How do I remove my personal info from my Mac Mini (selling)...

... I contacted AppleCare who advised me to erase the HDD (by starting-up holding Command-R), which I did.
The Mini then went to the internet to download a fresh copy of the OS - trouble is I'm on a REALLY slow connection (512kbps) and it estimated 70+ hours and it's apparently 3.5GB +, which is also way out of my allowance.
I contacted AppleCare again who pointed me to my local Apple Store, who couldn't get rid of me fast enough.  They ended up giving me a USB drive with a Copy of OS/X Lion, which when I got home found out didn't work....  it turns out that the current Mac Minis won't allow an install this way. I called the store, and received no response.
Is there any way I can 'clean out' my personal details without going through a full re-install???
Thanks!

@ bootloader:
Worked! - nice one!
I had already manually deleted all my old data (and done an Erase Free Space), so this has done the trick - it's nice, easy ideas like this that sometimes work the best!  When deleting the User Account, there's an option for Safe Erasure which I guess writes zeroes.

Similar Messages

  • How do you remove all personal info from a notebook when getting it ready for the recycle program?

    I havae purchased a new notebook and am getting my old MacBook Pro ready to submit to the recycle program at Apple. The list of "to-do's" asks that you remove all your personal info and take the notebook back to it's original settings. Does ayone have any advise on how to do this?

    Boot from the original OS installer disk and do an Erase & Install.
    When the Mac reboots into Mac Setup Assistant you quit and shut it down.
    It's now a brand new Mac... just like when you got it.
    http://www.ehow.com/how_5852122_restore-imac-factory-settings.html
    http://www.macworld.com/article/158670/2011/03/prepare_sell_mac.html

  • How do I remove OSX/FkCodec-A  from my Mac mini? I am running Yosemite and the path and file name is /Volumes/macvexe/macvexe.app/Contents/MacOS/mac.installer. Sophos was unble to remove and it will not go to trash.

    Sophos found this on my mac mini (early 2009) - OSX/FkCodec-A and could not clean it up. I am running Yosemite 10.10 and the path and filename for this Trojan is   /Volumes/macvexe/macvexe.app/Contents/MacOS/mac.installer. Could someone please tell me how to get rid of it as Sophos is unable to remove and Trash can remove it.

    outdoor,
    How did you originally install iWork on the Mac Pro?  was it preinstalled?  The machine seems old enough that you should have an original install DVD that came with the mac pro.
    Amazon has the install DVDs for iWork '09:
    http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=i Work+%2709
    To move tables between sheets you can select the table, copy, then paste after activating (by clicking) the destination sheet.  If you really mean move, then use the cut command (rather than copy).
    To copy... use the menu item "Edit > Copy"
    To cut... use the menu item "Edit > Cut"
    Then paste in the destination

  • How do I remove my Nook safely from my mac mini?

    When I ejected my Nook a message came up and told me to go to Find and type in EJECT ...I did this but nothing came up?? Where do I go to find how to eject safely ??

    When connected, you go to the Finder app and the by the Nook under Devices in the left-hand side click on the icon of an up triangle with a _ underneath. The eject and safely disconnects the Nook. One you disconnect without ejecting there is nothing you can do.

  • How can i wipe out my personal info from my mac

    i would like to know how i can wipe all my personalyy info from my mac

    Ace_ wrote:
    i would like to know how i can wipe all my personal info from my mac
    1: The absolute best way Grade A method would be to remove the storage drive and replace with another, melt the old drive in a +1500º F kiln, or smash it to tiny bits with a sledgehammer / hydraulic press and distribute the pieces into the trash as widespread as possible.
    Then hold c booting from a OS X install disk (10.6 or earlier if th emachine came with that) or hold option key booting from a 10.7 install USB ($69, no user ID associated) and install your OS onto the new drive and shutdown at the Welcome screen.
    2: If you don't want to replace the drive but don't want a wealthy individual, corporation or government using special equipment to read most of your data.
    Then hold c booting from a OS X install disk, (or command r booting from 10.7 Recovery) and using Disk Utility to Erase with 7x overwrite on the OS X boot partition will do. Takes many hours to complete. 
    There might be  small bits left in mapped off sectors, journaled drives, your basically trusting the drive makers / OS maker to erase your drive completely. Then reinstall your OS and shutdown at the Welcome screen.
    3: If you don't want to replace the drive, not all that paranoid, but don't want most anyone using special software like DataRescue to read your deleted data off the drive, then hold c booting from a OS X install disk, (or command r booting from 10.7 Recovery) and using Disk Utility to Erase with Zero will do. Takes about a few hours. Then reinstall your OS and shutdown at the Welcome screen.
    4: If your not the least bit concerned someone could read your deleted data, simply hold c booting from a OS X install disk, (or command r booting from 10.7 Recovery) and using Disk Utility to Erase (with Security Option will do.) Takes about a few seconds. Then quit DU, reinstall your OS and shutdown at the Welcome screen.

  • How can i remove credit card info from apple id?

    How can i remove credit crad info from my apple id?

    I tried to enter it as "none" but it didnt work. It keeps saying i need a card number and all that. But then, i clicked "same as shipping information" and just entered my name and all the adress stuff, put my credit card number as 0 and my security code as 0, put in a random date and clicked save.
    -Just a tip for anyone else who couldnt figure it out like me

  • HT1918 how do i remove credit card info from account

    how do i remove credit card info from acct

    On your computer's iTunes you should be able to edit your payment info by going into the Store > View Account menu option and logging into your account, and on your account's details page there should be a payment link.  If you are doing it on an iOS device (iPad, iPhone or iPod Touch) then you could try tapping on your id in Settings > Store (Settings > iTunes & App Store on iOS 6+) and selecting 'View Apple ID' on the popup - that should also give you a payments link on your account's page.
    Changing payment info : http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1918

  • For turn in purpose how do i remove all my info from my phone

    for turn in purpose how do i remove all my info from my phone

    Since you posted your question on the iPhone forum, I'm assuming you have an iPhone.
    In that case, go to Settings...General...Reset, and select Erase all content and Settings.
    This will remove all of your content and restore the iphone to factory settings.
    I have done this myself before selling iphones.

  • How do you strip your personal info from an ipad before giving away?

    How do you strip your personal info from an ipad before giving away???

    You can backup your current iPad, and then restore the new iPad from that backup (a list of what is included in a backup is in this article http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4946 - it excludes music, videos, synced photos). As the backup doesn't contain the actual apps, just their settings and content, for the restore to work completely you'll need all the relevant apps in your computer's iTunes library - otherwise the restore won't be able to install the apps and therefore their content (if you don't have the apps on your computer then you can re-download them for free : http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2519)
    This page has info on how to backup and then restore : http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1766 (iCloud is only possible with iOS 5, but if backing up with the idea of restoring to a different iPad I'd backup via your computer's iTunes anyway)

  • I have purchased a new printer.  It is the same make as my old printer.  How do I remove the old printer from my Mac?

    I have purchased a new printer.  It is the same make as my old printer.  How do I remove the old printer from my Mac?

    you could see if that make of printer has an uninstaller (may come with the installer)
    or go to preferences, print and fax, and press the minus key   (  -   ) which should maybe remove it. Or ,do a a find, then type in the make of printer, and anything that looks like a printer driver for that make, well, maybe it's gotta go
    just an idea
    John B

  • When I get to the select disk page it says that the HD is uesd as time machine drive. How can I remove time machine backup from my Mac.

    I am tring to installe OS X Mavericks. When I get to the select disk page it says that the HD is uesd as time machine drive. How can I remove time machine backup from my Mac.

    Open up your Finder and click on Go on the top menu bar. Select Computer and then double click Macintosh HD. In here delete the backup folder. Might be called backups.backupdb.

  • How do I remove Quick Time 7 from my mac?

    I clicked an mp3 file to open and it opened in Quick Time 7 Player. However, when I go to my Applications folder and open the Quick Time Player there, it opens Quick Time X.
    How can I remove Quick Time 7 from my mac?
    I would be most grateful for anyone's assistance with this issue.

    How about that QT that comes with Snow Leopard, is there a real need for two versions of the software to be installed?
    QT is a "structure" integrated into the operating system. Removing it will likely corrupt the whole OS. As to Snow Leopard, there is only one QT "structure" embedded in the system. What you really have is two different player versions (QT X and QT 7) which actually access the same embedded routines. Removing the QT 7 Player would likely not cause any problems, but why bother. Simply leave it in your Utilities folder in case you ever want to use it or upgrade it to QT 7 Pro to access the extra features not accessible via any other Apple multimedia application/utility. You don't ever have to use it if you don't want to do so.

  • How do I remove world of warcraft from my mac

    how do I remove world of warcraft from my mac? Draging to trash does not do it icons are still in launch pad.
    Thank you.

    Follow the directions in this guide: Uninstalling Applications in Mac OS X

  • How would I migrate OS 10.6 from my mac mini to my macbook running 10.5 ?

    How would I migrate OS 10.6 from my mac mini to my macbook running 10.5 ?  I eventually want to upgrade to 10.8.  Can I upgrade to 10.8 from 10.6 OS?  I recently purchased an iPhone 5.  I wanna use the iCloud.

    The license you have only covers one computer, and the install disks from one type of Mac will not work on another type. You need to buy another copy of Snow Leopard.
    Start by checking if it can run Snow Leopard:
    Requirements for OS X 10.6 'Snow Leopard'
    http://support.apple.com/kb/SP575
    OS 10.6 Snow Leopard is once again available from the Apple Store:
    http://store.apple.com/us/product/MC573/mac-os-x-106-snow-leopard
    and in the UK:
    http://store.apple.com/uk/product/MC573/mac-os-x-106-snow-leopard
    but nobody knows for how long it will be available.
    To use iCloud you have to upgrade all the way to Mountain Lion:
    http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4759
    You can also purchase the code to use to download Lion (Lion requires an Intel-based Mac with a Core 2 Duo, i3, i5, i7 or Xeon processor and 2GB of RAM, running the latest version of Snow Leopard), or you can purchase Mountain Lion from the App Store - if you can run that:
    http://www.apple.com/osx/specs/
    When you have installed it, run Software Update to download and install the latest updates for Snow Leopard.

  • How do I remove credit card info from iTunes Store account?

    How do I remove credit card information from my iTunes account?

    On your computer's iTunes you should be able to edit your payment info by going into the Store > View Account menu option and logging into your account, and on your account's details page there should be a payment link.  If you are doing it on an iOS device (iPad, iPhone or iPod Touch) then you could try tapping on your id in Settings > Store (Settings > iTunes & App Store on iOS 6+) and selecting 'View Apple ID' on the popup - that should also give you a payments link on your account's page.
    Changing payment info : http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1918

Maybe you are looking for

  • Connecting Linksys WRT610N to WRT160N

    Hi, I was hoping someone could help me with configuring my network which I'm new at. What I have down stairs in my office is a Linksys WRT610N router which is connected to the socket my broadband comes through and my PC. The router is also connected

  • Update of sigle field

    I m coding a GL debit /Credit report. i m collection data from bseg and then compare the record in FAGLFLEXA (For inter unit transaction prctr = pprctr,if false then delete record from internal table) based on the profit center. I m updating prctr fi

  • DW CS3- Cant Connect To Remote Site

    Hi Ive encountered a very fustrating problem. The new Dreamweaver refuses to connect to any remote sites. It imported my site list, with FTP info, user names and passwords...but when I try to connect, I get a big error message telling me that my info

  • Sata partitions

    Hi I am adding a second Samsung 160g Sata drive, I want to run as performance my problem is ive xp on the first drive and want the data now I think it will wipe the drives if I try this will it wipe them? if it does before I install second drive can

  • 11g DATABASE BACK UP

    Hi, I am trying to do back up of one of my oracle 11g db out of 2 through rman utility. Am doing the following steps. [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8dA6BYxF_YE] But i am getting the following error messages : Directory of c:\app\Manaar1\oradata\orc