Reset Big Sur without re-install?

[cosmichobo]

G'day,

In the past, you could go into Terminal and do something to make the OS think that it had been freshly installed.

Is that possible with Big Sur?

I just set the computer up for my father, but it's then copied over 18,000 emails from his ISP mail server. He's NOT HAPPY.

The Time Machine backup that I used to set up the new M1 iMac was from Mavericks.

I don't have time to try to mix and match versions of Mail's data files in the HOPE that it works out ok... I just want to reset Big Sur, and then use Migration Assistant again to copy the required data over.

Thanks to all.

cheers

cosmic

 

[chabig]

The OS doesn’t need to be reinstalled because it’s signed and sealed…write only. You could use an admin account to delete his user account. Then create a new account.

 

[cosmichobo]

The OS doesn’t need to be reinstalled because it’s signed and sealed…write only. You could use an admin account to delete his user account. Then create a new account.

Thanks

Have set up a new user.

Now migrating over the user data… fingers crossed.

 

[cosmichobo]

@chabig - Thanks again! set up a new admin user and have set up using the migrated data.