Wiping Data / Clean Install

[GR33NIE]

Can someone provide me some brief instructions as to what is the best way to wipe my iMac? It's running the latest version of Mountain Lion but I will soon be selling up so want to clear everything off before hand!

I will be completing a time machine back up before hand ready to restore onto my new machine

Thanks!

 

[phyrexia]

Can someone provide me some brief instructions as to what is the best way to wipe my iMac? It's running the latest version of Mountain Lion but I will soon be selling up so want to clear everything off before hand!

I will be completing a time machine back up before hand ready to restore onto my new machine

Thanks!

Boot into Internet Recovery Mode as normal (Command+R at boot) but before you begin the installation process, open Disk Utility and format your hard disk. Then install as usual.

 

[GR33NIE]

Ideally I don't want to do a clean install of Mountain Lion, can't I just wipe everything an easy way and leave all default applications there?

 

[Krazy Bill]

Ideally I don't want to do a clean install of Mountain Lion,

Then change the title of your post.

If you're selling the machine you do indeed want a clean install. Why wouldn't you?

 

[Weaselboy]

Ideally I don't want to do a clean install of Mountain Lion, can't I just wipe everything an easy way and leave all default applications there?

You can create a new user account then from that account delete your old user account. Then while in the newly created account use Disk Utility to secure erase free space. This will wipe any data that was in your old account. This is less secure than a fresh install though, because it is possible some settings and info will be left behind in the main system and library folders. If are not storing any nuclear launch codes or anything this is probably sufficient.

It will leave behind licensing info for any apps you installed.

I would do the wipe and fresh install if it was me.

 

[CASLondon]

Can someone provide me some brief instructions as to what is the best way to wipe my iMac? It's running the latest version of Mountain Lion but I will soon be selling up so want to clear everything off before hand!

I will be completing a time machine back up before hand ready to restore onto my new machine

Thanks!

Why not a clean install? Its easy quick and secure. Unless you are selling to friends and family, its what Ii do. If I am buying i expect a clean as from factory software state. If selling I even write zeros to my drive before clean install for sale. Also I'm assuming you are putting your licensed apps on your new machine

 

[GR33NIE]

Then change the title of your post.

If you're selling the machine you do indeed want a clean install. Why wouldn't you?

Ideally meaning I'm trying to find the easiest way to achieve the end result

Clean install does sound best according to what I have since read and folks recommended, maybe ill go down that route afterall then

 

[Krazy Bill]

Clean install does sound best according to what I have since read and folks recommended

How can restoring to a factory fresh state not be for the best... especially for a sale?

If you're the paranoid type, I'd actually suggest you use one of the security options to zero out your platters/data before doing that clean install. A simply erase won't do this even though it appears that way.