Ownership transferral of a 2012 Mac Mini

I've just bought a 2012 Mac Mini Server i7 quadcore off eBay. Ultimately, I want to clone the contents of my Macbook Pro and transfer it across to this machine. But first things first - start afresh with the Mac Mini - wipe the HD's, reinstall OSX, and transfer registration/ownership to my Apple ID. Rather than wipe the HDs I think i'm just going to flip them out for SSDs... I forgot how slow 5400rpm HDs are!

This is the first time i've bought a second-hand Mac, so I need some guidance. It would appear I need the former owner's Apple ID and password to make any system changes. Is that correct? I may have to ask him in an email to supply me his details, but I know, if the roles were reversed, I would be extremely reluctant to supply a stranger with mine (especially when it's automatically linked to a credit card).

So I ask - is there any work arounds? Can I transfer machine registration/ownership without the former owner's Apple ID information?



I also want to know - is there any benefit in keeping the server edition OSX, if the machine is not planned to be used in a server capacity? I bought the Mac Mini specifically to use as DAW engine for Pro Tools (music production).

Che_Guitarra said:

It would appear I need the former owner's Apple ID and password to make any system changes. Is that correct?

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No. You can erase the drive and make the machine your own using your own Apple ID. You don't need the former owner's ID for anything, though they really should have erased the machine themselves for their own protection!

I also want to know - is there any benefit in keeping the server edition OSX, if the machine is not planned to be used in a server capacity?

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Zero.

Thanks Chas. Turns out all I needed to do was turn on the computer while pressing Command+R. A short time later and i'm ready to roll.

Another question - I priced up a couple of SSDs earlier (looking at a pair of 256GB Samsung 850 Pros), but it occurred to me I might need some kind of kit to get them to fit. Is that the case, or are all 2.5" drives standardized nowadays? I recall needing some kind of kit when I put a SSD in my MBP four years ago... but a long time ago now - my mind might be playing tricks on me.

There are two sizes of "2.5 inch" SSD drives: 9.5mm (thickness) and 7mm. You'll probably need an adapter if you use 7mm drives, the older Macs are all standardized on 9.5mm drives.

Another question - I priced up a couple of SSDs earlier (looking at a pair of 256GB Samsung 850 Pros), but it occurred to me I might need some kind of kit to get them to fit.

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If you purchase the SSDs from OWC (Mac Sales) they include the adapters with their kits.

I wonder. If the former owner's info was still all there did it download the operating system again in his name? You do have an Apple ID?

It appears the former owner did a reinstall, but for ultimate confidence (and to avoid potential troubleshooting issues in the future) I think it would be common-sensical to format the HDs and reinstall OSX under my own supervision. I will likely need to do it again in a day or two as I have a tech installing the SSDs as I write this. Samsung 850 Evos... 7mm thick. The tech (20-year Apple specialist) didn't seem to think this was a problem though... we'll soon see. Heck, it might even aid air flow

And yes, I do have an Apple ID.

Uing Recovery will simply download it again in the old owner's name. Try and download direct from App Store, do a clean install and format of the hard drive.

I think you may be responding to my first post Harry, and not to subsequent changes. Any attachment to the former owner was completely wiped when I did the OSX reinstall (third post in this thread).

Regardless, old hard drives have been punted and I now run a pair of SSDs. PS - the 9.5mm vs 7mm difference was a non-issue. The thinner SSDs mounted the existing cradle/chassis without the need for any adaptors/mods.

With the help of Migration Assistant (in the utilities folder), my Macbook Pro and Mac Mini are now one in the same - identical in terms of content and layout. Wonderful!

No I was not. Even when you downloaded the OS if everything was in the original user's name the new version would be also.

harryb2448 said:

No I was not. Even when you downloaded the OS if everything was in the original user's name the new version would be also.

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Hmmm…??? I know you've stated this previously which I also questioned and yet I've never encountered such to be so, so maybe I'm not understanding something properly and maybe the OP will discover the same thing.

If I give you my computer with alld etails on it and you want to download anything like a new operating system it will do it in my name using my Apple ID until everything is wiped.

I don't mean this as an affront Harry but I take it you're a senior? It feels like when I try explaining computery stuff to my dad.

Once you boot into recovery mode, completely reinstall OSX, walk through the Setup Assistant process, the former owner and his details are completely irrelevant.

harryb2448 said:

If I give you my computer with alld etails on it and you want to download anything like a new operating system it will do it in my name using my Apple ID until everything is wiped.

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Thanks anyway, but I don't need or want any of your "alls entails" (whatever that is) and it seems I might already have the same iMac i5 2.7GHz, with 20GB memory if it's the 27" model, but we've never encountered any Apple ID stuff needed or interfering at least with any Macs our family has used/upgraded recently, or at least since 10.6.8± as far as I can recall.

Anyway, something to be aware of I guess, but just saying we've never encountered any such problem if it really is one.


EDIT:
Just seeing the post from Che_Guitarra, that reflects our experience as well FWIW.

Thanks anyway, but I don't need or want any of your "alls entails" (whatever that is)

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You're either not trying hard enough to read what Harry meant or you're seeing things that aren't there?

Harry typed two words but put a space between them ("alld etails"); what he meant to write was "all details". ;D

I'm outta here.

chscag said:

You're either not trying hard enough to read what Harry meant or you're seeing things that aren't there?

Harry typed two words but put a space between them ("alld etails"); what he meant to write was "all details". ;D

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It seems that things are going a bit OT here and some auto spellcheck might be disabled with some posts, and I wouldn't expect one to have to do any translation or interpretation these days.

Regardless, that doesn't change much as Che_Guitarra has already noted and the reason for my post as well. At least on our Macs and recent OS X installs.