In restoring my mac mini to factory specs-what is considered "free space" as in the question of erasing free space.

When you go to do a factory restore what is erasing "free space?
Plus, I have no Command keys on my keyboard-how to do Command R without a Command Key?
Carol

CarolF5 wrote:
When you go to do a factory restore what is erasing "free space?
Don't bother with that option, unless you are going to sell your computer and want to be sure that your data can't be recovered.
To be more specific it securely erases the unoccupied space of your hard drive, leaving the rest of your data intact.
I have no Command keys on my keyboard-how to do Command R without a Command Key?
You mean you have a PC keyboard? If that is the case the Command key translates to the key with the Windows flag.
The Alt key is the Option key on an Apple keyboard.

Similar Messages

  • Restoring Mac Mini to factory settings

    I am trying to restore my MAC MINI to factory settings.
    I am unable to access "disk utility" by restarting while holding down COMMAND+R keys.
    I am using a windows keyboard.
    Please help.
    Thanks

    Turn off the Mac. Do not restart.
    Then, with your finger over the Alt key, turn on the unit, and depress the Alt key just after doing so. You should have it depressed well before you hear the chime and keep it depressed until after the list of bootable devices pops up. If you see an apple logo then things have not worked.
    Keeping the key down before you startup often makes computers think that the key is stuck and ignore it altogether. I've not seen it on Macs but I certainly have on PCs.

  • Completely restore mac mini to factory

    how do i completely restore a mac mini to factory settings and totally wipe out any casched info?

    If the computer has Lion or later, boot into the recovery partition and reformat/reinstall the OS
    Some Solutions for Resetting Forgotten Security Questions: Apple Support Communities
    - Other do the same with the OS installation disks

  • Restoring Mac Mini to factory settings - which disk do I select?

    Hello,
    I am trying to restore my mac mini to factory settings.
    I was able to access the disk utility but am not sure which disk I should select before erasing.
    Options in Utilities pane:
    500.11 GB Toshiba MK506GSXF Media
         Macintosh HD
    Disc 1
         Mac OS X Base System
    I want to reformat disk so that no existing data is retrievable AND want to be able to resintall the operating system thereby restoring to factory settings.
    Your help is much appreciated!

    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.

  • How to restore my mac mini

    how do i restore my mac mini 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.

  • Restore a mac mini from the disk but getting error

    hi, im trying to restore a mac mini from the disk but its giving me the error "You cant open the app "Install Mac OS X" b/c Power PC apps are no longer supported. What can i do? Trying to sell computer.

    Are you booting from the disk? That should work but then you will have to through the the OSX updates to get back to ML
    I would try the mthod recommended by Eustace Mendis first. It just worked on me for ny 2010 Mini

  • TS1463 What is the easiest way to restore my ipod back to factory specs. It has a red circle with a red x in the middle,please help me to fix my ipod, until now i can't use my ipod..i tried all the procedures in Restore ipod from disk mode but still not w

    What is the easiest way to restore my ipod back to factory specs. It has a red circle with a red x in the middle,please help me to fix my ipod, until now i can't use my ipod..i tried all the procedures in Restore ipod from disk mode but still not working, please help me...

    If you are unable to get the iPod into Disk Mode to try and restore it, it's a very good indication, as mentioned in the article, that the iPod's hard drive is damaged and in need of replacement either by Apple or a third party repair company.
    B-rock

  • How can I restore my Mac mini

    The problem restoring my Mac back to factory settings I'm trying to erase everything start new

    Boot into Recovery and redownload/install the OS
    OS X: About OS X Recovery
    and
    What to do before selling or giving away your Mac

  • My mac mini wont turn on but there is power to it as the usb port charges my iPad

    My mac mini wont turn on but there is power to it as the usb port charges my iPad. My monitor uses a HDMI cable when the mac mini is off it says no input received which it does not say so it is receiving some signal from the mac mini. I have tried a different cable and a different monitor/ hdmi cable. The fan isnt running there is no start up noise but the little light on the front blinks every 4-5 seconds. Im booked in to see a GENIUS on sunday but I was wondering if there is anything I can do in the mean time. The mac mini is only 8 months old if that. Any ideas people? Oh the mac is also running mountain lion and has been since the day of release i've never had a problem up until this.

    The following table lists the new tones and their meaning:
    Tone(s)          Description
    1 tone, a 5-second pause, repeat          No RAM installed
    3 successive tones, a 5-second pause, 3 successive tones          RAM does not pass data integrity check
    1 long tone when holding down the power button          Firmware upgrade in process. See About firmware updates for Intel-based Macs for more details.
    3 long tones, 3 short tones, 3 long tones          Firmware restoration from CD in process. See About the Firmware Restoration CD (Intel-based Macs) for more details.
    http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2538
    Can you count the beeps or flashes?
    1 beep = no RAM installed
    2 beeps = incompatible RAM types
    3 beeps = no good banks
    4 beeps = no good boot images in the boot ROM (and/or bad sys config block)
    5 beeps = processor is not usable
    In addition to the beeps, on some computers the power LED will flash a corresponding number of times plus one. The LED will repeat the sequence after approximately a 5-second pause. The tones are only played once.
    Note: In this case, a flash is considered to be 1/4 second or 250 ms or greater in length.
    http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1547

  • I am trying to play my digital music off a hard drive onto my home stereo.  I would like to know if the mac mini can just hook to my processor and play music through the processor(preamp) on my home stereo speakers?

    I currently have a nice home stereo component system.  I also have a 500 GB external hard drive loaded with music.  I am looking for a way to play the music off this Hard Drive onto my home stereo system.  I currently have a WD home entertainment box that I can play movies that I download off the Internet on my TV, of course piped through my home stereo for the sound.  I would like to know if the mac-mini could be used in this form also.  Just have the HD hooked to it, the TV would become my monitor and the mac mini would play the music ... RANDOMLY ... with the use of iTunes.  This of course would be hooked up to the home system with an hdmi cable and the HD hooked up through a USB connection.
    Just would like to know if this could work?

    Yes. Is the short answer.
    You can directly connect the speaker out port of the Mac mini to an input on the AV Receiver which then feeds your speakers. This would be an audio only solution. If you use a TOS-Link connection this will be a pure digital connection ensuring the best quality (important for audiophiles).
    You can if you wish connect the video from the Mac mini to the AV Receiver, and if you have a Mac mini with HDMI or a Mini Displayport you can run the audio and video via a single cable. (Older models would use two cables, the aforementioned TOS-Link pus a DVI to HDMI cable.)
    If you do connect the video output from the Mac to the AV Receiver you can then display this on your TV, and have as one possibility iTunes displayed with perhaps one of the iTunes visualisers playing along with the music. Another possibility would be to use FrontRow on the Mac.
    A different approach would be to have the Mac mini stream over a network to a device e.g. the Sonos Zoneplayer which is then connected to the AV Receiver. An AirPort Express is also able to do this.

  • I there, my question is quite simple, I would like to know if the "apple remote control" can be used with a mac mini and , if so, it can be used to control also the "logic pro" functions (e.g. record, start, stop etc). Thks a lot, Danilo

    I there, my question is quite simple, I would like to know if the "apple remote control" can be used with a mac mini and , if so, it can be used to control also the "logic pro" functions (e.g. record, start, stop etc). Thks a lot, Danilo

    Good work, thanks for the report.

  • I have a Mac mini mid 2010. I have ML installed on one of the 500GB disks. I want to install Boot Camp on the 2nd 500GB disk. Mine is XP Professional.

    I have a Mac mini mid 2010. I recently installed ML on one of the 500GB disks. I want to install Boot Camp on the 2nd 500GB disk. Mine is XP Professional. My original OS was Snow Leopard Server edition. Please let me have your suggestions and advice. Thank you. I am in India.

    Mountain Lion Boot Camp no longer supports Windows XP, it would also only prepare the same physical disk you run the Boot Camp Utility from i.e. the Mountain Lion disk.
    See http://support.apple.com/kb/ht4818#3
    I suggest you start off with the second drive formatted as a single HFS+ volume with a GUID partition scheme, then install Snow Leopard on it. Then boot with Snow Leopard and run its version of Boot Camp utility, when you tell it to prepare the (second) drive you can tell it to allocate the minimum to Snow Leopard and the maximum to Windows. Then you can install Windows XP.
    Note: Boot Camp Utility was not included with Snow Leopard Server.

  • Mac Mini? Ichat? What Camera?

    Recently I prchased a Mac Mini for my sister as I switched her over from using a windows machine. I currently have a MBP 2.33 17" with the built in isight. My question:
    How do I doo ichat with my sister? isight has been discontinued.
    I don't want to go install some 3rd party screwey program, when apple should have a solution for their mac mini customers. thing always work better when they are embedded in the OS/ part of the system. My sister isn't comupter savvy so I'd rather keep it simple.
    Is it a probability that apple will release another stand alone web cam for their mac mini and mac pro customers that do not have built in web cams?
    Thanks for any help you can provide.
    -RB

    Ian, thanks for your ongoing help in this topic. Just as an aside, I recently acquired another (older iMac G5) and needed a web cam. Fortunately, I live in Japan and you can still purchase a new Apple iSight camera in some of the major retail shops here. I just bought one last night for ~$140 USD (much less than on eBay).
    It may not be a viable option for many, but if users really have to have an iSight, they need to find somone heading this way and ask them to pick one up. If Apple has discontinued this product, not sure how long the retail inventory will last.
    iMac G5   Mac OS X (10.3.9)  

  • If I purchase a mac mini now - will Mountain Lion be avilable free?

    If I purchase a mac mini now - Will Mountain Lion be available free - or should I wait to purchase the mac mini?

    No. It will come with Lion installed. A free upgrade to Mountain Lion would only occur when Apple announces such an option, and only to those who purchase the computer within some period of time after ML is released.
    If saving $30 or so to upgrade to ML is your goal, then wait until it is released and Apple initiates an Up-To-Date program.

  • Hi I have a mac mini with my TV as a display. MY display includes the taskbar but no menu bar, how do I see menu bar???

    HI
    I have a mac mini with my TV as a display. My display includes the taskbar but no menu bar, how do I see menu bar???

    Make sure you are using a 1080p capable TV.   Some TVs have pixel level video ratio adjustment.  Sometimes that can force the menubar to be visible if it is the only display connected to the machine. Sometimes you have to go to your hard drive's Applications -> System Preferences -> Displays and drag the white bar on top of the display's representation to the other display.  You can only have one primary display with menubar.
    Lastly, for non-1080p capable displays, DisplayConfigX or SwitchResX offer pixel level adjustments through software.

Maybe you are looking for

  • Win 7 pro 32bit on early 2006 mac pro

    do i have a chance at installing this without reburning the cd a la jowie?

  • How to use fnd_user_resp_groups_api

    Hi Guys, I want to use fnd_user_resp_groups_api to set end date on all responsibilities. And also use it to clear the end dates after cloning on target. Please can some help help me with the syntax for fnd_user_resp_groups_api or metalink note for ho

  • Nokia 6234 and Audi A6 car

    I have the 6234 and a Audi A6 car and the phone is connected via BT to the car, exporting the phone numbers stored in the mobile and sim so that i can access them from the car display (MMI). Unfortunately, i do not know for what reason, quite often t

  • What's the best way to collect internal table?

    Hi, I have an internal table, the fields are:   Key1, key2, key3, qty1, qty2, qty3 I want to collect the field "qty3" based on the key fields: "key1 + key2 + key3". What's the most efficient way to collect the internal table? Thanks.

  • Descargue Codeblocks y no tengo permisos

    hola, bueno en la escuela me pidieron descargar el codeblocks para programar en C, al parecer el programa esta bien, ya que se compila bien, pero al momento en que lo corro o lo quiero mostrar a pantalla, me aparece esto. Last login: Mon Sep 26 11:54