New iMac Setup

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I bought a refurbished iMac to replace my old one. This is a 21.5 inch late 2013.

It arrived with Mojave installed. Happy with that but I would like a fresh installation. Is there any way to refresh the installation of Mojave rather than accepting Catalina please?

I looked on the App Store under Purchased but it didn’t offer any previous versions - only apps.

Failing that, is there any way to delete the test ID the supplier used please? I created a new ID and made that Admin. I removed Admin rights from the other ID but it still doesn’t let me delete it. It asks for my password, which it rejects, when I click on the minus sign to delete the ID. I have unlocked the Users tab. I am doing exactly what the Apple Support page says, but it doesn’t work.

Is there something special about the first ID on a Mac?


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The Recovery partition only offers El Capitan, which would be worse


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Decided not to bother with the reset, so I just need to delete the surplus user ID please


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Slydude

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When you tried to delete the unnecessary account which account were you logged into? There are some things to remember that I'm sure you accounted for but here goes:

1. You cannot delete a user account if you are logged into that account. You must be logged into a different admin account when you execute the delete. From your post it sounds like you are aware of that.

2. Before you can delete an account you must log completely out of that account. Fast user switching between accounts doesn't work.


What exactly happened when you tried to delete the other account? Did you get a dialog asking whether you want to save the contents of the account? Sometimes it can appear that nothing much is going on and takes some time to delete.
 
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I switched to the account I want to delete and then specifically logged out of that. I was logged in using the new account when I tried to delete the original account.

Tried removing the Admin rights and then tried again, but it still doesn’t delete.

It prompts for my password but with the name of the old account selected and greyed out. I tried both passwords there. Mine is rejected and the password for the old account is accepted but doesn’t do anything.

Do I need to reset the password to match mine?


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No dialogue except saying I must provide the password for the account to be deleted, but it asks for my password first


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chscag

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It arrived with Mojave installed. Happy with that but I would like a fresh installation. Is there any way to refresh the installation of Mojave rather than accepting Catalina please?

Are you comfortable with using Terminal?

If so, here's how you can get a fresh copy of Mojave:

Open your Terminal.app and type in the following:

softwareupdate --fetch-full-installer --full-installer-version 10.14.6

Keep the terminal open and the Mojave installer download will proceed until it's finished. The installer will download to your downloads folder. From there you can execute the installer or copy it elsewhere and then execute it.

A new installation of Mojave will take care of your problem with the test account.

Let us know.
 
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Thanks. I am very tempted to try that, but unfortunately I have now downloaded so much data I am not keen to reset completely.

Is there a Terminal way to delete the ID. I assume there must be a Unix style method of doing that.


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@Nighthawk4

I think that what Admin chscag is offering is a means of downloading a fresh copy of macOS Mojave which will overwrite the current version on your Mac whilst leaving your data intact.

Clearly, you are best waiting till he verifies this, but that's my understanding - (but I don't use Terminal unless absolutely forced to.:))

Before you do any overwrite, update or upgrade, a Time Machine Backup at least, is a wise precaution. If you did this, then you can restore the data in the event of a mishap.

Ian
 
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I used the Terminal with:

Sudo dscl . list /Users
Sudo dscl . delete /Users/test
Sudo rm -r /Users/test



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Thanks for that. Another option for if things go wrong.

At the moment I am fairly happy with my refurbished iMac. Only 2013 but my old one was 2008, so still an improvement apart from the lack of a DVD drive.

It even runs Catalina in the unlikely event I decide to risk that


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chscag

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Installing Mojave over what you already have will not destroy your data as Ian stated above.

The suggested download that Patrick gave you is for 10.14.5; you would need the combo update for 10.14.6 instead.
 
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At the moment I am fairly happy with my refurbished iMac. Only 2013 but my old one was 2008, so still an improvement apart from the lack of a DVD drive.


Not a problem that cannot be easily fixed for another $50 or even much less, and for a better more capable drive at that.

Enjoy your new replacement iMac.



- Patrick
======
 
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The suggested download that Patrick gave you is for 10.14.5; you would need the combo update for 10.14.6 instead.


Opps, my mistake, thanks Charlie...


- Patrick
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Wouldn’t it update from that anyway from 10.14.5 to 10.14.6?


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IWT


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Wouldn’t it update from that anyway from 10.14.5 to 10.14.6?


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Don't know. The problem is that that particular Combo is an older version of what's there already so it might be rejected or if accepted, mess things up.

Best to follow Admin chscag's advice or try the 10.14.6 Combo.

Ian
 
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Got that thanks


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It seems you can’t win.

I downloaded the combo for 10.14.6 and tried it. All fine until it says it can’t be installed on this disk. It can only be installed on APFS disks.

What is the betting that Catalina would say the same?

Therefore it seems I am stuck on 10.14.1 unless I wipe and reformat. Not keen on that since I spent most of yesterday downloading and installing stuff.



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@Nighthawk4

Looking over these 19 posts or so, I don't think that there has been any mention of "being stuck on 10.14.1".

I think that there has been a general understanding that you were up to date with Mojave, but wanted to get rid of the other ID.

*May I ask what is stopping you updating Mojave to 10.14.6 by the usual route, viz, System Preferences > Software Update? Especially as you've decided to stick with it since "downloading/installing stuff".*

You are quite right. Mojave normally requires APFS (Apple Filing System). This started, I think, with High Sierra. Initially APFS was automatically created when HS was installed on a Mac with SSD - but not spinners or Fusion Drives.

Later on, and with Mojave, even those were, I think, converted to APFS.

Your iMac is late 2013 which will have shipped with a spinning platter HD - but not a Fusion Drive - is that correct?

*The crucial question is have you tried to update to 10.14.6 via the method I mentioned above?*

If there's a problem with this for some reason, there is still a safe way to proceed.

Carry out a Time Machine Backup. Wipe the HD, convert it to APFS, download fresh version of Mojave, use TM to restore data, apps etc. Interested in that scenario? We can take you through this if required.

Ian
 

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