Is there an easy way to factory reset an iMac, so that it returns to the exact condition you bought it in? This would be useful if you were, say, selling your iMac, or passing it on to someone in your family.
To return your Mac to the factory condition, restart from the Install DVD 1 and after choosing your language go to the Utilities menu and select Disk Utility. With Disk Utility you need to erase the hard drive. I suggest that you choose the option that writes zeros to the drive. When the erase has finished install Mac OS X and the included Apple apps from the DVDs. When you finish it is just as it arrived.
To return your Mac to the factory condition, restart from the Install DVD 1 and after choosing your language go to the Utilities menu and select Disk Utility. With Disk Utility you need to erase the hard drive. I suggest that you choose the option that writes zeros to the drive. When the erase has finished install Mac OS X and the included Apple apps from the DVDs. When you finish it is just as it arrived.