Should I delete everything on my macbook?

It's mostly just because it's been running slow, and I'm not sure if it's because of downloaded movies or streaming videos and stuff. And also I'm not sure if after having backed up my applications I'll be able to put them back on, like photoshop and whatnot.

I would certainly not suggest erasing everything on your hard drive as a first step, though it is possible it may be necessary eventually. Putting applications back on it fairly easy - just reinstall them from the original disks that they came on, or if they were downloads, download them again.
What version of the Mac operating system are you running? What were you doing when it was running slow? Does the behavior change depending on what you are doing? What applications are you typically running?
Do you have at least 15% of your hard drive free? One possibility is that you are running out of disk space so this is good to check.
Let us know, we will continue helping you.

Similar Messages

I have lion 10.7.5 installed if i update to 10.8 will it delete everything on my macbook?

i have lion 10.7.5 installed if i update to 10.8 will it delete everything on my macbook? i would buy it in the aple store but i have some stuff on my laptop i wish wouldnt be lost so would it delete anything or would it stay the same?

If you buy the Mt. Lion installer at the AppStore it will just upgrade the system on top of your current system and not erase your documents and other files.
But nevertheless, as with any major upgrade, make sure you have a current backup of your mac, before you upgrade. And be aware, that the upgrade is quite large - several GB. So you need to be on a reliable network with a fast and stable internet connection.
Upgrade all applications to the latest versions, while you are still running Lion.
Have you checked, if all applications you need are compatible with Mt. Lion?
See App Compatibility Table - RoaringApps.

The spinning "wheel of death" does NOT go away! I've loaded too much stuff on my computer (including the entire Adobe CS6 software) and I want to delete everything on my macbook pro and start over? How do I clean everything up without buying MacKeeper?

I use my MacBook Pro (Late 2009) for EVERYTHING and I have loaded so many apps, even doubles of some, I think!   My computer is running really SLOW and I think it is because I don't have enough memory.
I just installed the new Adobe CS6 and that was a BIG mistake. The spinnning wheel of death doesn't stop! I wish I could load that program on my computer so I can use it "on the go", but I can't stand the spinning wheel!
I want to clean up my computer and get rid of EVERYTHING on it!!     Then, re-install the factory settings to run Lion. I believe this will make the wheel stop spinning.
However, how do I make sure that all of the extra stuff that is attached to the app, ( including all the cache') is deleted too?   I don't want to have to buy MacKeeper!
I am hoping the computer wizards or the apple team can give me an answer on how to clean up everything and start over. I have saved everything on my desktop mac.

Thank you so much for the help! I had heard bad things about MacKeeper and I don't want to screw up my macbook any more than it already is! I will do as you suggest. Do you believe this is the best solution for the problem I described?
Should I load my Adobe Creative Suite 6 (in the cloud version) on an external hard drive?
I am so tired of this spinning wheel....should I avoid putting the CS6 on my macbook pro altogether?
I have it on my desk top mac, but wanted to be able to take the photo editing with me when I am "out and about". I know I should probably buy the ipad, which would transport much easier, but even the ipad probably doesn't have the capacity to hold all the Adobe CS6 apps, correct?

Is there an easy way to securely delete everything on my macbook PRO except for the OS and applications? Giving my old Macbook to a family member.

Is there an eay way to securely erase all information on my macbook Pro except for the OS and applicatios? I'm donating my computer but want to eliiminate my files and info.

Yes, boot to your install disk (start up while holding C key). Go to Utilities>Disk Utility. Choose erase and format your disk (make sure it's formatted as Mac OSX extended journaled). There's is a button for security options. Choose the 0 option (don't choose the multiple pass versions, or it will take forever, but that's extra security). The 0 option writes a 0 in every location on the drive, and it takes a few hours. It would take CIA or highly skilled hacker abilities to dig out any information.
Once you wipe the disc, reinstall OSX. You're done.

I recently changed my MacBook Pro password, and now I don't remember it. Is there anyway to gain access to my mac without reinstalling or deleting everything that's on it? I don't have the disk that came with it either.

Hi. I recently changed my MacBook Pro password, and now I don't recall what it is. My hope is that I can somehow gain access without deleting everything currently on it. I do not have the MAC disk that it came with. Is there something I can do myself? Should I take it to the MAC store? Thanks in advance for your help.

It helps with this kind of question to state which system version you are using on the computer as the answer will vary.
Mac OS X: Changing or resetting an account password - http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1274 - resetting password on regular and administrator accounts if you have the installer disc (OSX 10.1-10.6.8) or AppleID (OSX 10.7-10.8) [Of course Apple has changed this document since I asaved the link so it is no longer useful for newer system versions. ]
Reset administrator password in Lion - https://discussions.apple.com/message/16460076
Reset a Mac OS X 10.7 Lion Password - http://osxdaily.com/2011/08/24/reset-mac-os-x-10-7-lion-password/
Message was edited by: Limnos

Should I delete my old iPhoto Library Current folder once everything is transferred to Photos Library Current? Does this mean that all my new photos on any device can come off my Mac and ONLY be in the Photos Library which is in the cloud?

I have 2 questions about the new Photos app for Mac (I'm running 10.10.3 on my MacBook Air 1.8GHz Intel Core i5 mid 2012)):
1.Should I delete my old iPhoto Library Current folder once everything is transferred to Photos Library Current?
2. Does this mean that all my new photos on any device can come off my Mac and ONLY be in the Photos Library which is in the cloud? That would free 59GB off my Mac and that would be very good.

1.Should I delete my old iPhoto Library Current folder once everything is transferred to Photos Library Current?
You can, but I would wait, until you have have been working with Photos for some time and are sure, that everything migrated well. There may be hidden flaws in your library and teething problems with Photos. Don't be in a hurry to abandon iPhoto completely. You may need to go back, until bugs have been fixed. Th Photos Library does not duplicate the photos in your iPhoto Library. the media files are shared and do not need extra space: See: Photos saves disk space by sharing images with your iPhoto or Aperture libraries - Apple Support
2. Does this mean that all my new photos on any device can come off my Mac and ONLY be in the Photos Library which is in the cloud? That would free 59GB off my Mac and that would be very good.
If you have enough iCloud storage. But Photos will still need space for local thumbnails on all devices.
See: Apple - OS X - Photos Preview
Fill your library, not your device.
iCloud Photo Library can help you make the most of the space on your Mac. When you choose “Optimize Mac Storage,” all your full-resolution photos and videos are stored in iCloud in their original formats, with storage-saving versions kept on your Mac as space is needed. You can also optimize storage on your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch, so you can access more photos and videos than ever before. You get 5GB of free storage in iCloud — and as your library grows, you have the option to choose a plan for up to 1TB.

Purchased a MacBook Pro off someone and was wondering if there is a way to delete everything and start fresh?

I just purchased a MacBook Pro off of someone. They left a lot of their information on it, email, photos and all that. Is there an easy way to just delete everything on it and start fresh?

Before buying a second-hand computer, you should have run Apple Diagnostics or the Apple Hardware Test, whichever is applicable.
The first thing to do after buying the computer is to erase the internal drive and install a clean copy of OS X. You—not the original owner—must do that. Changes made by Apple over the years have made this seemingly straightforward task very complex.
How you go about it depends on the model, and on whether you already own another Mac. If you're not sure of the model, enter the serial number on this page. Then find the model on this page to see what OS version was originally installed.
It's unsafe, and may be unlawful, to use a computer with software installed by a previous owner.
1. If you don't own another Mac
a. If the machine shipped with OS X 10.4 or 10.5, you need a boxed and shrink-wrapped retail Snow Leopard (OS X 10.6) installation disc from the Apple Store or a reputable reseller—not from eBay or anything of the kind. If the machine is very old and has less than 1 GB of memory, you'll need to add more in order to install 10.6. Preferably, install as much memory as it can take, according to the technical specifications.
b. If the machine shipped with OS X 10.6, you need the installation media that came with it: gray installation discs, or a USB flash drive for a MacBook Air. You should have received the media from the original owner, but if you didn't, order replacements from Apple. A retail disc, or the gray discs from another model, will not work.
To start up from an optical disc or a flash drive, insert it, then restart the computer and hold down the C key at the startup chime. Release the key when you see the gray Apple logo on the screen.
c. If the machine shipped with OS X 10.7 or later, you don't need media. It should start up in Internet Recovery mode when you hold down the key combination option-command-R at the startup chime. Release the keys when you see a spinning globe.
d. Some 2010-2011 models shipped with OS X 10.6 and received a firmware update after 10.7 was released, enabling them to use Internet Recovery. If you have one of those models, you can't reinstall 10.6 even from the original media, and Internet Recovery will not work either without the original owner's Apple ID. In that case, contact Apple Support, or take the machine to an Apple Store or another authorized service provider to have the OS installed.
2. If you do own another Mac
If you already own another Mac that was upgraded in the App Store to the version of OS X that you want to install, and if the new Mac is compatible with it, then you can install it. Use Recovery Disk Assistant to prepare a USB device, then start up the new Mac from it by holding down the C key at the startup chime. Alternatively, if you have a Time Machine backup of OS X 10.7.3 or later on an external hard drive (not a Time Capsule or other network device), you can start from that by holding down the option key and selecting it from the row of icons that appears. Note that if your other Mac was never upgraded in the App Store, you can't use this method.
3. Partition and install OS X
a. If you see a lock screen when trying to start up from installation media or in Recovery mode, then a firmware password was set by the previous owner, or the machine was remotely locked via iCloud. You'll either have to contact the owner or take the machine to an Apple Store or another service provider to be unlocked. You may be asked for proof of ownership.
b. Launch Disk Utility and select the icon of the internal drive—not any of the volume icons nested beneath it. In the Partition tab, select the default options: a GUID partition table with one data volume in Mac OS Extended (Journaled) format. This operation will permanently remove all existing data on the drive.
c. An unusual problem may arise if all the following conditions apply:
          OS X 10.7 or later was installed by the previous owner
          The startup volume was encrypted with FileVault
          You're booted in Recovery mode (that is, not from a 10.6 installation disc)
In that case, you won't be able to unlock the volume or partition the drive without the FileVault password. Ask for guidance or see this discussion.
d. After partitioning, quit Disk Utility and run the OS X Installer. If you're installing a version of OS X acquired from the App Store, you will need the Apple ID and password that you used. When the installation is done, the system will automatically restart into the Setup Assistant, which will prompt you to transfer the data from another Mac, its backups, or from a Windows computer. If you have any data to transfer, this is usually the best time to do it.
e. Run Software Update and install all available system updates from Apple. To upgrade to a major version of OS X newer than 10.6, get it from the Mac App Store. Note that you can't keep an upgraded version that was installed by the original owner. He or she can't legally transfer it to you, and without the Apple ID you won't be able to update it in Software Update or reinstall, if that becomes necessary. The same goes for any App Store products that the previous owner installed—you have to repurchase them.
4. Other issues
a. If the original owner "accepted" the bundled iLife applications (iPhoto, iMovie, and Garage Band) in the App Store so that he or she could update them, then they're irrevocably linked to that Apple ID and you won't be able to download them without buying them. Reportedly, Mac App Store Customer Service has sometimes issued redemption codes for these apps to second owners who asked.
b. If the previous owner didn't deauthorize the computer in the iTunes Store under his Apple ID, you wont be able to authorize it immediately under your ID. In that case, you'll either have to wait up to 90 days or contact iTunes Support.
c. When trying to create a new iCloud account, you might get a failure message: "Account limit reached." Apple imposes a lifetime limit of three iCloud account setups per device. Erasing the device does not reset the limit. You can still use an iCloud account that was created on another device, but you won't be able to create a new one. Contact iCloud Support for more information. The setup limit doesn't apply to Apple ID accounts used for other services, such as the iTunes and Mac App Stores, or iMessage. You can create as many of those accounts as you like.

How come my macbook air has so little space. I deleted everything that I don't need and everything that has the most space I'm told NOT to delete. Everything I find is in either KB or very low MB.

How come my macbook air has so little space. I deleted everything that I don't need and everything that has the most space I'm told NOT to delete. Everything I find is in either KB or very low MB.

Check what is in your SSD/ storage on your macbook Apple Icon > about this mac > more info > STORAGE tab on top
recommend handy useful APPS such as :
Disk Expert
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/disk-expert/id488920185?mt=12
Disk Map
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/disk-map/id715464874?mt=12
dont need them, but theyre very useful.
also the best is DAISY DISK
https://itunes.apple.com/app/daisydisk/id411643860?mt=12&ign-mpt=uo%3D4
See here for answer about the OTHER which is taking up space:
http://pondini.org/TM/30.html
and here:
http://pondini.org/OSX/DiskSpace.html
See Kappys excellent note on the rest of “other” files taking up your space:
What is "Other" and What Can I Do About It?
see here:
Your Solid State Drive and having enough space inside your Macbook Air & Pro
Solid State Drive usage premise, or the “more space / upgrade SSD” question
There have been questions posed and positions taken by many people who are trying to use their Macbook Air or Pro’s solid state drive (SSD) as a mass media storage device, for either pictures, videos, massive music collections or all three combined; but this should not be the working premise of a ‘limited’ SSD and its use.
In which, it’s the case of those users with either 128GB, 256GB, or even 512GB of internal SSD space, that have or are running “out of space”, that questions are raised. The immediate premise of some users can sometimes be “(how to / if) upgrading my SSD” when in fact in nearly all instances another approach is the logical and sensible one that needs to be looked into and exercised.
Any Macbook containing a SSD should be idealized as a ‘working platform’ notebook containing all your applications, documents, and weekly or bi-weekly necessary files. All collections of media files such as pictures, music, and videos, unless directly needed should be kept off the notebook and on an external hard drive or likewise. While the ‘working platform’ premise is also the case with larger internal conventional hard drives of 1TB+, its implementation isn't as critical except in terms of data protection.
Realistically, you should at most coordinate roughly 20 to 25% of your total SSD space to all audio-video personal use media (picture / music / video collections), leaving the remaining amount on an external HD.
Nobody should consider any notebook a data storage device at any time under any circumstance, rather a data creation, sending, and manipulation device; and in the case of a SSD, this is more important for purposes of having sufficient working space on the SSD and reducing SSD ‘bloat’ in which cases someone is wrongly attempting to use the SSD space as a large media storage nexus.
The rare exception to the collective usage and premise of SSD use in which a much larger SSD is truly needed are for those in video and photography professions that require both the extremely fast speeds of the SSD and the onboard storage for large and or many video and photography files. However this also falls under the premise of a ‘working platform’ for such peoples rather than the intent of many who are using the SSD as passive and static data storage for media files very infrequently needed or accessed.
All on-notebook data collections should be logically approached as to necessity, and evaluated as to whether it is active or passive data that likely doesn’t need to be on the notebook, allocations of space-percentages to as-needed work and use, apportioning space for your entertainment media, and questioning whether it should it be on the notebook for more than short-term consumption.
Considerations should be made in the mind of any user in differentiating the necessary system data (System hub) comprising the Mac OSX, applications, necessary documents that both must and should be on your internal SSD, and that of the users personal data (Data hub) comprising created files, pictures, music, videos, PDF files, data created or being created and otherwise, that likely unless being used soon or often should be parked on an external hard drive for consumption, or temporarily loading onto the internal SSD.
You both can and should purchase whichever SSD size you need or see fit, but even in the case of the largest of SSD, unless use-considerations are made, and SSD spaces are allocated as should be the case indicated above, one can easily and immediately run into this quandary of “needing more internal SSD space”, in which instance a different approach in usage must then be implemented.
However it is almost always the case, that such large media files are wanted to be stored internally rather than actually needed, in which case the external HD is both prudent as well as necessary. Additionally costs per MB are infinitely less on an external HD than an internal SSD in any consideration of data expansion needs.
A Professional Example
In the case of a Macbook Air or Macbook Pro Retina with ‘limited’ storage on the SSD, this distinction becomes more important in that in an ever rapidly increasing file-size world, you keep vital large media files, pics, video, PDF collections, music off your SSD and archived on external storage, for sake of the necessary room for your system to have free space to operate, store future applications and general workspace.
You should also never be put in the position of considering “deleting things” on your Macbook SSD in order to ‘make space’. This is especially what your external HD is for.
Professionals who create and import very large amounts of data have almost no change in the available space on their notebooks internal SSD because they are constantly archiving data to arrays of external or networked HD.
Or in the case of the consumer this means you keep folders for large imported or created data and you ritually offload and archive this data for safekeeping, not only to safeguard the data in case your Macbook has a SSD crash, or gets stolen, but importantly in keeping the ‘breathing room’ open for your notebook to operate, expand, create files, add applications, for your APPS to create temp files, and for general operation.
Slim USB3 1TB external hard drive
External Hard Drives
External hard drives are both extremely cheap and regardless of the size of your internal SSD (or even internal hard drive if the case), you need an external hard drive with your SSD equipped Macbook for several reasons:
1. Data backup and protection.
2. Redundancy for important data.
3. Necessitated ideal space for large media files for collections of pictures, videos, and music etc.
While ever changing in price, typical portable 2.5” external hard drives in USB3 run roughly $65 for 1TB or $120 for 2TB small portable USB3 hard drives. Such drives range in thickness between 5mm and 15mm, with recent improvements in storage of 500GB drives in 5mm profiles.
There is almost no premise in which a small 12mm thick 1 Terabyte USB hard drive cannot be taken along with any Macbook as an external large storage extension inside any Macbook carry case or pouch. Typically such external HD profiles are not much bigger than a deck of cards.
External hard drives are a foregone necessity for purchase with any Macbook for at the very least Time Machine backups, data redundancies, and ideally for large media storage.

I want to factory reset my MacBook Pro to delete EVERYTHING in there and start from scratch but it won't work! HELPP!

I have a MacBook Pro and I have A LOT of files in there which I don't need anymore. And it's too much to sit and do it one by one so I want to completely reset it to factory settings. I tried booting it from the OS X CD by holding C during startup but it won't work. It just gets stuck on the white or gray screen with the apple logo. Nothing else. I'm assuming that it's because the software version on the Mac is 10.6.8 but the boot disk I'm using is 10.6.3? But I'm not sure.
I also tried booting the CD with holding the option key and choosing the disk, same problem.
Opening Disk Utility while regularly logged in, won't let me delete.
Also tried changing the setting of what to boot in on startup, still gets frozen on the apple logo.
Please what can I do to fix this and delete everything?
Thank you in advance!

Clean Install of Snow Leopard
     1. Boot the computer using the Snow Leopard Installer Disc. 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, set the format type to Mac
         OS Extended (Journaled, if supported), then click on the Partition 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.

Just baked up my macbook pro to an external hard drive. my computer died on me and i plugged it in and rebooted it ,started time machine and finished backing up but. just wondering if thats good or should i delete and restart

just baked up my macbook pro to an external hard drive. my computer died on me and i plugged it in and rebooted it ,started time machine and finished backing up but. just wondering if thats good or should i delete and restart

I wouldn't trust that backup.
Make sure the system is connected to AC and Do Over.

Got the new MAcBook Air with Lion, and would like to sell the previous model. How do I delete everything?

Hi guys.
I got the all new MacBook Air 11" with Lion yesterday, and would like to sell the previous model (it was with SnowLeopard).
What do I have to do to delete everything, including my account? Do I need the SuperDrive or is it possibile without one?
Thanks!

Erase and Install OSX Snow Leopard http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3910
And yes, you need the SuperDrive for this.
Stefan

How do i delete everything off of my macbook air?

How do I delete everything off of my MacBook Air?

If you are wanting to remove data before selling or giving away your Mac, the following may help: http://support.apple.com/kb/ht5189

How can I delete everything off of my MacBook Pro 2009?

How can I delete everything off of my MacBook Pro 2009? I am selling it. If I reset to factory settings I will lose all the updates and I don't have those disks anymore! need to do ASAP! Please help!
Best Rgards

Take a look at this:
http://www.thesafemac.com/how-to-prepare-your-mac-for-sale/
Ciao.

How can I sync my iPhone on my macbook air without deleting everything on my iPhone, How can I sync my iPhone on my macbook air without deleting everything on my iPhone

How can I sync my iPhone on my macbook air without deleting everything on my iPhone, How can I sync my iPhone on my macbook air without deleting everything on my iPhone

The application ITunes presumes that the information, data, music, etc in its database is the correct master. In doing so, it will overwrite and replace any information previously on the phone. You probably will want to transfer the iTunes data directory from it's original location (presumably the system yoiu used to sync with your iPhone previously), the the new system.
If your iPhone has data from a different Apple ID, than the ID you will use on the new notebook, then be prepared to lose the data on the phone if you sync. It's meant to work that way.

HT1766 How do you sync an iphone with itunes on a new MacBook Pro without deleting everything on your iPhone? It is the iPhone 4.

How do you sync an iphone 4 with itunes on a new MacBook Pro without deleting everything on your iPhone 4 if it was previously syned on a PC?

Follow the steps listed here under the section titled "External Drive". Once you find the location of the iTunes Media folder you can transfer it over a netork connection, rather than using an external drive.
How to move your music to a new computer: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4527?viewlocale=en_US

Should I delete everything on my macbook?

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