ArtsySue
Level 1 (8 points)
Desktops

Q: How to wipe my Mac to sell, reinstall Snow Leopard?

I have an iMac with 10.6.3 installed.  The home folder has my name on it, of course.

I want to wipe it, reinstall Snow Leopard, and sell it.

 

I have done that, first by turning on the computer and holding down "Command + R."

Then I erased the HD.  After that, my home folder still had my name.

 

Then I put in my Snow Leopard OS disk, held "C" while I restarted, and I got the screen

to install my OS X Snow Leopard.  I did it.  Went all the way thru.

 

My home folder STILL has my name on it.  What am I doing wrong...?  I went thru all

these same steps earlier with another iMac, and it all seemed to go well.

 

THANKS IN ADVANCE!!

 

20" aluminum iMac, bought in late 2008 with Leopard pre-installed, upgraded to Snow Leopard.

iMac (21.5-inch, Late 2013), OS X Yosemite (10.10.3), iPhone, iPad, iPod, MacBook13

Posted on Aug 18, 2015 2:14 PM

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ArtsySue

Q: How to wipe my Mac to sell, reinstall Snow Leopard?

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  • Helpful answers

  • by Niel,

    Niel Niel Aug 18, 2015 2:18 PM in response to ArtsySue
    Level 10 (311,478 points)
    Aug 18, 2015 2:18 PM in response to ArtsySue

    You need to restart from the DVD, use the Disk Utility to erase the internal drive, and then install the OS.

     

    (131950)

  • by Drew Reece,

    Drew Reece Drew Reece Aug 18, 2015 2:30 PM in response to ArtsySue
    Level 5 (7,456 points)
    Notebooks
    Aug 18, 2015 2:30 PM in response to ArtsySue

    Using recovery mode does not work with 10.6 - it was never setup on that OS so you have something else installed.

    You need to erase the internal disk before you install OS X. It will remove all data - so have a backup of any import any files.

     

    Boot to the 10.6 DVD, select Disk Utility from the options or top menu (you will need to click through a few screens until the menu appears).

    Use the Partition tab to create a new partition. To do this select the startup disk in the sidebar. Change the layout to use 2 partitions then switch back to one single partition (this enables the Apply button).

    Create a Mac OS Extended (journaled) volume.

    Apply that & then quit Disk Utility.

     

    Re open the installer & select the volume you just created for the destination.

  • by ArtsySue,

    ArtsySue ArtsySue Aug 18, 2015 3:20 PM in response to Niel
    Level 1 (8 points)
    Desktops
    Aug 18, 2015 3:20 PM in response to Niel

    Actually, I thought I did that by putting in the DVD, and restarting by holding down the "c" key.  It certainly went thru all the familiar steps -- and seemed to be installing Snow Leopard.  HOWEVER...another person has answered, and has information about how "Command R" (which I used for erasing the HD) doesn't work for Snow Leopard...  Will go see his answer now!  But thanks for weighing in, Niel!

  • by ArtsySue,

    ArtsySue ArtsySue Aug 18, 2015 3:27 PM in response to Drew Reece
    Level 1 (8 points)
    Desktops
    Aug 18, 2015 3:27 PM in response to Drew Reece

    Thank you, Drew.  Ya know...I think I remember that earlier iMacs can't use "Command + R," cuz it

    happened to my hubby when he was trying to erase a Mac Mini.  ANYWAY...

     

    I did get to some screen that allowed me to erase the HD, and I did do that, but as I said, my Home

    Folder still had my name on it.  That should have been a clue.   :-)

     

    I eventually rebooted with the CD in the drive (holding down "c" as I did so), and erased again.  But

    my name was still on my Home Folder.

     

    As for "selecting partitions," wow...I'm so computer-impaired, I'm not sure I should trust myself to

    actually do that right!  <gak>  I mean, I don't even know what a "startup disk" is.  [Some people

    shouldn't even be allowed to own these fine machines, ya know?  <g>]   With all these "partitions,"

    won't I end up with my old stuff still "in there" somewhere...?  Sigh...

  • by Drew Reece,

    Drew Reece Drew Reece Aug 18, 2015 4:29 PM in response to ArtsySue
    Level 5 (7,456 points)
    Notebooks
    Aug 18, 2015 4:29 PM in response to ArtsySue

    See if this helps…

    Erase-disk-10.6.jpg

    Otherwise look at Apples notes

    OS X: How to erase and install - Apple Support

    Or look at the user tip that explains it too…

    How to erase and install Snow Leopard 10.6

  • by ArtsySue,

    ArtsySue ArtsySue Aug 18, 2015 4:39 PM in response to Drew Reece
    Level 1 (8 points)
    Desktops
    Aug 18, 2015 4:39 PM in response to Drew Reece

    WOW, Drew!  Thank you for all of that!  Wow, arrows, red print, it don't get no better'n this!  Wheee!

    I admit I'm lame, and look at all this help!  Wow, wow, wow!  You've given me a TON to work with,

    so I will report back (probably tomorrow) to tell you how it all went.  I'm gobsmacked by this awesome

    community in Apple>Discussions!

     

      - ArtsySue

  • by ArtsySue,

    ArtsySue ArtsySue Aug 20, 2015 2:12 PM in response to Drew Reece
    Level 1 (8 points)
    Desktops
    Aug 20, 2015 2:12 PM in response to Drew Reece

    Thank you for all the help you gave me, Drew.  However...  I haven't gotten to it yet, but

    then I remembered some factoids.  In your Aug. 18th 2:30 pm reply, you thought that it

    might be possible that I had something else installed.  You were right.  Here's the history

    of that computer:

    Bought with Leopard, then upgraded > Snow Leopard > Lion > Mountain Lion > Mavericks.

     

    So the last thing it had was Mavericks, but that's when the slowdown happened.  it was

    pretty bad, and I was advised that the computer probably wasn't up to the challenge.   :-)

    So I bought a new one (it came with Yosemite).  So I thought I'd sell this "old" one.

     

    Not knowing any better, I erased the HD, and reinstalled Snow Leopard.  It seemed to do

    well -- looked like all was well.  Then my husband decided he might use it, so he started

    to use it as SL, and either changed his mind -- and that's why it still says 10.6.3, or he

    may have upgraded all the way to Mtn.L, though I'm not sure.  I think he may have left

    it at SL 10.6.3, and that's where I am right now, which is why I was going to erase it,

    reinstall the SL (from disk), and maybe sell it or give it away.  He did add some personal

    data to it, so that's why I wanted to erase it.

     

    So that's the history, but bottom line.......  Since it once was a Mavericks, what can I do to

    it from here forward -- after I erase it?  THANKS!!

  • by Drew Reece,

    Drew Reece Drew Reece Aug 20, 2015 2:42 PM in response to ArtsySue
    Level 5 (7,456 points)
    Notebooks
    Aug 20, 2015 2:42 PM in response to ArtsySue

    You can use the the 10.6 installer to erase the system volume. Just boot holding C with the disk inserted & use Disk Utility as described earlier.

  • by ArtsySue,

    ArtsySue ArtsySue Aug 20, 2015 2:43 PM in response to Drew Reece
    Level 1 (8 points)
    Desktops
    Aug 20, 2015 2:43 PM in response to Drew Reece

    So even though it was once a Mavericks, I can do as you described on 8/18 @ 4:29 p.m.?

    If so, THANK YOU!   :-)

  • by Drew Reece,

    Drew Reece Drew Reece Aug 20, 2015 2:56 PM in response to ArtsySue
    Level 5 (7,456 points)
    Notebooks
    Aug 20, 2015 2:56 PM in response to ArtsySue

    I don't know which post you mean - the timezone & date is converted so I may see a different time. My guess is you mean my 'image post'?

     

    I made that on 10.6 so it will be pretty much the same as your DVD/CD.

  • by Old Toad,

    Old Toad Old Toad Aug 20, 2015 3:07 PM in response to ArtsySue
    Level 10 (140,881 points)
    Photos for Mac
    Aug 20, 2015 3:07 PM in response to ArtsySue

    Be sure you follow all of the items mentioned in this Apple document: What to do before selling or giving away your Mac - Apple Support

    OTsig.png

  • by ArtsySue,

    ArtsySue ArtsySue Aug 20, 2015 3:13 PM in response to Drew Reece
    Level 1 (8 points)
    Desktops
    Aug 20, 2015 3:13 PM in response to Drew Reece

    Yes, Drew, it was the post that had that great image with all the arrows.  That was awesome.   :-)

    Thanks for all your input!!!

  • by ArtsySue,

    ArtsySue ArtsySue Aug 20, 2015 3:15 PM in response to Old Toad
    Level 1 (8 points)
    Desktops
    Aug 20, 2015 3:15 PM in response to Old Toad

    Thank you, OT, but I'm dealing with a Snow Leopard, and that article talks about

    the three OS that came later (Lion, Mtn. Lion, Mavericks).  I think Drew's post

    will have me doing Ok, but thank you for weighing in!