I need to clean erase/install before selling

I have a flat-panel iMac that I'm selling to neighbors for their daughter's use. First, tell me is $200.00 too low an asking price? The specs are shown in my profile. Nothing is wrong except the mysterious sound issue, which I told them about and advised them to get external speakers. I was hoping to get closer to $400.00 as I saw many going for on Ebay with less capability than mine. (This machine has been a dream!) Do you recommend my getting the original, round Harmon Kardon speakers to accompany the computer for sale?
Secondly, I went to the Apple Store yesterday and the associate knew very little to provide me with assistance. In attempting to do a erase and install of the OS from Disk Utility, my computer is now stuck on a grey screen with apple logo in the middle; it looks like in classic OS9.
It was asking for the install disk and I had 5 disks given to me from the guy that sold it to me off Ebay. I didn't know which one to insert so I chose "OS9" first. That's what put it in its current state.
After trying to backup or save items that I wanted to keep (iTunes library, documents, movies) I gave up and decided to sacrifice them all because the blank DVDs that I was using kept giving me error messages.
I have read here to: "Put your install disk in your Mac and Restart while holding down the C key." What should be on the screen when you put the install disk in?
"Click on Disk Utility and choose the hard drive you want your OS on." How do I know which HD to choose?"
Do I need to take this computer back to Apple or can I restore this myself?

The original Harmon Kardon speakers are hard to find and not compatible with many newer Macs but they do have good quality. If you got them, it would prove once and for all if the problem is with the sound chip on your computer, or just the speaker that is built-in, or some setting. My FAQ* explains how to prepare a Mac for selling:
http://www.macmaps.com/selling.html
Apple may have the correct install disks, if you misplaced yours. Give their AppleCare office a call.
- * Links to my pages may give me compensation.

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Hey all,
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Since I have the opportunity to build a system from the ground up, it's caused me to reconsider some of my pre-existing ideas. Like... do I need a full blown DE? The answer is probably not. All I do is listen to music, surf and code. Therefore, there's a lot I don't need.
I'm considering using these:
Gnome3
Openbox
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DWM
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The problem is... I kind of want to try all of them. Well, except for Gnome3. I know what's up there.
Will it be relatively simple to just use pacman to change my DE or WM? Or do I need to cleanly install Arch? The answer will have some bearing on how long it takes me to move forward.

You can have multiple ones going no problem, the idea is super simple, you either install a display manager to graphically choose which environment you want, or you set up your .xinitrc like the previous poster mentioned to include the multiple environments. The Wiki usually covers near everything you could possibly need including things from the aur in depth.
I personally prefer the .xinitrc way because it's simpler. startx will start whichever you specified as your main de, and xinit gnome or xinit xfce, etc. will start the other enviroments.
My preference on a laptop is openbox and my preference on a desktop is kde. Make sure you follow the guide for openbox should you choose to use it, you need to copy a few default files to your .config folder. Also note that a fresh openbox install is pretty barebones and takes a while to configure. I like that stuff, but xfce might be a better choice if you don't.
https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/xinitrc explains how to set up your .xinitrc for multiple de's in detail, while configuring all the major display managers are explained in depth in their respective wikis.
Also note that its really easy to remove one if you don't like it, with just "pacman -Rs gnome" for example, which should remove it and all its standalone dependencies.
Last edited by xtraroot (2013-12-29 19:18:57)

Need To Clean Erase My Hard Drive And Re-Install OS and Factory Software

I have a question. I am needing to erase then reinstall the OS and software that came with this Sep 2008 Macbook Pro. I am selling it and want to wipe out all my personal and work related data files I have created, and do a thorough erase. Then, with the disks that came with it I want to re-install the OS and the factory installed software. Does anyone have a link to the steps from Apple on how to accomplish this, and any do's and don'ts to help keep me out of trouble? Am replacing it with a new 15" MBP for work.
Thanks much in advance.
Reed

This is the way I prepare old machines that came with OS X installed, which allows them to act just like one from the factory. First, boot with the Apple Hardware Test disk that came with the machine, run the extended tests, and make sure everything passes. Then, boot with the restore disk(s) that came with the machine (holding down the C key until you get a screen), erase and zero the HD. When that's finished, reformat it Mac OS Extended, install the OS 9 drivers (if the machine can boot into OS 9), and then restore the software.
See
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=31086 and
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=301408 for restoring details.
When finished, click on the restart button, holding down the CMD+S keys. This puts the machine into single-user mode and gives you an Unix command line terminal screen. When the text stops scrolling, type in this command and click the return key:
*shutdown -h now*
This shuts down the computer; the next time it is turned on, the Setup Assistant will appear and the new user will get to personalize it. This also alleviates the necessity of presetting any display parameters, internet and e-mail settings, etc. As long as the monitor can hook up to the machine, the OS will select a usable resolution and the user can use the Display prefpane to suit their needs. They'll also have to run Software Update and bring everything up to the latest version.
Do note that you should also include all software disks and manuals that came with the machine. If there are 3rd-party apps, you need to include those disks and manuals, but only for those you want to transfer to the new owner—keeping those on your new machine and the old one, most likely violates the terms of usage.
James Sedgwick says: "I'm simple so that's why I try and keep it simple, just boot off your OS X CD, zero the drive, and shutdown. The new owner will use the bundled CD(s) to set it up the way they want it, easy peasey."
To reset Leopard to the Setup Assistant, see http://www.macosxhints.com/article.php?story=2007110800450816

Erasing iMac before selling. Need Help.

Hello,
I'm selling my Mac. I'm going to do a clean install and am wondering if someone can look at what I'm going to do, and let me know if this is correct. First going to zero out the HD. Then doing a clean install with my restoration discs. Looking for the quickest and safest way of doing this. Do not have any secure info on here. Secured trash already. My question is that when I start up can the new owner put in her log-in info as administrator?
Looking for help to do this. The new owner is a teacher, and is coming tonight to get it. Any help would be greatly appreciated. I'm getting a new Mac....Yay

you might find this useful: _*Selling Used Macs guide*_.
JGG

Clean hard drive before selling; how do i get mountain lion on a disk for re-install?

Hope to resell old macbook pro and wish to clean hard drive. Need a CD of OSX to reinstall after cleaning. How do I get mountain lion on a CD?

Mountain Lion does not come on discs of any kind. But you don't need one. You'll find instructions for getting your machine ready for sale here:
How to prepare your Mac for sale

Clean Erase Install

I initially installed Leopard over tiger I am assuming that this added an additional 9 gbs on my hard-drive so I deceided to get an external HD and use time machine with migration so it wouldn't be an exact copy, then a clean install to get that space back. After everything was said and done I got an extra gb. So I am wondering if time machine copied tiger off of my hard-drive? Is there a better way to do this?

When you run the Leopard installer, you can click the Options button and select the Archive and Install option. This preserves your user data and setting, but gives you a fresh Leopard System instead update the existing system. The old system is put into a folder called Previous Systems. After ensure you do not need anything from the old system, you can delete this folder.
As with any major upgrade, you should back up your valuable user data.
Archive and Install is not a "clean install." The only way to do that is to erase the drive, and then install Leopard.

Clean erase install, backup question

It is good and time to do a complete erase reinstall of OS 10.4 (plus classic, which is why I use 10.4....I still need classic).
I wish to save and transfer the following
My Documents
All my mails
All my itunes tunes
All my photos and movies
You get the idea.
I have an extra large HD.
Can I just do something simple like drag and drop my USER (house) icon then drop that back in somehowe?
Needless to see, don't want to mess this up.
I dont' min reinstalling all the software I use

It is good and time to do a complete erase reinstall of OS 10.4
Why? That is such a 'Windows thing' to do!
Instead why not simply perform an archive and install, which will preserve all your files and settings but on a fresh system.
How to Archive & Install:
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=107120
and this also:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2196?viewlocale=en_US

How to unregister iphone before selling it

I recently purcharsed an iPhone 4.
I'm going to sell my iPhone 3Gs. How do I format and unregister the phone (i.e. erase all the data in the phone)?
Thanks for answering

beedoola wrote:
Do you need to unlock the phone before selling it or will the erase method above do that? I have an ATT iphone 4. Do I need to unlock it if the buyer is going to use it with ATT or Tmobile?
Only ATT can unlock the phone if it's going to be used with T-Mobile

Puzzled by erase & install

by doing an erase & install before installing tiger, I take it that I will lose everything I have on my mac 5, including OS9 and ical and sherlock and calculator and backup and so on.
but do all these and more return with the installation of tiger, including OS9 and its explorer and the rest?
or is it just a matter of backing up all to cds or external drive and then dragging them back in. and is there an easy way of finding out what is missing and needs to be reinstalled before pulling out the remaining 8 hairs on myhead?

If you use the Erase & Install method, it completely erases the hard drive first and then installs Tiger and only what is included on the Tiger retail install package.
OS 9 is not included with the Tiger retail install package but the Tiger version of iCal, Sherlock, Calculator and Backup are included.
Internet Explorer is not included with the Tiger retail install package and no longer pre-installed or included with the Tiger OS pre-installed on a new Mac purchase but you can download the OS X version of IE from Microsoft's Mactopia website. Microsoft hasn't provided an update to IE for OS X since well before Safari was introduced by Apple - 4 years or so and they probably won't be anytime soon if ever. IE is a bloated browser and there are much better OS X compatible browsers such as Safari, Firefox (a new Firefox version was recently released) and Opera to name 3.
Check the following link to see what is included with a Tiger retail install package.
http://www.apple.com/macosx/techspecs/
If you perform an Erase & Install, you can install OS 9 afterwards from an OS 9 install disc or via the install package that shipped with your Mac purchase which should include an OS 9 installer.
Unless there is a particular reason you want to install Tiger via an Erase & Install, you can install Tiger using the Archive & Install method selecting preserve user and network settings. When doing so, the Tiger OS is installed new and all user and network settings, user data and most 3rd party applications will be transferred to the new system including IE and OS 9.
After confirming all user and network settings and user data was successfully transferred to the new system, you can safely delete the archived previous system folder.
I installed Panther over Jaguar and Tiger over Panther via the Archive & Install method selecting preserve user and network settings on my TiBook without any problems either time.
If you use the A&I method and after creating a backup of all data, be sure to check the hard drive for any directory problems using Disk First Aid repair via Disk Utilities when booted from the Tiger install disc. If any problems are reported and successfully repaired, run repair again until no problems are reported and then repair disk permissions from the same location before proceeding with the install.
You should also disconnect all external peripheral devices except for a keyboard and mouse before beginning the installation.

Erase/install - backup first question

On my 2yr old macbook I want to do a clean erase/install bc i hear thats better. I've never backed up my computer before. I'm going tonight to buy an external HD to do so. All I want to move to my new OS is photos, music and docs, as well as MS office, all my keychain passwords, and my safari bookmarks. Will I be able to move these files, programs and settings over after the clean erase/install, and how? Also, am I forgetting anything obvious that I should want to move over?

David's advice is solid. However I would like to suggest one other possibility. First, partition the external into two partitions and clone your current system to +both partitions+. Then, upgrade the system on one of the the external's partitions, leaving the other as a backup and your currently stable system intact. You can run from the upgraded external partition to verify that everything is working to your satisfaction. If so, you can simply clone the upgraded system on the external drive back onto your MacBook's internal drive, leaving the second duplicate intact "just in case". But, if you have any issues or find that you prefer the previous version, you have only to reboot your internal drive. This "method" will cover any possible situation you could encounter. After you have verified that everything is "good", you can return the external to whatever use you like. But I would leave it partitioned so that you have one partition dedicated to a backup "clone" of your OS. This should be updated prior to making any future changes to your system.

I would like to sell my G4. But first I would like to erase any information on the computer. How do I wipe it clean before selling?

I would like to sell my G4. But first I would like to erase any information on the computer. How do I wipe it clean before selling?

What OS version install disk sets do you have? ...OS 9.x, OS X 10.x...

Do i need to backup my information before installation of Mac os x lion? I know I should always back up, but what i'm asking is will my information be there, or is it a totally clean install? Will my information have to be transfered?

Do i need to backup my information before installation of Mac os x lion? I know I should always back up, but what i'm asking is will my information be there, or is it a totally clean install? Will my information have to be transfered?

When I installed Lion all of my files were intact and where I left them, and I did not back up my Mac, however having seen some of the problems some people are coming across when installing Lion I would recommend backing up before you install (just to be on the safe side).
Hope this helps!

Do i need to clean install mavericks

macbook pro 10.8.5 want mavericks do i need to clean instal it.

Better asked on MacBook Pro forum, no you don't but yes there is some wisdom in making bootable backup or restore image if you do.
A clean install is easy to do and Setup Assistant will take the system image or clone as source for your old prefs and apps and add them back.
Make sure everything you use is current and supported, some are not. Less an issue with a notebook than a Mac tower.
How to make your own bootable OS X 10.9 Mavericks USB install drive
http://arstechnica.com/apple/2013/10/how-to-make-your-own-bootable-os-x-10-9-mav ericks-usb-install-drive/
Apple has changed things in 10.9, but making a recovery drive is still possible.
by Andrew Cunningham - Oct 23 2013, 8:19am CDT
OS X
Flickr user Prime Number
When Apple released OS X 10.7 two years ago, it stopped selling operating system DVDs in its stores, stopped shipping recovery disks with new Macs, and switched to downloadable installers for OS X upgrades. These download-only installers have actually worked pretty well—I’ve never had an issue downloading the software from the Mac App Store or restoring a Mac using the Internet Recovery feature when something went south. That said, it’s still nice to have an install disk handy for those cases when you don’t have a connection, when your connection is slow, or when you just have a whole bunch of Macs and don’t want to have to download the installer on each and every one of them.
The good news is, as with Lion and Mountain Lion, it’s possible to create a local USB installer for Mavericks. The bad news is that it wasn’t as simple as it was before—Apple has changed the way the installer works, and making an install disk manually is more difficult than it used to be. Before we get started, here’s what you’ll need:
An 8GB or larger USB flash drive, or an 8GB or larger partition on some other kind of external drive
The OS X 10.9 Mavericks installer from the Mac App Store in your Applications folder. The installer will delete itself when you install the operating system, but it can be re-downloaded if necessary.
The latest beta of the Lion Diskmaker app, available here (as of this writing, version 3 beta 3 is the most recent). This app is free to download, but the creator accepts donations if you want to support his efforts.
How to clone your system:
http://macperformanceguide.com/Mac-HowToClone-backup.html
http://macperformanceguide.com/Mac-HowToClone.html
http://www.macupdate.com/app/mac/7032/carbon-copy-cloner
You can also use Disk Utility Restore to image or clone the system to another disk volume.
MacBook Series Forums
https://discussions.apple.com/community/notebooks?view=discussions
Mac OS X Forum
https://discussions.apple.com/community/mac_os?view=discussions

How do I erase all my data securely before selling my IMac G5 computer

I will be selling my Imac G5 which was synced to my mobile me account. I know I can "unregister" the computer before selling but I want to make sure I securely erase my data for all the programs I have.
I am selling the computer with Ilife and other programs but want to be absolutely sure I get rid of my data. So...... How do I thoroughly erase;
1. My contact list
2. My Calendar lists
3. My Photos
4. Completely stop Isync and I disk.
5. Any other suggestions.
Thanks for any help you can provide. Have a great holiday (if you are in the US)
Skip

I don't know why you've posted this in the iSync forum (which is for syncing non-Apple mobile phones via a USB or Bluetooth connection), but anyway...
Here's an Apple Support document on zeroing all the data on your hard disk:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1820
Once you've done that, you should re-install the original version of Mac OS X that came with the machine to be within the law for selling purposes, and to avoid having any trace of any of your personal details, passwords, keychains, bookmarks, cookies, web history etc. etc.
Any additional software you have purchased that you are selling with the computer should be sold as supplied its original installation disks.

Do I need to uninstall Reader 8 before installing Reader X?

Do I need to uninstall Reader 8 before installing Reader X?

Hi,
Uninstall previous or current version of Adobe Reader, you use Adobe Reader Cleaner Tool :
http://labs.adobe.com/downloads/acrobatcleaner.html
Download Adobe Reader 10.1.4 : http://get.adobe.com/reader/

I need to clean erase/install before selling

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