Return 2009 mac mini to factory settings without disk

Hello I just bought a used 2009 mac mini and it has programs and a partion I dont want command+R dose not work I dont think it has a recovery start up + command only shows one harddrive

If it's running Mavericks but has no Recovery HD, then you need to do the following:
Use a Snow Leopard retail DVD:
Clean Install of Snow Leopard
Be sure to make a backup first because the following procedure will erase
the drive and everything on it.
     1. Boot the computer using the Snow Leopard Installer Disc or the Disc 1 that came
         with your computer. Insert the disc into the optical drive and restart the computer.
         After the chime press and hold down the "C" key. Release the key when you see
         a small spinning gear appear below the dark gray Apple logo.
     2. After the installer loads select your language and click on the Continue
         button. When the menu bar appears select Disk Utility from the Utilities menu.
         After DU loads select the hard drive entry from the left side list (mfgr.'s ID and drive
         size.) Click on the Partition tab in the DU main window. Set the number of
         partitions to one (1) from the Partitions drop down menu, click on Options button
         and select GUID, click on OK, then set the format type to MacOS Extended
         (Journaled, if supported), then click on the Apply button.
     3. When the formatting has completed quit DU and return to the installer. Proceed
         with the OS X installation and follow the directions included with the installer.
     4. When the installation has completed your computer will Restart into the Setup
         Assistant. Be sure you configure your initial admin account with the exact same
         username and password that you used on your old drive. After you finish Setup
         Assistant will complete the installation after which you will be running a fresh
         install of OS X. You can now begin the update process by opening Software
         Update and installing all recommended updates to bring your installation current.
Download and install Mac OS X 10.6.8 Update Combo v1.1.
From here you can redownload Mavericks.

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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.

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.

How do I reset MacBook pro with lion back to factory settings without disk?

Good evening everyone,
I recently purchased a MacBook pro with lion installed and I need to reset it to factory settings without a disk. anyone know how to do this?

Restart it... and hold down command+R
then choose disk utility and format your disk
then choose reinstall lion
and it's back to default.
source of info: http://www.maclife.com/article/howtos/how_boot_lion%E2%80%99s_recovery_mode
apple way is most slam.
how u like me now?
i just did this right now and my system so so fresh and pure.

How do I restore Mac mini to factory settings?

I received a Mac mini from my mom & I want to wipe the entire unit & place my info on it and I'm not familiar with Macs. I could use a little help please

If it shipped with Mac OS X 10.6.8 or earlier, insert its original disk and restart the computer with the C key held down.
If it shipped with Mac OS X 10.7 or newer, restart with the Command and R keys held down.
Use the Disk Utility to erase the partition with Mac OS X installed, and then install a fresh OS onto it.
(98317)

Macbook Pro from 2011. Can I restore to factory settings without disk?

Hello I think I downloaded a virus on my mac. I dont have time machine so the only option I think I have is to restore my macbook but I dont think my macbook was baught with Lion. What are my options? P.s. My Model Identifier:
MacBookPro8,1

Hello I think I downloaded a virus on my mac.
Before you waste time restoring your computer to factory settings, what makes you believe you have a virus? Although Macs are not invulnerable, malware on the Mac is quite rare and most of it can't make it past the built-in defenses in Mac OS X. So, it's very unlikely that you have malware. Post a clear, concise description of the problems you're having.
Also, if you don't have backups, that needs to be your absolute top priority. Without backups, it's just a matter of time before all your data is irrevocably destroyed.

How to set iBook G4 back to factory settings without disk.

I'm about to sell my iBook G4. But I want it back to it's factory settings. I got told:
Turn off mac.
Restart and as soon as you see the white screen press;
Command and S.
Type in:
/sbin/fsck -fy
/sbin/mount -uw
rm /var/db/.AppleSetupDone
Reboot
but it doesn't reboot it. HELP!

You can't; that procedure will cause it to rerun the Setup Assistant, but it isn't an actual factory reset. If you want to use it anyway, use 'shutdown -h now' as the final command.
The computer shouldn't be sold without its original disks.
(72117)

Restore Macbook to Factory Settings Without Disk?

I have looked online to find out how to reset my laptop without the disk, except none of the solutions seem to work for someone with Leopard. I am about to sell my computer, and I want to erase everything off of the computer to make it like new (factory settings). Does anyone know how to do this on a Macbook running Leopard without using the disk?

You can't. If you don't have the disk, phone AppleCare and order a replacement; if desired, you can use a retail Mac OS X 10.6 DVD instead, but this isn't a true factory restore and won't install iLife.
(98239)

Need to revert to Factory Settings without disk.

Hi,
I have a friend (isn't that how they all start?) who has a new macbook pro and needs to reset to factory settings as she wants rid of the user IDs and names on the accounts. She has Snow Leopard but no disks (none were in her box).
How would I be able to revert to factory settings so she could access the computer as if it was new, without disks. Is there anywhere I can download such software?
Thank you
Jo
p.s. I would use my macbook pro and try to burn off a reset disk but I'm using Lion and thought this would cause even more issues. Thanks.

"She has Snow Leopard but no disks (none were in her box)."
Not probable. She either misplaced or lost the disks. She should get a replacement set by calling AppleCare. Then she can do what she intends and provide the disks to the new owner (which she is required to do). She can't use your disks.

My wife upgraded to a 32 gb ipod touch and I took her 8 gb. I want to reset mine to factory settings without messing with the stuff on hers. I assume because of icloud, every time I take something off of mine it comes off of hers too. Any help????

MY WIFE UPGRADED TO A 32GB AND PASSED HER 8GB ON TO ME. I WANT TO RESET MINE AND START FRESH BUT EVERYTIME I TAKE SOMETHING OFF MINE IT COMES OFF HERS AS WELL. HOW CAN I DO IT WITHOUT CLEARING HERS?

Connect the iPod to yur computer and restore to factory defaults/new iPod. You can also go to Settings>General>Erase all content and setting. Thge set up the iPod the way you want.
ALso, go to Settings>Store and turn off Automatic Downloads.

How can I reboot my Mac mini to factory settings. I want to save my iTunes folder and then reload it after the reboot. I am using OS X Mavericks.

Help please

What to do before selling or giving away your Mac
Or simply boot to the recovery partition and go to disk utility and reformat the HD and then reinstall the OS
OS X: About OS X Recovery

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

How do I restore my MacBook to it's factory settings, without it's original disc?

How do I restore my MacBook to it's factory settings, without it's original disc?

Eustace gave you the correct answer here - you cannot restore your Mac to its factory settings without its original DVDs or a retail copy of another Mac OS, such as Snow Leopard.
You can try calling Apple to request a replacement set of DVDs, but I believe that also comes at a cost.
If your Mac is running Lion (OS X 10.7), then I believe the Recovery HD is available to you and can be used to wipe the computer and start fresh.
However, if you are running 10.5 or 10.6, the Recovery HD is not present and you must use a DVD.
~Lyssa

Resetting a Mac mini to original factory settings without a disc.

I have a Mac mini that the previous owner did not erase all content. I was hoping to reset to factory settings without a disc. The on-line restore to factory settings seems to suggest that I need to enter an Apple ID. I have one, but I'm not the original owner. Will this still work even though I'm not the original owner?

I'm going to hijack this thread a little. I also have a 2012 Mac Mini that I wanted to wipe clean, I'm very confused because i keep getting different answers to these questions, especially at Apple Store
a) Purchased in Dec 2012, it did not come with disks, people keep saying "use the disks that came with it", what am I missing here ?
b) When I wipe it, does it go back to the original operating system (10.6 I think), or the latest I upgraded to (10.9.1) ?
c) Eventually, after it is wiped, it will have a new Apple ID, is this a problem (resale) ?
d) After it is wiped, it will not have any previous personal stuff (web, banking, settings, etc) ?
e) What is this process called, or how is it performed, so I can search intelligently online
Thanks

How to restore an early 2009 iMac running Mavericks back to factory settings without discs

Today I got an early 2009 iMac from a family member, I would like to restore it back to its factory settings as if I was setting up a brand new computer. He does not have the discs that were originally with the iMac when he first purchased it. It is currently running on Mavericks OSX. Is it possible for me to restore this computer back to factory settings without the discs?

No. Phone Apple and order replacements, or if you don't need iLife, buy a Mac OS X 10.6 DVD from the online Apple Store; the retail DVD can be used to create a bootable OS, but not to perform a true factory restore.
(113872)

Return 2009 mac mini to factory settings without disk

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