or 10.5, you need a boxed and shrink-wrapped retail Snow Leopard (OS X 10.6) installation disc from the Apple Store or a reputable reseller—not from eBay or anything of the kind. If the machine is very old and has less than 1 GB of memory, you'll need to add more in order to install 10.6. Preferably, install as much memory as it can take, according to the technical specifications.
If the machine shipped with OS X 10.6, you need the installation media that came with it: gray installation discs, or a USB flash drive for a MacBook Air. You should have received those media from the original owner, but if you didn't, order replacements from Apple. A retail disc, or the gray discs from another model, will not work.
To start up from an optical disc or a flash drive, insert it, then restart the computer and hold down the C key at the startup chime. Release the key when you see the gray Apple logo on the screen.
If the machine shipped with OS X 10.7 or later, you don't need media. It should start up in Internet Recovery mode when you hold down the key combination option-command-R at the startup chime. Release the keys when you see a spinning globe.
Some models shipped with OS X 10.6 and received a firmware update after 10.7 was released, enabling them to use Internet Recovery. If you have one of those models, you may not be able to reinstall 10.6 even from the original discs, and Internet Recovery may not work either without the original owner's Apple ID. In that case, contact Apple Support, or take the machine to an Apple Store or another authorized service provider to have the OS installed.
1b. If you do own another Mac
If you already own another Mac that was upgraded in the App Store to the version of OS X that you want to install, and if the new Mac is compatible with it, then you can install it. Use Recovery Disk Assistant to prepare a USB device, then start up the new Mac from it by holding down the C key at the startup chime. Alternatively, if you have a Time Machine backup of OS X 10.7.3 or later on an external hard drive (not a Time Capsule or other network device), you can start from that by holding down the option key and selecting it from the row of icons that appears. Note that if your other Mac was never upgraded in the App Store, you can't use this method.
2. Partition and install OS X
If you see a lock screen when trying to start up from installation media or in Recovery mode, then a firmware password was set by the previous owner, or the machine was remotely locked via iCloud. You'll either have to contact the owner or take the machine to an Apple Store or another service provider to be unlocked. You may be asked for proof of ownership.
Launch Disk Utility and select the icon of the internal drive—not any of the volume icons nested beneath it. In the Partition tab, select the default options: a GUID partition table with one data volume in Mac OS Extended (Journaled) format. This operation will permanently remove all existing data on the drive.
After partitioning, quit Disk Utility and run the OS X Installer. If you're installing a version of OS X acquired from the App Store, you will need the Apple ID and password that you used. When the installation is done, the system will automatically restart into the Setup Assistant, which will prompt you to transfer the data from another Mac, its backups, or from a Windows computer. If you have any data to transfer, this is usually the best time to do it.
Then run Software Update and install all available system updates from Apple. To upgrade to a major version of OS X newer than 10.6, get it from the Mac App Store. Note that you can't keep an upgraded version that was installed by the original owner. He or she can't legally transfer it to you, and without the Apple ID you won't be able to update it in Software Update or reinstall, if that becomes necessary. The same goes for any App Store products that the previous owner installed—you have to repurchase them.
3. Other issues
If the original owner "accepted" the bundled iLife applications (iPhoto, iMovie, and Garage Band) in the App Store so that he or she could update them, then they're irrevocably linked to that Apple ID and you won't be able to download them without buying them. Reportedly, Mac App Store Customer Service has sometimes issued redemption codes for these apps to second owners who asked.
If the previous owner didn't deauthorize the computer in the iTunes Store under his Apple ID, you wont be able to authorize it immediately under your ID. In that case, you'll either have to wait up to 90 days or contact iTunes Support.
When trying to create a new iCloud account, you might get a failure message: "Account limit reached." Apple imposes a lifetime limit of three iCloud account setups per device. Erasing the device does not reset the limit. You can still use an iCloud account that was created on another device, but you won't be able to create a new one. Contact iCloud Support for more information. The setup limit doesn't apply to Apple ID accounts used for other services, such as the iTunes and Mac App Stores, or iMessage. You can create as many of those accounts as you like. -
I went through all the steps of resetting the phone now its telling me to give the apple ID of the previous owner but i can't get a hold of them, what do i do noww?
Activation Lock in iOS 7 > http://support.apple.com/kb/HT5818
JohnMoney1 wrote:
I went through all the steps of resetting the phone now its telling me to give the apple ID of the previous owner but i can't get a hold of them,
Then you have a Device you cannot use. -
I have purchased a. Used I pad 2 and the I cloud account of the previous owner is still on it. How can I be rid of this and replace it with my own account?
This has nothing to do with development; this should have been posted in the Using iPad forum.
At any rate, do a restore to factory settings. -
Hello , it's me again with the second hand iPhone. I am trying to sync it to my computer and after buying some apps I thought it would be easy. Anyway, when I go through the process it always comes up with the previous owners ID and will not let me sync to my computer. Can you give me guidence so that I can move on to the next stage of Hi Tech products.
It will restore it as it was when it was new.
You can then set it up as your own.
iPhone User Guide (For iOS 5.0 Software) -
Loading...
Hi sabineolt1,
Your post indicates you are the operating system on your Mac is 10.5.8
If that is correct, you will need to update to at least 10.0.6 in order to use the Mac App Store and redownload your purchased apps.
Cheers,
Judy -
An update statement to use cumulative columns from the previous record
I need to create a update statement which updates a record based on a column from previous record and its column where they are grouped by another columns and ordered by date in ASC. Note that I need answer from SQL 2005+.
Suppose I have records:
TransactionID ProductID TransactionDate Quantity QuantityOnHand
1 1 1/2/2014
2 ? 2
2 1 1/3/2014
3 ? 5 = 3+2
3 1 1/4/2014
1 ? 6 = 5 + 1
4 1 1/5/2014
9 ? 15 = 6 + 9
I wrote this statement but did not work:
UPDATE it2 SET it2.QuantityOnHand =it2.Quantity + ISNULL(it1.QuantityOnHand,0)
FROM IT it1
LEFT JOIN (SELECT TransactionID,ProductID, Quantity,QuantityOnHand FROM IT GROUP BY ProductID ORDER BY TransactionDate) it2 ON It2.TransactionID>it1.TransactionID
WHERE It2.ProductID=it1.ProductID
This means update the record and get the QuantityOnHand from its previous record if any grouped by the ProductID that are ordered by TransactionDate. Note that in this example there is only one product ID. Here the QuantityOnHand column should be updated
and TransactionDate is in ordered!
Mike
DDL:
CREATE TABLE [dbo].[IT](
[TransactionID] [int] NOT NULL PRIMARY KEY,
[ProductID] [int] NULL,
[TransactionDate] [datetime] NULL,
[Quantity] [float] NULL,
[QuantityOnHand] [float] NULL
) ON [PRIMARY]
DML:
INSERT INTO [dbo].[IT] VALUES (1 ,1,'1/2/2014',2,NULL)
INSERT INTO [dbo].[IT] VALUES (2,1,'1/3/2014',4,NULL)
INSERT INTO [dbo].[IT] VALUES(3 ,1 ,'1/4/2014' ,2,NULL)
INSERT INTO [dbo].[IT] VALUES(4 ,1 ,'1/5/2014' ,9,NULL)Hi
please replace this text (which is not records but just text, and therefore we can not query it):
TransactionID ProductID Quantity QuantityOnHand
1 1
2 ? 2
2 1
3 ? 5 = 3+2
3 1
1 ? 6 = 5 + 1
4 1
9 ? 15 = 6 + 9
with a DDL+DML queries to help us help you.
>> DDL+DML are queries to create your relevant table and a query to insert the sample data.
Thanks
[Personal Site] [Blog] [Facebook]
Maybe you are looking for
-
Win 7 Wireless connection problem to a Officejet Pro 8600 N911a
I have a Win7 64 bit pc that was connected wirelessly to my officejet pro 8600. Recently I lost connection to the printer with the Win7. I can print from my smartphone but not the Win7 PC. I uninstalled all the printer software Then I downloaded a
-
I have a document in my icloud that i want to access on my ipad. How do i do it?
I have iworks on my mac at home. How do i get on my ipad.
-
Session gets created for every request.
Hi , I have two servlets where i set a object in the session in one servlet say servlet1.java and get in another servlet say servlet2.java. When i pass my session object from servlet1 to servlet 2 , servlet2 is supposed to get the arrtibute , but its
-
OWC Discussions (Jive Forums) - Add custom report - anyone tried?
Has anyone out there tried to add a custom (Java) report class on the Jive Forums Admin Console's report utility? I created a custom report class and want to install it using the Admin Console. However, when I click the "Install Class" button, the er
-
After effects render error Please help me !!
Hello I create intros with after effects cs4 since I have 32 bit but I can not render everytime I try my movie with H.264 rendering occurs on an error message: After Effects plugin AEGP Media OI Plugin: there is a mismatch between output module setti