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Level 1

13 points

Selling MacBook. How Do I Reset to Factory Conditions

Hi
I am going to sell my late 2008 MacBook Unibody 13"
Originally It came with Leopard installed and all the usual disks.
When Snow Leopard came out I purchased the disks and installed it.

I want to reset it back to factory condition efore I sell it on ebay. I also want to make sure all my data is erased.

How do I do this... Thanks

MacBook Aliminium and MacBook Pro Ali plus iPhone 3G, Mac OS X (10.5.6), PC's

Posted on Oct 25, 2009 1:24 PM

Best reply

Peter Knapp

Level 4

1,513 points

Posted on Oct 25, 2009 2:21 PM

Start the computer from the install software DVD. From the installer menu, open disk utility.

On the erase tab, open 'security options' and from there you can write zeros to the drive - personally i'd do at least the 7x option. After that, do a normal install of the operating system. Create a user account and password you can give to the buyer (i.e. Admin). They can change this later.

Perhaps reset the SMC and PRAM as well.

That should be about it.

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28 replies

Carlouk Author

Level 1

13 points

Oct 29, 2009 9:30 AM in response to Carlouk

OK that answers my question. ILife is not on it.

So I will reinstall the original disks which came with it then iLife08 will be on it.

Then if i give him my Snow Leopard disk he can upgrade at his leisure to SL and have iLife08 on it. If the new owner wants to purchase iLife09 thats up to him

That way the Macbook is as purchased (with the boot up OSX welcome screen) and They have the option to put SL on it. Also they have all the disks for what ive supplied.

Correct ?

sig

Level 8

35,862 points

Oct 29, 2009 10:46 AM in response to Carlouk

You got it!

Carlouk Author

Level 1

13 points

Oct 29, 2009 12:29 PM in response to Carlouk

Well ive reinstalled the operating system using the supplied disks and im now at the OSX startup screen. I now need to install the applications from the second disk (iLife).

However I cant not without registering an account.
Any ideas

sig

Level 8

35,862 points

Oct 29, 2009 2:28 PM in response to Carlouk

You have done that. When the installer aske for the second disk that's what happens. Now when you see the Welcome screen and it pauses at the window where you select your language just QUIT and shut down. This is like pulling teeth. Ahhh!

Carlouk Author

Level 1

13 points

Oct 29, 2009 2:44 PM in response to Carlouk

For the record it doesnt ask you for second disk. After talking to apple you have to register an account to get you in.

Then you can put the second disk in and install the Applications like iLife.
I was trying not to do this as I wanted the new user to register himself so that his documents folder has his name.

in the end I put in a default name and got it set up.

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3910

What I wanted to do is not possible in selling it exactly as factory supplied.

Its sorted now the new owner will either have to live with what i put in or reinstall it himself

Thanks for all the help I got

sig

Level 8

35,862 points

Oct 29, 2009 2:51 PM in response to Carlouk

It wouldn't ask for the second disk if you opted not to install additional languages or printer drivers when prompted.

Carlouk Author

Level 1

13 points

Oct 29, 2009 3:15 PM in response to sig

I didnt. Apple care told me some versions asks for the second disk some doesnt. I was unfortunate it didnt. I certainly didnt opt to not install languages and printer drivers

Thanks for your replies though Sig much appriciated.

JasonFear

Level 5

4,965 points

Oct 29, 2009 5:42 PM in response to Gregory Mcintire

You had mentioned "factory condition" and any Mac that you buy directly from Apple (factory) comes with iLife preinstalled. The installation disc does not contain iLife, that's on the second disc (as you probably already know) but Apple has since changed the installation process. iLife is no longer done during the initial OS installation, it's done after the system is booted up for the first time and configured with a user.

The only reason I mentioned iLife being on the computer is because the term "factory condition" was thrown out there, which in this case in order to replicate how the machine would be received from the factory... it would have iLife.

To add, and it's unfortunate about your bad experience, Apple no longer offers that service unless you buy One-to-One. It use to be a free, optional service at time of purchase but no that's no longer offered without the additional purchase.

sig

Level 8

35,862 points

Oct 29, 2009 5:45 PM in response to JasonFear

"... iLife is no longer done during the initial OS installation, it's done after the system is booted up for the first time and configured with a user."

Not so. Just bought this MBP and ilife was on it. I am the only account and the package was sealed.

Carlouk Author

Level 1

13 points

Oct 30, 2009 2:24 AM in response to sig

Yes I know as Ive just purchased one as well. Which is now my third unibody.

But certainly with this model and OSX version disks I was unable to get it to that state (OSX and iLife on no one registered). That was my whole point of this thread, to try and get it to that state. Apple Technical said that sometimes during the OSX install it will ask you for the second disk but not always. Hence you have to do what I did.

Ive typed up my method on www.softpages.co.uk

It looks like I am about to sell the Macbook, had loads of interest(must be too cheap). I am going to reinstall tonight and register his account details for him. Bit of a pain but at least the MyDocuments folder will then be in his name.
So I get to go through it all again 😟
Carlo

JasonFear

Level 5

4,965 points

Oct 30, 2009 9:37 AM in response to sig

Hi sig,

You just bought the machine from an Apple Store? If so... then yes, iLife is preinstalled. Apple has been shipping machines that way since they bundled the application. What I'm referring to, as the subject states, is that if you wipe the drive and manually reinstall the OS it does not do iLife at the end of the OS installation. The machines I've verified this on are:

MacBook (13-inch, Late 2009)
MacBook (13-inch, Mid 2009)
MacBook (13-inch, Early 2009)
MacBook (13-inch, Aluminum, Late 2008)
MacBook (13-inch, Late 2008)
MacBook (13-inch, Early 2008)

MacBook Pro (17-inch, Mid 2009)
MacBook Pro (15-inch, Mid 2009)
MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2.53GHz, Mid 2009)
MacBook Pro (13-inch, Mid 2009)

Nov 1, 2009 5:43 AM in response to Carlouk

Hi.

I need a little help. I'm selling my unibody MacBook...late 2008...today.

I've misplaced my install disk (Leopard), but still have my Snow Leopard add-on disk I bought (the $29 version).

Can I use the Snow Leopard disk to uninstall and clean erase the computer without the original Leopard install disk? Will this cause any problems?

Thanks a million.

G.

JasonFear

Level 5

4,965 points

Nov 1, 2009 11:38 AM in response to Gene Johnson1

Hi Gene,

Yes, this will work. However you won't be able to reload iLife '09 for the buyer of the machine. You might want to tell them that the original discs are not going to be included, as that's something that would have come with the computer if it was brand new.

You can also inform the buyer that he can purchase replacement discs through AppleCare for about $35.

Selling MacBook. How Do I Reset to Factory Conditions