if they exit the process after install but before sign-in, then it's ready to transfer ownership. Part of the procedure is for them to sign in on their own existing App Store account & reinstall a clean OS that they are already associated with, as 'purchaser'.

On an 08 iMac, your options will be limited if the previous owner didn't correctly run through the reset procedure, leaving you with a nice, simple sign-in to take over the Mac as your own. (This is not an option I want to consider to be honest - resetting an Apple computer doesn't require this according to the many guides and videos on this issue.) I do not have the original CD with the operating system on it, nor do I have access to a computer that can burn a bootable disk. I have tried all three of them as instructed but I am always asked to enter the iCloud details. Apparently the original user's iCloud account should be used, but I do not have access to this, nor do I want them to be linked to this computer.Īpple gives key combinations for other recovery options.

I have Googled this and tried the many fixes to no avail. After signing into iCloud (with a new account I had to make for this - I did not have one before) I get the error message 'This item is temporarily unavailable'. There is an option to reinstall OS X El Capitan. It simply takes me back to OS X Utilities. According to the Apple website, this was supposed to bring up the country selection screen, but it didn't. formatting the hard drive ( as instructed by Apple) and restarting. I have tried everything suggested on other questions on this topic: I would like to install the operating system but I cannot do so. I bought a used iMac and when I turn it on I am shown the OS X Utilities screen.

How to access os x utilities