How do I reset my iMac to its factory settings?

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Level 1

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How do I reset my iMac to its factory settings?

I have a 17" iMac 1.83 GHz that I am selling but I want to reset it to its original factory settings. So far, I haven't found out how.

What I have done so far:
Erased all my files (that I could find)
Did a 7-time erase on all deleted files,
then a Zero Out erase on all deleted files.
I removed all programs I installed.

The problem is, I am still shown as the ADMIN and my password is set and I want to know if I can reset it all the way back to the original place, so the new owner has to go through the first start up process. I have both original start up disks 1 and 2. Can someone please talk me through how to get this all done?

iMac, Mac OS X (10.4.10)

Posted on Jun 17, 2009 6:39 PM

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Answer 1

Niel

Level 10

726,749 points

Jun 17, 2009 6:46 PM in response to Sillie

Restart the computer from the original disk, use the Disk Utility in the Utilities menu to erase the drive while zeroing all the data, reinstall the OS from the disk, and upon restart, hold down the Command and S keys and enter 'shutdown -h now' without the quote marks into the prompt.

(44678)

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Answer 2

Sillie Author

Level 1

0 points

Jun 17, 2009 6:49 PM in response to Niel

I'm not sure I got all of that. I don't see where I can erase the drive, only that I can do a Zero Erase, a 7-Time, and a 35-time on deleted files.

And by "restart the computer from the original disk" how do I do that?
I'm sorry I'm not very good at this!

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Answer 3

Limnos

Level 10

411,121 points

Jun 17, 2009 6:53 PM in response to Sillie

Did you boot from your startup disc in the optical drive? That lets you erase the whole drive, not just deleted files. After that you will need to install the operating system to get it back to factory new, or just leave it as it is and let the new user install the operating system (though if you install the OS you can demonstrate to the new user the computer works).

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Answer 4

Sillie Author

Level 1

0 points

Jun 17, 2009 6:53 PM in response to Limnos

How do I boot from the startup disk in the optical drive?

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Answer 5

Limnos

Level 10

411,121 points

Jun 17, 2009 6:55 PM in response to Sillie

Put the disc in the drive. Restart the computer while holding down the C key.

Read the links below on formatting a drive.

[Formatting & Partitioning a Hard Drive in OS X - Tiger and Leopard|http://www.kenstone.net/fcp homepage/partitioningtiger.html]

[Journaling, Zeroing, Partitioning & OS 9 driver|http://forums.bombich.com/viewtopic.php?t=4084]

[Kappy's extensive hard drive formatting post|http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=8340551&#8340551]

[BDaqua's Formatting instructions|http://discussions.apple.com/message.jspa?messageID=8901255#890125 5]

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Answer 6

Sillie Author

Level 1

0 points

Jun 17, 2009 7:01 PM in response to Sillie

Thanks, I think I've got this fixed! I put in the OS disk and held down C and now it is erasing everything and reinstalling the original software. I HOPE that's all I have to do!

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