Hello everyone! I'm Michael and today I purchased a 2018 MacBook Pro at a governmental auction. The device was previously lost and since the owner didn't reclaim it, it was sold at auction. I have the receipt and a data erasure report from Blanco. I'm looking for advice on the best way to remove the Apple activation lock from this MacBook. I wiped all the data, but now I'm needing to install a new operating system. Initially, I got macOS Ventura 13 up and running after the lock removal, but I really want to set it up with Linux for my computer science studies since my main laptop is quite heavy and uses a lot of power. Thanks in advance for any helpful tips!
2 Answers
Unfortunately, it sounds like you ended up with a "parts" machine. To use that MacBook, you might need to replace the logic board because of the activation lock. It can be a bit of a hassle, so just a heads up!
Wow, I'm honestly surprised someone would bid on a device without checking for activation lock issues. It's pretty common knowledge these days. Don't get discouraged, but consider that you might have been misled about the unlock potential at the auction.
I understand it's a known issue, but I was told by another buyer that having the auction documents might help with the process. They mentioned it might take a week or two to sort it out, so I thought it was worth exploring.