How do I bring my iMac back to day 1?

[ricardofel]

Sold my 24" iMac and want to clean it up and delete everything...what do I need to do? Many thanks...please email me....ricfel13@gmail.com

 

[MacHamster68]

2 ways

1st way a bit time consuming . put in your OSX snow leopard disc and format the drive and install snow leopard or was it sold with leopard, doesnt actually matter the result will be that the new owner will see the same welcome screen like you did when you first startet up the iMac,
then give him all the software discs of the apps you sold with the Mac so he can install everything like iLife , office or iWork ...after he he had seen the welcome screen , thats the fine way of selling a Mac

2nd way the fast way create a new user account , give that new user account full admin rights then log in as this new user and delete your own old account , downside the new owner will not see the welcome screen , its the prefered way of people who sell their Mac without any software discs ,and sell these disc separate and not the fine way as the new owner has to buy these too in order to own the software on the Mac

 

[Hellhammer]

http://guides.macrumors.com/Clean_Install_of_OS_X_10.6_Snow_Leopard

Perform a clean install of OS X but while using the Disk Utility, remember to select Security options because you want to erase EVERYTHING from the HD, otherwise the data will be recoverable. I would do a 7-pass erase, but it will take more time.

 

[Stealthipad]

I vote for HellHammer's idea. Option number 2 with the previous poster would leave most of your past data recoverable which should not even be an option for me. This data could be easily accessed and used against you.

Take a few minutes and do it right!

 

[C. Alan]

+2 for the Hellhammer approach. This is the best way to get rid of all the old data.

 

[DewGuy1999]

2nd way the fast way create a new user account , give that new user account full admin rights then log in as this new user and delete your own old account , downside the new owner will not see the welcome screen

Ah, but the new user can see a Welcome screen, here's how:

Mac OS X Hints: 10.5: How to reset Leopard back to the Setup Assistant Install

 

[BOSS10L]

http://guides.macrumors.com/Clean_Install_of_OS_X_10.6_Snow_Leopard

Perform a clean install of OS X but while using the Disk Utility, remember to select Security options because you want to erase EVERYTHING from the HD, otherwise the data will be recoverable. I would do a 7-pass erase, but it will take more time.

Thanks for the link, considering selling my MB.

 

[Northgrove]

Multi-pass erases aren't necessary, but full wipes can of course be good.