MacBook Air Won't boot up

[JM19]

So I got a friend who said he bought this MacBook Air from somebody on Craigslist. He says that it won't start up. I told him to bring it to me and I would check it out.

When you turn it on the chime sounds and the grey screen comes up. After a couple of seconds a flashing question mark inside a folder icon shows up. Nothing else happens, it just keeps flashing.

I shut it down by holding down the power button and turned it back on, this time holding down the Command and R key. After doing this a grey login screen comes up with a padlock and blank field for you to enter a password of some kind.

I asked him for the password and he says he doesn't know it.

Anybody got any advice as to how to proceed?

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[Just_Me_D]

Have him make a genius bar appointment with the nearest Apple Store.

 

[JM19]

Have him make a genius bar appointment with the nearest Apple Store.

I told him to do this but he claims that since he doesn't have a receipt or invoice of some sort (proof of purchase), Apple won't help him. I told him it doesn't hurt to try.


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[nikkisharif]

I told him to do this but he claims that since he doesn't have a receipt or invoice of some sort (proof of purchase), Apple won't help him. I told him it doesn't hurt to try.


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I agree, it doesn't hurt to try but for future reference..tell your friend to never buy electronics from anyone without a receipt & the original paperwork.

 

[godzirrasti]

It sounds like you need to reload the OS. Should be a fairly easy fix.
http://support.apple.com/kb/ts1440

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