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I want to update the software on a Mac OS X system I'm going to be giving someone else, but I want them to set up the computer themselves. How do I make the Setup Assistant reappear without restoring the computer's original software?
Answer: If your computer is running Mac OS X 10.2 or later, restart the machine with the Command and S keys held down, and type the following commands into the prompt in order:
mount -uw /
mv /var/db/netinfo/local.nidb /var/db/netinfo/local.nidb.old
mv /var/db/.AppleSetupDone /var/db/.AppleSetupDone.old
usr/libexec/create_nidb
shutdown -h now
The Setup Assistant will reappear the next time your computer is turned on. Be sure to enter the commands properly, as you may damage your setup by making a mistake. Do not attempt this procedure on a machine without the BSD subsystem installed, as doing so will cause it to fail to start up properly. If you are unsure whether or not the BSD subsystem is installed, look in the folder /Library/Receipts for an item named BSD.pkg; if this item is present, the BSD subsystem is installed.
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