"out of box" discouraged

We just got a refurbished iMac, and there are a bunch of set up screens that seem to be impossible to navigate through. I have an older iMac, so am not totally ignorant, but am stuck at square #1 with this thing! I expected it to just come on...

I'm not exactly sure what sort of setup screens you're having trouble with...but starting up a new iMac is usually pretty straightforward for both the experienced & the novice Macintosh owner.

We get lots & lots & lots of new Macintosh owners here at Mac-Forums...and I cannot remember the last time someone had a new/refurbished initial setup issue.

Maybe something unusual is going on in your situation. More information would be helpful to understand what's going on.

- Nick

Thread moved to more appropriate sub-forum. If you already own an older iMac...then you're not a "Switcher".

Thanks for understanding.

- Nick

We are all just end users the same as you. No one here works for Apple. Most of us get a new computer as often as you do. Which means that, we haven't seen any of those initial screens since our last new computer.

Telling us what exactly it is you are stuck at might give us some clue as to a proper course in assisting you.

more info



They ask for me to use the "voice-over" commands and scroll with keyboard combinations. The mouse does not function... for instance, I cannot "click" on "continue", I have to use "control +option + right arrow" then space bar, but now even that doesn't work.
Anyone have any ideas?

This is Apple Certified Refurbished

Thanks.

Are you using a wired mouse?

Try using the arrow keys to move up and down to select your country (am assuming that's what it is, can't really tell in the pic), then press enter.

(press the tab key to move between options)

I know what you describe is the logical way to do it, but in this case the "enter" key does not advance the screen. Tabbing moves the highlighted boxes, but enter doesn't select them.
After "escape" to voice-over explanations and back to setup I got past the country screen, but the next, select a keyboard does the same thing. Choose "United States" but enter doesn't advance and tabbing to the "continue" button doesn't either.
It is a wireless keyboard and mouse.

I'm just doing this with my new MacBook Pro; if you are in the USA just hit the 'return' key. I am in the UK, but the trackpad worked fine for me and I could select that country before hitting return.

As suggested, you can use the arrow keys to select your country then hit return to select.

mainiac said:

I know what you describe is the logical way to do it, but in this case the "enter" key does not advance the screen. Tabbing moves the highlighted boxes, but enter doesn't select them.
After "escape" to voice-over explanations and back to setup I got past the country screen, but the next, select a keyboard does the same thing. Choose "United States" but enter doesn't advance and tabbing to the "continue" button doesn't either.
It is a wireless keyboard and mouse.

Click to expand...

Have you tried calling Apple? When you get something new/refurbished...take advantage of the free Apple phone support. Maybe there's an easy answer/solution they can help you with...or maybe there's a problem requiring a return.

What you're dealing with doesn't sound normal. Unless you accidentally or unfortunately pressed a 2 or 3 key combination on your keyboard...that triggered some of the "Universal Access" functions (functions for folks with hearing, sight, or dexterity challenges).

- Nick

Thanks everyone. I will call Apple. Thanks for your time.

That series of setup screens is supposed to run the first time a Mac is setup or if the hard drive / SSD has been wiped and the OS is being completely installed. Is there an administrator account set up on this machine? If there isn't one present I think that setup routine runs until you create one.

Something is wrong if the Apple Supplied mouse will not work.

Well if its the blue tooth mouse, first make sure its turned on and the batteries are installed. Once it is, it takes a moment for the system to detect there is no attached mouse then it will start searching for blue tooth devices.