Re-install OS over factory install?

I have read in various places that some users like to wipe the drive on a new computer and re-install the OS from the Restore disks. They seem to think that they have fewer or no problems compared to a factory install.
I am expecting a new Mac and am wondering, is this a myth or does it have merit?
BC

On that same note, others think piecemeal migration after booting the machine the first time and creating an admin user account is the way to go. Not so. Best is to hook up your old machine or a bootable backup/clone on an ext FWHD and use the Setup Assistant to do the migration. Precludes a host of permissions issues arising from the first method. Details in the booklet that accompanies the machine. Also, for more on this, see http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=11071897 for more.

Similar Messages

Singleton pattern over Factory pattern

What is the difference between the Factory and Singleton pattern.
Can we use a singleton (pattern) class to create other object instances and return them.
What are the advantages and disadvantages for using the Singleton pattern here.
Or do we have to use only a factory (pattern) class to do the above type of task.

The Factory pattern and the Singleton pattern are used to achieve different things. That's not to say they can't be used together. A Singleton pattern is used to force the use of a single instance of a class, hence the name. The Factory pattern is used to determine at runtime what class will be used.

Required Clean install on recent Macbook

Could not install Leopard over factory installed tiger on two month old macbook. Rquired HD reformat. Backed up on ipod first. Apple rep directed which stuff to backup. Two reboots after re-format to successful install. Now re-installing apps, data and settings. Frustrating experience. Rep explained that new file system was required to allow repartition on the fly. Could not explain why such a young system required a re-format.
You should set aside a lot of time for this upgrade. I hope it is stable. You can't even get thorugh to apple now. Good thing I called earlier! I guess Que is full as they must be completely overwhelmed by users like me who have bought themselves a clean install. In fact, I am not going to install on any of my other family mac. Perhaps a patch will appear to obviate the pain.
Message was edited by: pauldg

Follow these instructions step by step to prepare a Mac for sale:
First, back up the data:
1. Shut down all Virtual PCs. They cannot be in their "fast saved" state. They must be shut down from inside Windows.
2. Clone to an external drive using using Restore option of Disk Utility.
Next, prepare the machine for the new buyer:
3. Deauthorize the computer in iTunes! Deauthorize both iTunes and Audible accounts.
4. Remove Open Firmware passwords
5. Turn the brightness full up and volume nearly so.
Install a fresh OS:
6. Insert the OS X install CD/DVD.
7. Restart the computer while holding down the C key to boot from the CD/DVD.
8. Run Disk Utility from the file menu and erase the internal hard drive (optionally zero all data).
9. Install OS X.
10. Reboot the computer.
11. From the welcome screen, you can skip the registration step by typing command-Q.
12. When prompted, create an account (it will be an admin account).
13. From your new admin account, configure networking.
14. Then use Software Update to bring your system and all of it's applications up to date.
15. From Disk Utility, repair permissions on the new volume.
Now delete the account you just created:
16. Boot from a different volume (e.g. a firewire drive, if available)
17. Clean up the image using the following terminal commands:
prompt> rm /Volumes/<imagevol>/var/db/BootCache.playlist
prompt> rm /Volumes/<imagevol>/var/db/volinfo.database
prompt> rm -r /Volumes/<imagevol>/var/vm/swap*
18. Now you can get rid of the admin account you used to set up the machine Use the terminal:
prompt> nicl -raw /Volumes/<imagevol>/var/db/netinfo/local.nidb -delete /users/<admin>
prompt> rm -r /Volumes/<imagevol>/Users/<admin>
prompt> rm /Volumes/<imagevol>/var/db/.AppleSetupDone
19. Shut down and ship it to your buyer. When they get it, it will boot to the Welcome screen just like a factory Mac, except that it's better because it's completely up to date.

3rd party install Vista over XP, Return to factory default?

3rd party installed Vista over XP on a T60. Is there a way to return to factory default through ThinkVantage? Tried holding down ThinkVantage button at startup, but only gets me into Bios, no thinkvantage software. Ideas?

1. Make sure your Recovery Partition is still alive. This can be checked through Disk Management. If the partition is still alive, make it active and reboot. You can now get to ThinkVantage Rescue and Recovery
2. If it fails, you need the Product Recovery Media. If you don't have one, you will need to get one form Lenovo Support.

I have the iPhone 4, recently installed ios6 now my phone constantly turns itself off, keeps freezing and then 2 or 3 times in the space of 24hrs it has to be restored to factory settings. This has gone on for over a week.

I have the iPhone 4, recently installed ios6 now my phone constantly turns itself off, keeps freezing and then 2 or 3 times in the space of 24hrs it has to be restored to factory settings. This has gone on for over a week.

If all basic troubleshooting has been tried and a restore as new does not resolve, take it to Apple for evalation and possible replacement.

Satellite U840W PSU5XA - Win 8.1 installation and effective SSD usage

Hello.
Im hoping for a solution to two issues.
The second I suspect is caused by the first.
Satellite U840W PSU5XA-001006
Started to receive BSOD with various faults.
Most persistant was IRQ LESS or not EQUAL- iaStorAV.sys
Many hours of searching and I cannot locate a solution nor post that actually has the "AV" extension on on iaStore.sys.....
So, i factory resetted, and various other issues (BSOD's) persisted.
So, I Clean installed Windows 8.1 straight over everything and deleted all previous files.
I noticed the system was not running any factory TOSHIBA Branded utilities etc. and seemed to be a lot slower. I suspected that this was caused due to the 32GB SSD used for Cache had now seemingly been bi-passed and everything was now strictly running off the 500GB HDD. I dont recall BSOD's but the system was significantly slower on boot and performance.
Sooooo, (SIGH), I again reset back to factory settings and this gave me back TOSHIBA branded utilities such as service station and the like.
HOWEVER, The BSOD's remained and once upgrading to windows 8.1 KEEPING files and settings, the iaStorAV.sys error has returned (specifically when closing lid into sleep mode) forcing CRITICAL error and forcing system into reboot instead of awakening from sleep.
Note: Windows is a legit MS copy so that isnt the issue either. Even stranger is that the 8.1 instal had been running at least 8 months no issue prior to sudden BSOD Page file and iaStorAV errors. Readings and posts have me believing MS Updates to bee the culprit here for the beginning of these issues.
I read a similar post regarding enabling RAID CACHE PRIOR to Windows 8.1 install. My intuition tells me that these two may just be related. i.e. If windows has not installed RAID CACHE properly, then CACHE isnt being strored correctly and causing BSOD's. Im a newbie at this stuff, so be patient.....
What I really want to know is, How can I now Factory Reset Windows 8, making positive the 32GB is being used as CACHE and assisting fastboot etc, then safely upgrade to Windows 8.1?
Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.
THINGS ALSO ATTEMPTED: IRST and RAID re-Install, Memory Diagnostic (Passed), BIOS Upgrade to 6.70, Rapid Storage Drivers re-installed
Thanks ahead of time,
Mr Frustrated............

Ok, well, its been a while and no-one had really come up with a solid solution. But thank you JakieStewart for the RST information.
Note: Updating RST drivers alone, failed....
However, I have been able to work around the issue in a way:
I have lost the ability to use the SSD as a cache, which really annoys me, as all the reboots, and suggestions i have read, re-installs etc proved flawed in some way or another.
So, I have instead chosen to clean install windows 8.1 then followed a post relating to Diskpart and setting SSD hibernation partition.
A link to consider would be http://download.intel.com/support/motherboards/desktop/sb/rapid_start_technology_user_guide.pdf
However i followed a somewhat abbreviated version.
Conclusion:
1. Now I can close the lid on my U840W (INTO SLEEP or HIBERNATION Mode and not get a "System Thread Exception iaStorAV.sys error because I have 1. Reluctantly Clean Installed Windows 8.1 over factory image and 2. now created a >Hibernation Partition< on the SSD
Even though SSD Cache may no longer be available, creating this Hibernation Partition assists with Rapid START Technology and the associated iaStorAV.sys type errors
You can find your Toshiba Rapid Store Technology Drivers for your model here:
https://downloadcenter.intel.com/search?keyword=Intel%C2%AE+Rapid+Storage+Technolog y+%28Intel%C2%AE+RST%29
2. I no longer have the option to use the SSD as a cache, but overall my system runs a lot better now
3. The SSD is not visible in explorer (which it never was under the original settings anyway)
3. Downside: I can no longer boot or reset back to original Toshiba factory settings and can only recover from the new recovery disk (USB) i have made.
I have now also downloaded and stored on a USB all the original TOSHIBA U840W Drivers from http://www.mytoshiba.com.au/support/computers/ultrabook/u840w/psu5xa-001006/download?os=30
If like me, you clean install windows 8.1 I highly suggest getting your drivers downloaded locally so that you don't have to keep going back to Toshiba or Intel unless updates are required.
4. Note: Make note to set the BIOS Hibernation mode to "Immediately" if you choose to go this route as per the instructions on the Intel Link
5. Change "Toshiba Power Options" to make sure that closing Lid send laptop into Sleep or Hibernation (Both work) Do this by searching for "power options' in windows charm search and >select power plan >Change power plan settings >Change Advanced Power Settings >Power Button and Lid >selecting either Sleep or Hibernation (both work as i said earlier)
ON THE PRO SIDE: My HDD boot from total Shutdown State time is "about" 50 seconds but more significantly, closing the lid into sleep keeps my work available again, and takes 9.5 seconds to boot from sleep into usable actions!!!!
So despite losing SSD Cache, I now know a lot more about my computer, and the sleep function and Hibernation work supremely well.
I hope someone finds this thread useful...
Shane
Laslty, it is sooooo strange how this all happened overnight with the iaStora.sys; iaStorAV.sys iaStora.sys errors...and how restoring back to previous states didn't work, and how it seemingly corrupted even the Flash Stored Cache settings and Operating System! At least I now understand my computer better and luckily this didn't occur during previous Diploma studies. Phew.....
Message was edited by: shaner1

Computer Crashes when rendering movies...HELP PLEASE!!!

Hi,
Ill keep this as short and sweet as possible to anyone willing to help me out here...I built a computer to play games on (i.e. battlfield bad company 2 and call of duty 4 modern warfare) and i also built it to edit movies (currently using CS4). It rarely crashes while playing games but it seems like whenever i try to render any length of movie in CS4 it crashes, the temp with the case open while rendering will get to about 50C (which i know is pretty dang hot) and it doesnt take long to get there and usualy my computer crashes by than. Normal running temp is around 31C and even playing games it might reach 44C but not past. I do a little bit of overclocking and have my rig set up to about 20% over factory settings as far as CPU and RAM (but even on stock settings CS4 still crashes). My computer tower is a LAN box (BGears 'b-envi') and although i know its not really the best case for optimal air flow i really like the small box and mATX mobo combo because its easy to transport back and forth with a decent amount of power. Im thinking the CPU is bottle necking the system and was considering upgrading to a quad core q9450 or something in that general area so later on down the road i can switch over too Windows 7 with XP mode. Any suggestions? My budget is about $250 as of right now possibly a little more. Oh and i guess i should also ask, is CS4 compatible with Windows 7 XP Mode?
My current build includes
LAN Box: BGears 'b-envi'
Mobo: ASUS P5KPL-CM
PSU: Thermal Take Evo Blue Series 750W
O.S.: MS Windows XP Home 32-bit SP3
CPU: Intel Pentium E5200
Ram: DDR2 OCZ2RPR10662G x 2 (4gb) w/ bios setting i was able to open up to 3.5gb of usable ram @ 482MHz and 5-5-5-15 (which i believe is stock timings)
Graphics Card: XFX ATI Radeon HD 4870 (1024 mb)
HDD #1: WD2000JD - (contains my games, programs and O.S.)
HDD #2: WD2502ABYS - (about to phase this out to another WD5000BEKT for a tad bit more space for video storage)
HDD #3: WD5000BEKT - (i store my songs and pictures on this one as of right now)
Eventually i want to rebuild this set-up with a ASUS Gene III x58 mATX mobo and an i920 with 3x2gb RAM and possibly a pair of 5800 series ATI cards and a go liquid cool, but that probably wont happen till summer of 2011.
P.S. i dont know if the resolution matters for rendering purposes but i am running it at 1920x1080 on a 50" sony Bravia.
Thanks in Advanced for any help...

Alright so i was dinking with it today and switched some settings in CS4 such as Optimizing rendering for memory rather than performance ( i noticed it went from rendering 1 frame a second to 3-5 frames a second and in some cases more reducing my overall time significantly) i also adjusted my virtual memory to 2048mb (not sure if it did much) and now it doesnt crash on me or hasnt yet and i have been rendering and encoding for at least 4 hours now. Ill download Prime95 again and see what happens and ill post pictures of the temps in a bit. I currently have Piriform Speccy and thats how i was delivering those previous temps. not sure how accurate they are but figured as long as you stick with one temp. reader youll know if there is any significant increase or decrease (but do correct me if i am wrong). My CPU temp still runs about 50C when encoding or rendering anything, As far as aftermarket fan on CPU goes i am very limited to height space where my CPU currently sits on the Mobo due to the Case and the OEM fan just barely fits under the frame rail, but i did however buy an aftermarket fan, it looks like the OEM fan but it claims to run at a higher RPM and suppose to be a lot quieter, not sure what RPM it runs at but i have my bios setup for performance mode and it runs the fan at or close too max RPM (bought it about half a year ago and threw the box away) but i did notice it kept the CPU a little bit cooler and alot quieter than the OEM fan did.
I guess my question to everyone was would it be practical and/or would i notice a significant increase in rendering and encoding times by buying a quad core or should i wait about 6 months and upgrade to an i7? Ill check into CS4 as to whether or not it is supported by W7 XP mode too, but assuming it is whats your take?
again thanks for your comments and inputs and ill try and have the temps. posted by tonight...

Need a good flash video camera for use with my Mac...Suggestions?

I have been looking at these things for weeks, and have heard remarks about different cameras not converting over to a mac very well. There is so much noise out there about different Cameras. At this point, I think I have it narrowed down that I want one with removeable/replaceable memory cards, and an HD Model. Looking to spend not much over a grand for a basic starter kit (bag, filters, lens covers, chargers, etc) and camera with a 2 year over factory warrantee, with ample memory. I am driving Cross-country with my brother who is getting out of the military and want to be able to make use of the footage I get. I want a good camera that I can easily make work with the Mac editing programs without having to purchase a bunch of extraneous programs, etc.
Suggestions?

I have the Panasonic HDC-SD5 and it works well.
Be sure to pick a camera off this list:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1014

Can't do factory restore & only disks that keep ejecting are the osx install and apps disks

First of all let me say, this is my first Apple computer and I'm not experienced in forums. Please do not read rudeness into what is actually frustration at searching forever for a solution and trying not to wish I had been talked into an Apple. With that said....
I've had my iMac for about a year and a half. We had lost our internet and were using a hotspot for awhile so we could look for another provider and get online if we needed to. One day I signed on and, we didn't have an isp mind you, but the browser opened up to the dominant isp in this area saying a virus was detected coming from this iMac address? I thought that was strange and panicked so decided to do what I would on a pc, just restore the whole thing to factory settings. Everything was going smooth, (my updates were at 10.6.8 at the time)... when I restored I was back at 10.6.2. (osx disk) I was doing systems updates and one apparently hung.... when told to restart, I did... but the computer would never boot back up. It would turn on.... go to gray screen... then blue screen... then shut off. I couldn't boot in safe mode, pram reset did nothing, smc reset did nothing, couldn't hold 'd' to get to diagnostics, couldn't boot to recovery... it kept spitting out disks after trying to read them... with all those solutions I found online and nothing helping I had to call Apple... they couldn't help over the phone because Apple Care expired, unless I purchased help... this frustrated me because every where I found my problem and a different solution their Apple Care had expired too.... so had to set an appt at an Apple store.
So took it in to Apple, just got it back yesterday. I let them know I was restoring to factory settings so wasn't worried about losing anything. When I picked it up, I was told no charge... it was a software issue they saw where it hung and fixed it. I tried to ask questions about the 'software repair' but they didn't seem to want to answer my questions. It just says 'software repair' on my order. So I asked 'okay, so it's back to factory settings like when I bought it?' I was told yes and I said great that was my goal anyway. I get home and it's NOT like when I first purchased it or like a factory restore. Everything I was doing before it crashed is on there. So I'm back to trying to do a factory restore. But for some reason now, it seems the only disks that keep self ejecting are the osx install and application disks. I still can't do a boot recovery, AHT, or 'c' boot... since the apple disks eject I can't use start up to get to them.
I find it odd that both the oxc install disk and applications disk would be damaged at the same time when they both previously worked. I called the Apple Store where I took it to talk to the geniuses that worked on it because I had a question about the repair they did....
Apple: I'm sorry we don't offer tech support
Me: I understand but I had a question about the repair done from there the other day
Apple: We are just a store and can't answer tech questions
Me: I understand and get that but since I took my mac to your store to be worked on I thought I could ask the person that worked on it a question about the 'software repair' and meaning and what software was repaired
Apple: No you will have to set another apt to bring your computer in if you are still having problems
Me: UGHHHHHH (pulling hair out)
So (a little late huh?) to make a long story short giving what I stated above:
Why is it, only the osx install and application disks not working now? They worked before taking it to Apple
What can I do at this point?
Can you do a factory restore without disks on a Mac?
If by chance both disk did for some reason go out, how do I get them replaced?
If I gave TMI without enough important info let me know.
My OS X install disk says version 10.6.2 on it
About this Mac currently says Mac OS X version 10.6.8
Batteries died on keyboard and mouse so am using usb wired keyboard and mouse
At some point I had used bootcamp and then later found parallels so I could install a Corel product and keep using... could some windows files be messing something up in there somewhere?
It used to say Mac OS X Version 10.6.8 and I could have sworn I saw it said 'snow leopard' in there somewhere, now I can't even find that word in search on the computer. Long post I know but trying to set what was going on at the time I took it in.
I'm not sure what else needs to be added to get this to the correct thread or help. As I stated my goal is to have it like I just pulled it out of the box for the first time so no solution will scare me off about loss of data.
Thanks for any help.

Wow, sorry to hear of your experience. Seems strange that your disk would just eject like they did. It could be a lot of things but more than likely you just kind of have to start all over.
What I would do is insert your system disk and instead of going immediately to an install I would go to disk utility and erase the drive. That will erase everything on the disk and give you a new blank disk to start with. After that I would try to reinstall the system. Assuming that goes well then you should be restored to where it was when you purchased it. After that you can reinstall all your applications or personal files. I hope you have good backups.
I remember one time I was having a similar problem and don't ask my why I did it but I actually could not get it to install a system. I removed both of my ram sticks, shut the computer down for about 10 minutes including unplugging it from the wall plug, then reinstalled the ram, plugged it back in and started up from the system disk and all worked just fine. To this day I have no idea if pulling the ram helped but I have never had to do it since and for some dumb reason that solved the problem I was having, which is the same problem you are having now. Call it voodoo but it worked.
Good Luck!!
Message was edited by: Al Van Malsen

Vista will not boot/install after performing a restore to factory settings on satellite l305

I have a satellite l305 that i bought new thru walmart.com about a year & a half ago, and for the past few months it seems like there are more & more issues with this pc that are causing it not to work properly-everything from drivers failing-or even disappearing, in some cases-to crashing into a blue screen everytime i insert a micro sd card into the slot.. My sound drivers are gone & even after i THOUGHT i downloaded them again, they still won't install or even recognize that they are there and then yesterday it suddenly stopped being able to fully load some of my fave games that i play daily.. I have tried EVERY SINGLE SUGGESTION in EVERY article, forum, help site, etc.,that i could find & even tried to get help over the phone from a pc tech here locally, and nothing has been able to fix my issues. I have done so many system restores from so many different restore points, installed updates, uninstalled updates, tried to install new drivers, rolled back drivers, started in safe mode to do diagnostics checks, entered BIOS & checked EVERY setting, reset all settings to default, checked error logs, etc., etc., etc...I have even completely disassembled my entire laptop & checked all wiring, fuses, etc., made sure everything was working, etc., So, finally yesterday I decided that it's gotta be something to do with a tech issue-probably with my vista home premium OS that came pre-installed at purchase, so i thought it best to just go ahead & go into the back up & restore & back up all my files onto an external hd using the file transfer wizard option inside the restore center, and then proceed into restoring the pc to it's factory, or "out of box", state. And i assumed i covered my bases by saving the back up-just in case...ohhh no-not the case at all!
It did't even occur tp me to that i might need an actual BOOT disk for vista after the fact. I just assumed that "out of box" meant just how it originally came-WITH vista pre-installed & ready to set up-like it did the day i bought it! i also was under the assumption that, isnce it never asked for a product key or anyting to activate vista then, that it wouldn't need one now either. But anyway, so this is where i'm at now-after i did the factory restore & turned it back on, it said to wait while windows finishes installing-but it never finished, then finally about an hour later, it said that windows was unexpectedly interrupted during installation & did not complete, and for me to restart pc to try install again. But after i did that, it was the same thing over & over. it NEVER installs!
So then i decided to go ahead & "restore windows using back up image" that i created on my external hd prior to the factory restore, thinking that it would just kinda pu **bleep** all back, but thats not working either. it recognizes the drive, and takes me to a menu where i can actually even view all the files on the drive and even tho they are known by my pc to be back up files, it still won't associate them to being back up files to MY PC!! I even got desperate enough to find a site that claimed to offer a free vista boot disk in the form of an iso image that i burned onto cd & tried to boot from as well. That actually took me to an install screen for windows & all the way to where it asks for product key-which DID NOT come locatedon any sticker anywhere on my laptop, and because they DID NOT include any OS utility, install, or boot disks with the purchase of my laptop, i don't know what the product key is OR where else i might be able to find that info, and i WILL NOT pay for ANOTHER ONE, just because they were too lazy or cheap to send the disks with the pc! so i tried to skip this step till later, but when i skip it, it shows anpther error saying that install was terminated & could not finish install & if i wish to continue, for me to restart my pc & re-attempt install..WHAT IS GOING NE WITH THIS AND WHAT CAN I POSSIBLY DO TO JUST BE ABLE TO USE MY LAPTOP AGAIN?? HELP ME PLEASE SOMEONE!!

Hi,
I do not really understand... Did you made a backup before restore to factory settings? And did you copy all backup files to an external device? If not, the data is gone!
Why? Restoryng to factory does not mean a reinstallation. It means to fill the whole harddisk with an image of the first (factory) installation. All other data will be destroyd! Other partitions are deleted and normally you find only one big partition - the whole hdd.
If you have a complete backup on external drive and it is corrupted during restore, try to open the files manually. Maybe you can restore some single files.
Good luck
kind regards
Stefan

How do I install Snow Leopard over 10.5.8

I have just recently acquired a MacBookPro from a friend of mine who's father has passed away. I am able to access the computer without a password but the admin is still set to his father and he doesn't know the password. I have the Snow Leopard OS and want to do a clean install like it came from the factory with no personalization. This is the first time I have owned a MacBookPro so I am unsure how to do a clean install of Snow Leopard over the exiting OS 10.5.8 and if I have to delete that OS first. How do I do that?

Insert a retail DVD, restart with the C key held down, use the Disk Utility to erase the internal drive, and install Snow Leopard.
While the retail DVD can be used to create a fully functional OS, it can’t perform a true factory restore; it won’t install any of the iLife applications.
(111513)

How do I bring my 3 year old macbook pro back to "factory new" condition but install my Mt. Lion from a flashdrive?

I have a mid 2009 MacBook Pro with Mt. Lion installed, but I have accumulated so many files that I would like to start over with a fresh machine, but using Mt. Lion which I have on a flash drive. I am not worried about backup because my important files are on dropbox. I just can't seem to get to the point where the machine is like new. Do I have to start with the old original OS X install disks?

Well Factory New would be with the original version of OS X.
What you want is a Clean install of ML.
Boot from the flash drive that has the ML install files on it. Open Disk Utility and Erase the Macintosh HD partition. Exit out of DU and select Rinstall Mac OS X. When it is done you wil have a clean fresh copy of ML installed.

I installed hotspot shield on my 2009 macbook pro and all **** has broken loose on my computer in my attempts to rid my system of the app. Restoring to factory settings seems the only viable option. How do I do this?

I purchased the elite version of Hotspot Shield VPN only to found it is a wothless scam that drags down your computer. Unfortuantley its been nothing but a nightmare to get it out of my computer. Spents over a week combing through threads on what to do and amy ahve done more damage than anything else. It would appear that restoring my computer to its factory settings is the best thing in my current situation. Ive already lost all my photos and everything else of relevance, at least I hope, I have backed up in on an external disk. Could someone please guide me through this process? i just want to be done with this horribly frustrating situation. Thank you!

Hey jollygreen666,
If you're ready to do a full restore on your computer, this is how you should go about it.
http://support.apple.com/kb/PH14243 - Erase and Install
1. Power down your computer.
2. Boot your computer holding either Command + R or Option. If you hold option you should see Macintosh HD and Recovery HD. Click on Recovery HD and press the arrow underneath to boot to recovery. If you hold Command + R you will go straight into recovery.
3. To do a clean install, in the list of utilities, click Disk Utility. In disk Utility, you will see Macintosh HD or whatever you have named your hard drive.
4. Click on Macintosh HD, and you'll see tabs along the top of disk utility. Press the Erase tab.
5. For the Format box, select Mac OS X Extended (Journaled). In the name box you can leave Macintosh HD.
6. Press Erase in the bottom right corner.
At this point you will have a blank hard drive, and you will be able to reinstall Mavericks clean without any extra data. To do so you would:
1. Exit Disk Utility.
2. In the menu, select Reinstall Mac OS X.
3. Follow the prompts to reinstall OS X, and when it asks you where you want to install it, press Macintosh HD.
This will leave you with a clean install of Mavericks.
Since you don't know how deep this software has gone, I would suggest you manually migrate your data back over from your external hard drive to prevent files from the software from showing up again.
Good luck!

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 ?

Installed latest softward for my ipad 2 and now it want's me to connect to iTunes and restore to factory settings!? What do I do? I can't access the iPad2 other than a screen that shows a plug being inserted into the iTunes logo.

So I saw that my software needed to be updated, so I did it over wifi, then a picture with the plug being inserted into the iTunes logo appears on the screen when finished the install. I plug my iPad 2 into the connector and iTunes sees the iPad 2 connected. Then a window opens that says to restore to use iTunes. I click restore and a second message appears stating something to the effect "Are you sure you want to restore to factory setting all info will be lost."
NO I don't want to loose everything.
My iPad only powers on with the image of a cord pugging into the iTunes logo. I can't get past it and I don't want to restore the iPad 2 to factory settings.
What do I do?
Any help would be appreciated.
Frank

Using iPhone/iPad Recovery Mode
http://ipod.about.com/od/iphonetroubleshooting/a/Iphone-Recovery-Mode.htm
 Cheers, Tom

Re-install OS over factory install?

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