How do I erase my computer to factory settings?

How do I erase my computer to factory settings? I bought a new Macbook Pro and I'm selling my old Macbook and need to get everything off of it. The operating system is 10.6.8, and I don't have the system discs.

Youcan order a Snow Leopard 10.6 install disk for $29. http://store.apple.com/us/product/MC573Z/A?mco=MTY3ODQ5OTY
Put your install DVD into the optical drive and reboot. As soon as you hear the boot chime, hold down the "c" key on your keyboard (or the Option key until the Install Disk shows up). That will force your MacBook to boot from the install DVD in the optical drive.
When it does start up, you'll see a panel asking you to choose your language. Just press the Return key on your keyboard once. It will then present you with an Installation window. Completely ignore this window and click on Utilities in the top menu and scroll down to Disk Utility and click it. You should see your hard drive in the left hand column along with your other drives. Click on the drive and select the Erase tab. Set the format value to Mac OS Extended (Journaled) and click the Erase button. After that has finished select the Partition tab. Type in a Name for your hard drive and select how many partitions you want from the Volume Scheme. The usual setting is one partition. Click on the Options button after you've selected apartition to make sure it's set for GUID. Then click the Apply button and after the Partitioning is done quit Disk Utility. You can now follow the instructions on the install screen

Similar Messages

  • I installed lion from the internet, i wanted all the stuff on it erased but it didnt do it, how do i get my computer to factory settings so it is like it was new just with a fresh copy of lion on it

    i installed lion from the internet, i wanted all the stuff on it erased but it didnt do it, how do i get my computer to factory settings so it is like it was new just with a fresh copy of lion on it

    Music is not included in the backup (and nor are films or tv shows), only the contents of third-party apps are included. Did you not do File > Transfer Purchases when connected to your computer's iTunes to copy your iTunes purchases over, and/or have you not got a backup copy of your music somewhere e.g. on an external drive ?

  • How do i reset/restore computer to factory settings???

    how do i reset/restore computer to factory settings???

    Follow these instructions step by step to prepare a Mac for sale:
    Step One - Back up your data:
           A. If you have any Virtual PCs shut them down. They cannot be in their "fast saved" state. They must be shut down from inside Windows.
           B. Clone to an external drive using using Carbon Copy Cloner.
              1. Open Carbon Copy Cloner.
              2. Select the Source volume from the Select a source drop down menu on the left side.
              3. Select the Destination volume from the Select a destination drop down menu on the right
                  side.
              4. Click on the Clone button. If you are prompted about creating a clone of the Recovery HD be
                  sure to opt for that.
                   Destination means a freshly erased external backup drive. Source means the internal
                   startup drive.
    Step Two - Prepare the machine for the new buyer:
              1. De-authorize the computer in iTunes! De-authorize both iTunes and Audible accounts.
              2, Remove any Open Firmware passwords or Firmware passwords.
              3. Turn the brightness full up and volume nearly so.
              4. Turn off File Vault, if enabled.
              5. Disable iCloud, if enabled: See.What to do with iCloud before selling your computer
    Step Three - Install a fresh OS:
         A. Snow Leopard and earlier versions of OS X
              1. Insert the original OS X install CD/DVD that came with your computer.
              2. Restart the computer while holding down the C key to boot from the CD/DVD.
              3. Select Disk Utility from the Utilities menu; repartition and reformat the internal hard drive.
                  Optionally, click on the Security button and set the Zero Data option to one-pass.
              4. Install OS X.
              5. Upon completion DO NOT restart the computer.
              6. Shutdown the computer.
         B. Lion and Mountain Lion (if pre-installed on the computer at purchase*)
             Note: You will need an active Internet connection. I suggest using Ethernet if possible because
                       it is three times faster than wireless.
              1. Restart the computer while holding down the COMMAND and R keys until the Mac OS X
                  Utilities window appears.
              2. Select Disk Utility from the Mac OS X Utilities window and click on the Continue button.
              3. 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.
              4. Set the format type to Mac OS Extended (Journaled.) Optionally, click on the Security button
                  and set the Zero Data option to one-pass.
              5. Click on the Erase button and wait until the process has completed.
              6. Quit DU and return to the Mac OS X Utilities window.
              7. Select Reinstall Lion/Mountain Lion and click on the Install button.
              8. Upon completion shutdown the computer.
    *If your computer came with Lion or Mountain Lion pre-installed then you are entitled to transfer your license once. If you purchased Lion or Mountain Lion from the App Store then you cannot transfer your license to another party. In the case of the latter you should install the original version of OS X that came with your computer. You need to repartition the hard drive as well as reformat it; this will assure that the Recovery HD partition is removed. See Step Three above. You may verify these requirements by reviewing your OS X Software License.

  • Help please!  Urgent!  How do I restore my computer to factory settings?

    I got a potential buyer for my macbook pro because I'm selling to buy a Mac Pro. Anyway, he wants to pick up the computer in an hour and a half. I need to restore the computer to factory settings WHILE ALSO getting Windows XP off of this computer and making it one big Mac OSX hard drive as if someone just bought it. How do I do that? Please help! THANK YOU!

    First, use the Boot Camp software to restore the drive to one partition (although I don't think you need to do this, it can also be done with what I'm about to say). Then, boot up using the system software the computer came with (the grey OS X discs), and open up the Disk Utility program. Format the hard drives you want to format, and if you didn't do the first step I said, I think you can format the Windows drive then format the Mac drive, then merge the two.
    Then, restart and re-install the OS (Mac), and everything should be the way it was.
    Just make sure to backup any data you want to save!
    Hope that helps.

  • I restored my computer to factory settings and then my itunes totally erased i put my ipod in and everything erased from my ipod how do i get everything back

    i restored my computer to factory settings and then my itunes totally erased i put my ipod in and everything erased from my ipod how do i get everything back

      You can redownload iTunes purchases by:
    iTunes Store: Transferring purchases from your iOS device or iPod to a computer

  • After Restoring your computer to Factory Settings How do you restore backups from Time Machine? Help!

    I have Restored my Computer to Factory Settings and Now I'm trying to restore the backups from my Time Matchine. I've already done the Migration Assistant things. But I dont know where to find my details or where my files are.
    Everything is in different spots then where it was when i started this process.
    HELP

    Restoring from Time Machine and using Migration Assistant are either/or options... either restore from a Time Machine backup or restore by using Migration Assitant. You don't write which version of OS X you're running, so it's kind of difficult to tell you where to begin (or start over).
    If you're running Lion or Mountain Lion, I would boot into the Recovery partition (holding down the Command and R keys whilst booting) and use Disk Utility to erase your boot volume. Then, with your TM drive connected, restore your latest backup to your newly formatted volume. You can do the same by using the installation disc that has Snow Leopard on it, just with a few extra steps.
    See http://www.pondini.org/TM/14.html.
    Good luck,
    Clinton

  • I recently reset my computer to factory settings. I re-downloaded iTunes, but lost most of my music and all of my playlists in both iTunes and my 4S.  How can I get this back?

    I recently reset my computer to factory settings. I re-downloaded iTunes, but lost most of my music and all of my playlists in both iTunes and my 4S.  How can I get this back?

    Restore your media from the backup of the computer created prior to restoring the computer.
    You did create a backup, correct?  Not doing so would be extremely unintelligent.
    iOS devices are NOT backup devices.

  • I had to restore my computer to factory settings. It wiped out my itunes and it was not backed up. How do I get the music, including music I did not buy from itunes back on computer?

    I had to restore my computer to factory settings, this wiped out my itunes and I did not backup. How do I get the music (including music not purchased from itunes) back on my computer?

    Assuming the music is sitting on your iPod, try Detune:
    http://www.macupdate.com/app/mac/35334/detune
    Just be careful that you don't allow the "empty" iTunes to wipe your ipod.

  • Restore computer to factory settings

    Hello. How can I restore my Vaio computer (Model PCG-71318L) to its factory settings. I don't want to do a system restore to a point in time. I want to restore it to the factory settings.
    To reinstall windows using the advanced recovery it states I require a "windows installation disc", yet the computer didn't come with one. How do I create a "windows installation disc." How is this disc different from the "System Repair Disc".
    If I create a "System Repair Disc" will I be able to use that as a "Windows installation disc" when I reinstall windows.
    Is reinstalling windows the same as restoring it to the factory settings? If not, how do I restore it to the factory settings?
    My OS is Windows 7 Home Premium
    Thanks and best regards

    Hello!
    we also welcome you to the Forums,
    your laptop has a hidden rescue partition on your hard drive, this is in lieu of Recovery DVDs. as an end user, you can create a physical backup copy of this rescue partition onto DVD. ( recovery discs)
    To answer your first question concerning C drive restore. Enter VAIO Care by pressing the [Assist] Button on your laptop or selecting VAIO Care from the Start menu. Once in VAIO Care choose Recovery then C drive recovery to return your system to the factory image.
    To create recovery Software mentioned above this can also be performed while in VAIO Care.
    Once In VAIO Care you should see the option to Create recovery software. 2 Blank -R DVDs will be required.
    If you reformatted your computer and installed a Retail copy of windows, the only way to create the software is reinstall the original image from the Hidden Rescue Partition [F10] from a cold boot then when the original OS is reinstalled VAIO Care should be back. if the rescue partition was also erased , your only other option is to purchase the DVDs Here: https://servicesales.sel.sony.com/ecom/ ... =989201975
    For anyone that has an older model without the assist button the hidden partition has been included on most units since as early as 2004 and the above instructions will help you recover your Computer,
    for older units with Vista press, Start, Help and Support, Backup and Recovery, Launch VAIO recovery, then choose restore C.
    for older units with XP press start, control panel, choose VAO Recovery, then choose Restore C

  • I have backed my iTunes with over 10,000 songs on a hard drive and than i reset my computer to factory settings, when i put it back on my macbook pro only 2030 were able to be downloaded back to the same computer

    i have backed my iTunes with over 10,000 songs on a hard drive and than i reset my computer to factory settings because my email was hacked, when i downloaded the music back to my macbook pro only 2030 were able to be downloaded . how can i download all my music back?
    michel p.

    I usually err on the sideof caution when someone says "downloaded" and take it to mean anything fro actually downloaded, to copies, to imported, to moved (frolder to folder), but even if they were "downloaded"... if the old email was hacked, and subseuqently closed out, that leaves the downloaded files "orphaned" if you will, belonging to the old ID. So, while they may be on the HD, they're inaccessible now.
    One of the biggest reasons I NEVER keep anything in my library with DRM employed in it.  I bought it. I own it. I'm not going to get locked out of it.

  • Restored my computer to Factory settings

    I recently (yesterday) restored my computer to factory settings. I downloaded I-Tunes to my reformatted computer and it works just fine and I can get on my I-Tunes account just fine. The only problem is that I cannot for the life of me figure out how to reauthorize my computer to copy my songs from my I-Pod back onto my computer. I did not de-authorize my computer before reformatting my computer though ( I didn't know).
    Does anybody know how I can go about reauthorizing my computer?

    If you still have any free authorisations then open iTunes and go to Store>Authorise Computer. However, if you've reached your limit of 5 you have the option to deauthorise them all in one go from your iTunes Store account and start over again. *Just note that you can only use this option once a year*: About iTunes Music Store Authorisation and Deauthorisation
    To deauthorise all computers associated with your account:
    1. Click iTunes Store in the Source pane.
    2. If you're not signed in to the store, click the Account button, then enter your account name and password.
    3. Click the Account button again (your ID appears on the button), enter your password, and then click View Account.
    4. In the Account Information window, click Deauthorize All.
    See also this article: One computer using multiple iTunes Music Store authorizations

  • How can a reset my mac to factory settings.

    How can a reset my mac to factory settings.  I have done something wrong and I think at this point it would be better to start form scratch

    Restart holding both the Command and R keys.  That will boot the machine to the recovery hard drive, a hidden partition that starts cleanly to the Mac OS X.  You can then choose from the Utiltities drop down, Disk Utility.  From that you can format the hard drive...you will then have to choose to Reinstall Mac OS X...doing this erases the hard drive and you lose all content.  Make a backup on an external hard drive first so you can restore your applications and so you don't lose your data.

  • How do I reset Apple Mail to Factory Settings?

    How do I reset Apple Mail to factory settings? I had 7 emails accounts on there and was about to add my school email address. It wasn't going through though, so I went to the school's IT department to ask them to do it. Unfortunately, the IT guy couldn't fix the school email and worse, now ALL my emails accounts won't go online. They all have exclamation points to their right, and are constantly asking for passwords. No matter how many times I put in the right password, it still keeps asking for it. I tried fixing it from Mail Preferences and System Preferences but nothing works. It keeps saying Connection Error. I don't know what the IT guy tweaked but it messed up everything.

    Please read this whole message before doing anything.
    This procedure is a diagnostic test. It won’t solve your problem. Don’t be disappointed when you find that nothing has changed after you complete it.
    The purpose of this test is to determine whether the problem is localized to your user account. Enable guest logins* and log in as Guest. Don't use the Safari-only “Guest User” login created by “Find My Mac.”
    While logged in as Guest, you won’t have access to any of your personal files or settings. Applications will behave as if you were running them for the first time. Don’t be alarmed by this; it’s normal. If you need any passwords or other personal data in order to complete the test, memorize, print, or write them down before you begin.
    Test while logged in as Guest. Same problem?
    After testing, log out of the guest account and, in your own account, disable it if you wish. Any files you created in the guest account will be deleted automatically when you log out of it.
    *Note: If you’ve activated “Find My Mac” or FileVault in OS X 10.7 or later, then you can’t enable the Guest account. The "Guest User" login created by "Find My Mac" is not the same. Create a new account in which to test, and delete it, including its home folder, after testing.

  • I purchased music from Itunes and I had to restore my computer to factory settings and now I have no music. Can I download it again?

    I had purchased music on my computer and iphone and I had to restore my computer to factory settings and I smashed my iphone. Can I get my music back?

    If you are in the U.S. or Canada and install iTunes 10.3, you can re download your iTunes purchases to your computer.
    Downloading past purchases from the App Store, iBookstore, and iTunes Store

  • TS4062 I had to restore my computer to factory settings now i can't sync my phone to my computer,help please

    I had to restore my computer to factory settings now I can't sync mine and my husbands IPHOne to my computer

    See Recover your iTunes library from your iPod or iOS device.
    tt2

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