MacBook returned with "fakesoftware" as the username

[dagayh67]

I recently sold a Macbook Air 2019, and had it returned to me with a broken speaker and the username changed to "fakesoftware". I tried wiping it clean by reinstalling, but it would ultimately force me to use the software on the Mac, which I don't want to do because who knows there could be a key logger or something on it. Anyway, I'm looking for a solution to restore the MacBook to it's original legitimate software, so that it is safe to use to the next person I sell it to. I don't want to sell a MacBook that has "fakesoftware" on it.

[nh7235]

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@dagayh67 wrote:

I'm looking for a solution to restore the MacBook to it's original legitimate software, so that it is safe to use to the next person I sell it to. 

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https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT212749

[inhawaii]

How would the new buyer even know that you sold it to someone else prior and it was returned?

You could be the original owner with a username of "fakesoftware".

[t-bone543]

If it's an Intel processor, you should be able to go into Disk Utility from safe mode and wipe the drive, reinstall OSX, and bring it back to its original state.  I just had to do this to my iMac.  A couple of Google searches, a YouTube video or two, and it was a pretty easy process.

[yankeebob1951]

How much do you know about Macbooks? Are you just primarily a user or do you have some repair/refurb experience?

There are some good suggestions here & you'll probably get more.

But it's possible your buyer used you as a free parts source & did some internal swapping with his/her defective unit & you're not dealing with what you sent to them.

[dagayh67]

They wouldn't, but I'm not the kind of person who passes on bad things.

[dagayh67]

I'm aware of this, but if it's fake software, then I need a more robust solution. What if the fake software that you would use in safe mode, emulates OSX, but has other features that no matter what you do there remains a key logger or something.

[dagayh67]

😞

[t-bone543]

@dagayh67 I don't know how easy it is emulate OSX, especially if it's a newer computer with the T2 security chip. Even if not, you could probably verify the operating system on Apple's product verification page as soon as you installed it. And I think going through the Disk Utility completely wipes the computer (which would include erasing any malicious code), then installs OSX directly from Apple. I don't know much about hacking, but Apple has built some pretty robust safeguards into their products. But with what we've seen the bad guys do, I guess anything is possible in hacking. Well, hope it works out for you!

[blch-2093]

is this the same one youve had revised on may 15 and that's been revised 5 times since february? or do you have other 2019 macbook airs with broken speakers? seems pretty late in the game to be worried the software since its been for sale for a while now. i call buyer beware on this one @dagayh67 

[dagayh67]

It’s the right thing to do. Yes. What you said is true. It didn’t dawn on me until now. I work 6 12s.

[blch-2093]

well since you been saying that it probably has all these security problems the right thing to do would be to not sell it. it shouldn''t be listed until its fixed. the way it is now youre trying to sell a computer that has problems but you don't say that in the description. doesn't matter how much you work that's wrong.

[dagayh67]

Oh, no, yeah, I took it off, bro check this out:

So, I wasn't going to log into my wifi, so I went to Starbucks, and tried to reinstall a fresh Monterey, but then I got a "server error" it couldn't connect even though I was connected, so I then restarted holding command + R, and got a new error with a globe and exclamation mark that left a link "support.apple.com/mac/startup-2006F", which is a dead link. I reset nvram, with option command p r, and it restarted, and then I get a blue screen with the above message. WINDOWS! What? I shipped it with a new install of Monterey. What the heck!?