Best Buy & Geek Squad Policies

[scryet]

Hi, I'm Elias,

A while back ago in early or late 09' my mom bought a Mac, 24 inch. We never had any problems with it untill this day. I go to school, and when I came back my mom tells me there is a problem with the computer, I check it and it tells me it has a ''kernal error'' or something like that. I start searching online on ways to fix this, and I find some answers on the support page from Apple. I boot up again from my disk, and right away, my computer was fixed, but then i notice something, it added all my outdated applications and all my admin accounts have been switched to standart accounts. Now I can't update my iTunes or any other application, I have a USELESS mac overall. Chrome and Safari work, but I want my music, I want my files to work and everything. Now my mom has lost the receipt for the Mac, and I feel like taking it to the Apple store to see if they can fix it. Now here is the HUGE problem, without a receipt they will think I stoled it or something, and my mom can't go to the United States because she got deported. I live in nogales by the way, I can cross but she can't. She bought this Mac at this Best Buy location in Tucson, AZ with real cash and not her card.  THE REAL QUESTION IS..........Is there any way they can give me a copy of the receipt?? I'll be willing to give out any information that they request, such as my id, and what else they request. I really want my (she gave it to me now) Mac to work, and I need some serious help. Please, any serious information will help, and if there is a way, please indicate what steps I should do or private message me so we can talk further on. Please. 

[RealGeorgeW Emerging Expert]

If she paid cash, and most likely didn't use a Reward Zone card, short of knowing the exact date and rough time, it's going to be next to impossible for them to find a receipt.

[scryet]

Is there any other way, like can I take the box in to see if its in their records (if they even hold any).....?

[RealGeorgeW Emerging Expert]

Unfortunately, computer serial numbers are not recorded at time of purchase. Furthermore, unless she purchased any sort of Black Tie Protection, it's outside of warranty and any problems would not be covered anyway.

I re read the initial post and it sounds like you just need to use the discs it came with to reload the OS. I'm not overly familiar with the Apple OS, so someone might chime in with a suggestion, but that might end up being your best option.

[jvcintron]

Even though bestbuy doesn't keep the receipt.  Apple does have records of the warranty info using the serial number.  

Here is a link to check out your warranty info.

https://selfsolve.apple.com/agreementWarrantyDynamic.do

And if you haven't done so register the product in your name.

Hope this helps and good luck!!!

[RealGeorgeW Emerging Expert]

@Jvcintron

If it was purchased in 09, there's almost no chance it would be under manufacturer warranty.

[scryet]

Yeah our apologies, we didnt get warranty for it. And it's been so long that i doubt that there will be a history but I do hope so. Is there any way I can take it to an Apple store and get it fixed and paying the full price instead of the discounted price if I had the warranty? Or there is no way I can fix it and should recycle it? My mom spent a lot of money on this computer, my iTunes music I've bought (not downloaded illigaly like others, I have respect towards msic) and everything is on this Mac, I would hate to throw it away and start all over. Its a waste of a lot of money. Apple surely has something to do right? I'm sure thei has happen to others.........and can Apple look in the computer to see a history or its origins to proof that it was originally bought by us? I have so many questions, I just know that apple will think its stolen due to no receipt.......

[AaronE]

If you just had a kernel panic on the mac and after fixing it the user accounts and possibly permissions are messed up there are a few things you can do. A Geek Squad Precinct should be able to help you but if you're the DIY type you can try doing some research on the following steps and performing them. Please note that doing this is at your own risk...

Boot to single user mode, mount the hard drive as uw (read write) and remove the .AppleSetupDone file

This will cause the computer to re-do the initial guided setup and administrator account creation.

Then you can change permissions on your old user folder and import the data into this new administrator user you just created above.

Then just re-import your information into iTunes, iPhoto, etc as needed.

Also wouldn't be a bad idea to back the data up prior to doing that and also keeping a backup in the future.

It's never too late to back up... until it is.

[scryet]

Thanks, reading that possibly geeksquad can help is a sure sign of hope. That will be my second option if Apple gives me bad news. Thanks a lot. 

[AaronE]

I do wish you luck and hopefully Apple can get it sorted for you. Feel free to update the thread. I can try to assist the precinct you do take it to if they need it.