Selling MacBook How to have it boot like a factory new.

Question

Level 1

35 points

Selling MacBook How to have it boot like a factory new.

Hi I will be selling my White MacBook soon. I am going to upgrade to a MacBook Pro for a better graphics card.
Well when they get it i want it to start up like the first time boot.
You know when you first turn on a new mac it gives you the Welcome in a lot of languages. Then it sets up your new account.
Well i found a post that was for 10.3 but mine is 10.5 i tried and don't know how to delete the account.
So any help would be much appreciated.

heres the link
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=838111&tstart=1793

Macbook(White)C2D2.0Ghz80Gb:Hd3Gb:Ram, Mac OS X (10.5.3), TV160:gb

Posted on Aug 14, 2008 2:23 AM

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Answer 1

Kappy

Level 10

362,023 points

Aug 14, 2008 2:33 AM in response to Macbook91

Simple method:

Boot from the Leopard Installer Disc One. Do an Erase and Install installation. Upon completion the computer will pause before restart. At that point turn the computer off.

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Answer 2

Macbook91 Author

Level 1

35 points

Aug 14, 2008 2:37 AM in response to Kappy

That was my first plan but how do i update the computer and install other software.
My first thought was to install tiger and its updates and the extra software then upgrade leopard then just turn off the computer and ship it.
Or i could boot into my hard drive os and install the software to the main hard drive. I will keep trying.

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Answer 3

Macbook91 Author

Level 1

35 points

Aug 14, 2008 2:43 AM in response to Macbook91

Well I just tried the Hard Drive it need the running os. Didn't Work.

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Answer 4

Kappy

Level 10

362,023 points

Aug 14, 2008 3:07 AM in response to Macbook91

If you wish to reinstall all the software then you will need to set up a user account. You will need to remove the account and reset the Setup Assistant:

1. Boot to single user mode by restarting and after the chime press and hold down the COMMAND-S keys until a black screen with white type appears.

2. At the prompt, type the following commands pressing return after each command line:

/sbin/fsck -yf

If you do not receive a "Filesystem OK" message then repeat this command until you do. If after seven tries you still do not receive a "Filesystem OK" message, then the system is corrupted and needs to be reinstalled.

mount -uw /
cd /private/var/db/netinfo
mv local.nidb local.old
rm ../.AppleSetupDone
shutdown -r now

The second-to-last command above will cause OS X to think that the operating system is newly installed, and when the new owner starts up the computer it will send him/her to the startup wizard where he/she can start a new user without reinstalling.

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Answer 5

Macbook91 Author

Level 1

35 points

Aug 14, 2008 3:12 AM in response to Kappy

cool thank you i will try it.

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Answer 6

Macbook91 Author

Level 1

35 points

Aug 14, 2008 5:42 AM in response to Kappy

Well when i type "cd /private/var/db/netinfo" No such file or directory
so i type "cd /private/var/db/"
db root:
then i type netinfo or netinfo/
No such file or directory
and i cant finish it. can i do this from an external hard drive. I have mac leopard on it i use it as the main os. but when i do this i unplug the drive.
P.S. i know how to see hidden files.

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Answer 7

Macbook91 Author

Level 1

35 points

Aug 14, 2008 6:06 AM in response to Kappy

ok weird thing.
I got into the hidden files.
i went to private/var/db and deleted .AppleSetupDone and rebooted it went through the setup well that part worked but i could not use the user name i used before. so chose a different one and checked to see if the old account was gone but it was still there.

so the local.nidb must have something to do with the old user and could we just delete it well i cant find it. along with netinfo.

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Answer 8

Macbook91 Author

Level 1

35 points

Aug 14, 2008 6:56 AM in response to Macbook91

Well i found this
http://www.macosxhints.com/article.php?story=2007110800450816
it sovled it. because /private/var/db/netinfo
the netinfo folder was moved in leopard tiger its there leopard its not.

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Answer 9

Macbook91 Author

Level 1

35 points

Aug 14, 2008 7:05 AM in response to Macbook91

Heres what i did.
Boot into single user mode. Command S
Press the Return key after each line.
mount -uw /
rm -R /Library/Preferences/
rm -R /Users/username/
rm /var/db/dslocal/nodes/Default/users/username.plist
rm /var/db/.AppleSetupDone
shutdown -r now
The second-to-last command above will cause OS X to think that the operating system is newly installe
The third-to-last and second-to-first command above will delete the user accounts and files.
Note: The second command will delete the Preferences. Do not do this if you install any software like iLife.
This works for leopard and me.

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