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We’ve been gifted a 2015 Mac running 10.11.6.
Our benefactor still has all their info on it so I’ve set us up as a new user til we can put all their stuff on a hard drive.
I’ve logged in with our Apple ID but can’t get FaceTime or messages to work. I can make it ring but not connect.
Is this because the other users still have their accounts on the device ?
The App Store wants to update games that we don’t have but the previous owner did.
I know nothing about Macs but, can't you flatten and rebuild it?
flatten it and upgrade the operating system. (or as far as you can go, need to have a look and find out how far your model supports to.)
Nice.
would have been nicer if they had disconnected the Mac from their iCloud account and erased their user account.
A 2015 MacBook Pro should support Big Sur - https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT211238
you could forget your current setup and nuke it https://www.macworld.co.uk/how-to/reset-mac-3494564/
They will need to decouple the Mac from their iCloud account. Easily done from iCloud, they don’t need to be at the computer. https://support.apple.com/en-gb/guide/icloud/mmfc0eeddd/icloud
then it should be plain sailing. Make sure you:
set up a separate account with administrator privileges. This should not be your daily account.
give that administrator account root access despite the risks so that some later admin activities are easy. https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204012
remove admin privileges from the account you set up
delete their user account and their user folder once you’ve checked they have all their stuff
Back up your machine using time machine and at least one other method like carbon copy cloner or backblaze. Keep your backups physically separate.
update the machine using software update from settings
enjoy.
The NVRAM reset linked to by prettygreenparrot is missing a bit. It should read: "hold down command, option, P & R keys while restarting the mac. Release after 20 seconds."
Other users on the machine shouldn't stop FaceTime etc. working. It's quite usual to have multiple accounts all with their own Apple IDs. Flattening and starting again is a good idea - but you should be able to get it up and working without doing that.
I'd definitely update to a newer MacOS- the one on the machine was released in 2015/16 (albeit with some security updates). Updating doesn't cost anything and doesn't take too long (depending on your internet speed).
Have updated the mac. When I go to contacts the camera icon isn't lit up.
Have updated the mac. When I go to contacts the camera icon isn’t lit up.
away from my desk just now but I assume you mean you have FaceTime open and you’re looking at those contacts. Check the menu bar for camera-related options. if I remember correctly FaceTime has the camera on by default so you should see yourself on the right and the contacts on the left. If not then you might need to check the camera works. https://support.apple.com/en-gb/guide/mac-help/mchlp2980/mac
If you open "Photobooth", do you see the camera working? Wondering if it's not working for some reason.
Also, in -> About this Mac -> System Report, check that you see the camera under Hardware -> Camera
If the camera is functional, not sure. In Messages, it might be with checking in the iMessage pane that your Apple ID appears there and messages is enabled.
Also, you can open FaceTime as an application itself rather than using the video option in Messages or Contacts. May be worth trying that (or maybe you are already).
Or use the Photo Booth app (in Applications) to check the camera is working OK. All our Macs have multiple logins with different Apple IDs and FaceTime etc. all works fine, so it isn't that.
We have working camera but can't sign in to I message.
If you open FaceTime or Messages, look at Preferences (in the Menu). Do you see your Apple ID shown as logged in? Might be worth signing out and logging in again.
Also in there, you tell it what is used to contact you. Just your email address, or phone number too (if you have an iPhone).