Selling MacBook. How Do I Reset to Factory Conditions

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.

Hi Carlouk,

Either or, just make sure to run the iLife '09 installer on the Applications disc. It's not part of the Installer DVD or the SL installation.

Just quit and shut down.

Let the new owner do all that.

Yes, let the new owner do that. If you do it it is not "factory contdition" for one thing. It may be local Apple store condition, that depends, but it is not the way they come from the factory if you order online.

Plus, you are doing the new owner a disservice to enter anything default user account in it. Install the OS and as soon as it is installed and you get the music and animation screens quit and shut down. That is factory and is what Apple intended for a new owner to see and experience and learn from.

But then what about iLife '09? A new Mac from Apple will come from the factory with iLife preinstalled, which this machine currently does not have.

If you really wanted to be savvy you could run an application called "missing kitty" that allows you to create an account, sign in, run all the updates, installs, etc. and then restart the machine into verbose mode, dump the user and have the machine startup next time as though it was starting up for the very first time.

Mac OS X Hints had a walkthrough on it or you can Google "missing kitty user account removal"

I guess I don't understand why iLife 09 has to be on the computer. If it was not on originally why must it be put on now? If it was on originally why would it not be automatically installed now? I suppose I am missing something from earlier in the thread.

Anyway, all that aside, I have a couple friends who got a new iMac. The first time a dialog window came up and asked them for their password they were stumped. "Huh, what's this? It wants a password? What password?"

They had no knowledge of the concepts of Accounts on their new computer or passwords for their account etc. The reason is, the Apple store that sold them the Mac did them a big favor and "set it up" for them. In fact, the Apple store did them a big disservice.

That is all I was trying to point out. That same Apple store did me the same "favor". The first thing I did was to reinstall the OS with the included DVD and start over from scratch. I did not need or want the store's interference. And a bit off topic, but the Apple store also scratched the bottom side of my new MacBook. Well, presumably needless to say, I did not buy my recent new MBP from that store nor do I intend to buy another computer from them. They pretty much soured me with all their 'help'.

What ever version of iLife came on your Mac when you bought it then that version will be will be installed using the original Leopard disks that you used to reset to factory conditions. Period. iLife will not be on the Snow Leopard disk. If you subsequently bought iLife '09 and you have the disks then it is your option is to include them in the sale. I doubt it was iLife '06 that came with your 2008 Mac. Where did this iLife '09 issue arise from and why are you so concerned about it?

iLife is not on the Mac. It will come pre installed from the original OS installer disks that came with your Mac. If your Mac came with Leopard then run that installer. Give the SN disk to the new owner. if they want to upgrade that's their decision. They may not have software that will work with SN. We went through this already.