Can't re install Mac OS X Lion

[KB72]

I've been doing a clean up of a mac I was given.
I followed the instructions to erase the disc through Mac OS X Utilities.
I've gotten as far as reinstall Mac OS X.
I am prompted to input my Apple ID and then get the message - This item is temporarily unavailable. Try again later

Can anyone help??

 

[CoastalOR]

What is the Mac model & year?
Are you doing just Recovery or Internet Recovery?

 

[KB72]

What is the Mac model & year?
Are you doing just Recovery or Internet Recovery?

It's 2008 Macbook
[automerge]1587860925[/automerge]

It's 2008 Macbook

Recovery is requiring internet access, so I guess it's internet recovery

 

[chrfr]

It's 2008 Macbook
[automerge]1587860925[/automerge]

Recovery is requiring internet access, so I guess it's internet recovery

The 2008 MacBook doesn’t support internet recovery, but regular recovery will still need to download files from the internet to do the reinstallation.

 

[BrianBaughn]

Ethernet would be the preferred way to connect but if you connect it to wifi it should work.

Also, recoveries and installations of old versions of macOS have been squirrely lately…some sort of certificate issues. I don't know if that applies here. Many folks have been having to change the date in Terminal while booted into recovery or from a USB installer to get the process to validate.

 

[CoastalOR]

I've been doing a clean up of a mac I was given.
I followed the instructions to erase the disc through Mac OS X Utilities.
I've gotten as far as reinstall Mac OS X.
I am prompted to input my Apple ID and then get the message - This item is temporarily unavailable. Try again later

Can anyone help??

Lion had to be purchased from Apple for $19.99 if your Mac did not ship with it from Apple. The 2008 Macbook did not ship with Lion (max OS supported), so it would have to be purchased from Apple, that is probably one reason it wanted your Apple ID to see if you purchased it. Apple did sell Lion on their web site until last year, now it is gone.

The only options I know of would be to talk to Apple Support to see what can be done or get a Lion USB installer from a friend or purchase one from eBay.

Edit Update:
The link to buy Lion from Apple is working again:

OS X Lion 10.7 - Apple

Apple Store Search Results

www.apple.com

In order for the purchase to work for you, it will require access to a working booted Mac that is capable of running Lion and has access to the Apple App Store.