Factory reset imac

after a disaster last night buying and trying to install lion i now need to do a factory reset on my imac.
I have a 15 month old imac bought from john lewis who provide a 2 year warrany independent of apple.
Last night i downloaded lion only to be met with a S.M.A.R.T error, unrepairable harddrive and lion would not install.
I rang the suppliers tech desk today and they told me i would have to return the product to store (for a new hard drive i presume)
I would rather not take it back with all my photos and id's so would like to know how to reset it to factory conditions.
BTW the machine seems to work ok apart from not being able to install lion and showing this message
thanks!

if the drive is still operating, I would just "Secure erase" any sensitive info. as long as you have a backup.
If the drive is toast, it's toast.

Similar Messages

Help to factory reset iMac 2009

I need help to reset to factory settings my iMac 2009 please

You can try this:
https://discussions.apple.com/thread/2217185?tstart=0
Steps to cure:
1) Shutdown iMac
2) Unplug power cord from back of iMac
3) Press and hold power button for 20 seconds
4) Restore power cord; power on iMac
5) Immediately on hearing Startup Chime, press and hold Command-Option-P-R keys (⌘⌥ P R)
6) Wait until you hear an additional four (4) chimes; the fourth (fifth) chime will (should) be louder and clearer
7) Release the keys and allow iMac to boot normally.
Note: This reboot may take up to two minutes, but subsequent reboots should be less than 30-45 seconds.
Results:
 Boot time 35 seconds
 super snappy app/window behavior (especially Parallels/Windows and Safari/Flash
 New Xbench Score = 286.24 (must admit I thought this would be higher)
 Super Happy owner of the hands-down, most kickass screen on the planet

How to factory reset iMac?, How to factory reset iMac?

I want to rest my iMac...

You don't say what iMac model or OS system you currently use. If you are currently running with Snow Leopard, for example, here is a link.
Mac OS X v10.6 Snow Leopard: How to Erase and Install

How to factory reset imac

Please help, i just bought my imac less the two months ago and its slow with flash player adobe

It would be better to try and find out why the machine behaves poorly.
You could run this application and post the results, it may show why it is slow.
Otherwise if you want to wipe the Mac and start again these are instructions from Apple.
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT5189

I recently purchased an iMac from a friend who factory reset it, and now I can't reinstall Mountain Lion?

     As the title says, I can't reinstall Mountain Lion. When I turn on the iMac, it send me straight to OX X Utilities. When I click on Reinstall Mountain Lion, it asks for my ID, but then states I did not purchase Mountain Lion. How do I fix this issue? I've tried asking Apple Support, but to no avail. I don't think the guy I spoke with understood what was going on.
I cannot get around OS X Utilities. There are only four options for me.
Reinstall Mountain Lion
Back Up (tried, nothing comes up)
Get Help Online (which is what I'm doing here)
Erase or Restore Utilities (I've checked this, it says my disks are not malfunctioning)
     My friend suggested signing into his ID to reinstall but when we did, it also said this ID has not purchased Mountain Lion. We logged into Apple Support went to registed devices and there was nothing there. I think he may have used another ID which is he searching for the info for. If we get the right ID, then maybe it will let us sign in on his name and reinstall Mountain Lion. But if he can't, or Apple won't take his ID, then I'm at a loss for options.
     So now I'm here, hoping someone else who bought a used iMac from a friend who factory reset it and needs info on how to reinstall Mountain Lion can help me. I don't know what else to do. If I can't get this thing sorted out, I'll have to drive to the apple store. The closest one is 60 miles away, so I'm not looking forward to that. Is that my only option now? What can I do?
tl;dr I bought a used iMac from a friend who factory reset it, and now I don't know how to reinstall Mountain Lion. What are my options?

If the system didn't ship with Mountain Lion originally and you didn't purchase Mountain Lion yourself, then you will need to purchase. A purchase by the system's original owner cannot be transferred to you.
Unless you have another system on which you have purchased Mountain Lion, you will need to first install Mac OS X 10.6.8 on the iMac, for which you'll need either the original installation disks, if the iMac came with 10.6, or a retail copy of 10.6. Install 10.6 and upgrade to at least 10.6.6, and then you can buy Mountain Lion from the Mac App Store, presuming of course that the imac can support Mountain Lion. See:
http://www.apple.com/osx/how-to-upgrade/
Regards.

I've purchased 9 songs from iTunes and a week later I decided to factory reset my iMac. How do I get the songs back?

I've purchased 9 songs from iTunes and a week later I decided to factory reset my iMac. How do I get the songs back?

If for some reason you have failed to maintain a backup copy, not good, then you can redownload some itunes purchases in some countries:
Downloading past purchases from the App Store ... - Support - Apple

I am selling my iMac G5 2005 to a friend, how do I do a factory reset?

I am selling my iMac G5 2005 to a friend, how do I do a factory reset?

See my FAQ*:
http://www.macmaps.com/selling.html
Be aware the friend should know that 10.5.8 is the maximum operating system, and if they want to use Classic, they can't upgrade it past 10.4.11.

IMac 5k Factory Reset

I am considering performing a factory reset of my iMac 5k. I'm not liking the way I setup the user accounts and share settings (it's a home computer shared among family members). And I'm finding some issues with my iTunes music setup. I set it up right after Christmas and still my original files on my pc so I won't be losing much by doing a reset.
My questions are:
What is the best way to do this (I've briefly viewed a coupke of videos)? Any recommended articles?
Will the steps for factory reset make computer like it was "out of the box"? Including all user accounts fully deleted?
is there any risks involved or is a reset I'll-advise?
I am new to iMacs and seem to much more now than I did 2 weeks ago. But still have a lot to learn.
Thanks in advance advance for any assistance with my issue.
Jeff

Install or Reinstall OS X from Scratch
Be sure you backup your files to an external drive or second internal drive because the following procedure will remove everything from the hard drive.
Boot to the Recovery HD:
Restart the computer and after the chime press and hold down the COMMAND and R keys until the menu screen appears. Alternatively, restart the computer and after the chime press and hold down the OPTION key until the boot manager screen appears. Select the Recovery HD and click on the downward pointing arrow button.
Erase the hard drive:
1. Select Disk Utility from the main menu and click on the Continue button.
2. After DU loads select your startup volume (usually Macintosh HD) from the
      left side list. Click on the Erase tab in the DU main window.
3. Set the format type to Mac OS Extended (Journaled.) Click on
      the Erase button and wait until the process has completed.
4. Quit DU and return to the main menu.
Reinstall OS X: Select Reinstall OS X and click on the Install button.
Note: You will need an active Internet connection. I suggest using Ethernet if possible
           because it is three times faster than wireless.

Need to do a Factory Reset for iMac late 2011. How do I do it with little hassle

I recently purchased a iMac (late 2011) from ebay and it did not come with a Disc. I keep seeing that it will require a disk. The Current operating system is 10.7.5
Im eligible to download Moutain Lion from the Apple Apps store but I dont know when to do it? Before or After the Factory Reset
What do you I need before I get Started? Will it just erase everything and start brand new? (what im looking for)
It seems to be running slow and Im really really new to MAC operating systems so if someone could please walk me thru this it would be greatly appreciated.
Thank You !!!

Did the selller tell you what version of OS X was installed when the machine originally purchased. If it had Snow Leopard on it you have an illegal verison of OS X, as the license for Lion and ML upgrades are not trasferable, they're also pretty useless to you because they're tied to the old owner's AppleID. If you are not sure or cannot find out then call AppleCare.
However if the machine originally shipped with Lion on it, the simply restart in the Restore Partion, do and erase and install and you're set. You can start in the Restore Partition by holding down the Command + R keys when you hear the startup tone and then choosing the Restore Partition and open Disk Utility.

Reset iMac to factory setting and Mac OS X

So I want to sell my iMac from early 2009 (see technical fact sheet here: http://support.apple.com/kb/SP507 ).
I need to do factory reset. The original OSX is 10.5 if I am correct, but i am already at 10.8.2 which is the latest.
My question is does reset forces it back o 10.5 and if so can the buyer upgrades to 10.8.2 at no cost? I don't remember how I upgrade it. I have been using Ubuntu too long. Thanks
-- sent from iPad

Just as an added clarification: any OS license obtained from the App Store is forever tied to the Apple ID it was purchased with and is not transferable. If you left 10.8.2 on it, the buyer would not ever be able to download/reinstall because his Apple ID and the machine ID do not match the purchase records.
So you are required to uninstall the OS and reinstall the original OS - if that was indeed 10.5, and you do not have the original install disks, you will need to call Apple for replacement disks.

How do I perform a factory reset on an iMac

Bought an iMac from a friend who got it as a gift. But it's locked with a password from the original owner. Can I do a factory reset on it or do I need to try to contact the original owner? Thanks

If you have the original system DVD you can do a clean install of the OS. Take a look at this link for installing Mac OS X 10.6. http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3910

Reset imac to factory without os disk?

how can i reset imac to factory without os disk?

You can't exactly, but what is it you wish to accomplish exactly?
You can also call AppleCare with the Serial# handy & usuallly get cheap replacement discs for it's original OS.

How can i factory reset my iMac?

hi, i am trying to factory reset my iMac to sell (as i've bought a MacBook) and from what i've see on the internet you need to hold cmd as it boots to go into the recovery partition so you can wipe the wipe drive and make it set up as a new Mac. My problem is that i use a wireless keyboard that comes with the iMac and this doesn't connect unitl after the initial start up?

Welcome to Apple Support Communities
You have to press the keys after hearing the startup chime until you see an Apple logo. The Apple Wireless Keyboard can be used during startup, but you have to press the keys after the startup chime.
After starting in Recovery, open Disk Utility and select Macintosh HD in the sidebar. Then, go to Erase tab and erase the drive. If you want that your files aren't recoverable, choose one of the secure erase options to erase the hard disk.
Finally, close Disk Utility and install OS X. When the installation finishes, turn off the computer. If you can't start up with the keyboard, buy a USB keyboard. The new owner will have to purchase the iLife apps if he/she wants to use them

Can i factory reset my imac using an external dvd drive?

My Drive wont accept dvd discs anymore, still allows cd's though. Is it possible to do a factory reset using the osx disc on an external hard drive or will i encounter problems?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/?ie=UTF8&keywords=se-208db%2Ftsbs&tag=mh0a9-21&index=a ps&hvadid=3174900530&ref=pd_sl_1fmc9mcvlw_p
Would that drive work?

HT3728 Does factory reset go back to latest firmware update.

I have resently updated my airport express to latest firmware. The airport express is configured as an extension to my wifi with an Extreme as main device.
Shortly after the firmware update (1-2 days) the express stopped working and status light turned yellow.
I have since then tried to do factory reset several times without getting the device up and running again.
When doing factory reset the status light turns yellow after releasing the button and stays amber with short interval with green (1 second every minute or so)
I have not been able to discover the express from my iPad, iPone or iMac again.
Could the reaons be latest firmware update?
Any advice to get it back to normal?
Thanks,
Per

Does factory reset go back to the latest firmware update.
A Factory Default Reset will not affect the installed firmware.
Shortly after the firmware update (1-2 days) the express stopped working and status light turned yellow.
A solid amber light is unfortunately an indication that the internal power supply inside the AirPort Express is failing, or has failed.
I have since then tried to do factory reset several times without getting the device up and running again.
The AirPort Express has failed, and will need to be replaced.
When doing factory reset the status light turns yellow after releasing the button and stays amber with short interval with green (1 second every minute or so)
This is yet another confirmation that the Express has failed, and will need to be replaced.

Factory reset imac

Similar Messages

Maybe you are looking for