HELP: Prepping a Mac mini for resale

[GooberMan]

I've searched around quite a bit and can't seem to find an answer, so thought I'd ask here. Any help is much appreciated.

Just bought a MacBook Pro, got all the data transferred to it from my Mac mini, and now I'm looking to erase all my data from the Mac mini and reinstall an OS and then sell it.

So far I've only been able to erase the data, by holding the option key on startup and using the disk utility there. When I try to then reinstall the OS it asks for my Apple ID. I stopped there just because I don't want my data associated with that computer.

Also, I tried to de-authorize the Mac mini in iTunes and it says I have to wait 12 months. Not sure why it says that, or if I even have to worry about that at this point. I did upgrade the HDD to an SSD, so maybe that's why I have to wait.

So, how do I go about getting an OS on the Mac mini without any of my data on there so I can then sell it?

 

[drsox]

I've searched around quite a bit and can't seem to find an answer, so thought I'd ask here. Any help is much appreciated.

Just bought a MacBook Pro, got all the data transferred to it from my Mac mini, and now I'm looking to erase all my data from the Mac mini and reinstall an OS and then sell it.

So far I've only been able to erase the data, by holding the option key on startup and using the disk utility there. When I try to then reinstall the OS it asks for my Apple ID. I stopped there just because I don't want my data associated with that computer.

Also, I tried to de-authorize the Mac mini in iTunes and it says I have to wait 12 months. Not sure why it says that, or if I even have to worry about that at this point. I did upgrade the HDD to an SSD, so maybe that's why I have to wait.

So, how do I go about getting an OS on the Mac mini without any of my data on there so I can then sell it?

Do you have a USB drive ? If so then it's easy :
1. Clone the Mini's drive to the USB using e.g. CCC.
2. Boot up using the USB drive.
3. Erase the Mini's drive. Make sure there is still a Recovery Partition.
4. Install a new OS on the Mini's drive.

Easiest way to do 4. is to turn off the Mini, unplug the USB drive and then boot up into Internet Recovery etc.

 

[GooberMan]

Thanks for the reply. I just went ahead and installed the OS with an online connection, even though it asked for my iTunes ID for verification. It still set up like it was new, and I think they were asking for my ID just to access the OS download. I changed my password just in case.

Link for restoring:

http://www.apple.com/osx/recovery/

Link for deauthorizing:

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1420

You can use the contact link at the bottom there to actually speak to someone and get them to deauthorize if it's less than 12 months since the last time you deauthorized. Surprisingly helpful customer service.

Maybe this info will help someone.