Help Needed: Prepping a MacBook Pro for sale

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Level 1

14 points

Help Needed: Prepping a MacBook Pro for sale

I'm going to be selling my MacBook Pro 15", and I was wondering if there are any reference lists with steps to prepare the laptop, namely, how to:

- remove my own files;
- remove any identifying indications on any software;
- generally making sure that all of "me" is no longer on this laptop.

I appreciate any help, and welcome any tips beyond the topics above. 🙂

iMac 24"; Macbook Pro 15", Mac OS X (10.6.1), 3.06 4GB 1TB; 2.8 4GB 500GB

Posted on Feb 27, 2010 12:50 PM

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Answer 1

Best reply

sig

Level 8

35,862 points

Feb 27, 2010 12:57 PM in response to Penman61

From Kappy:

Prepare Your Mac for Sale

Boot from the OS X Installer Disc One that came with the computer. After the installer loads select your language and click on the Continue button. When the menu bar appears select Disk Utility from the Utilities (Installer menu if using Panther or Jaguar) menu. After DU loads select the startup volume from the left side list then click on the Erase tab. Set the format type to Mac OS Extended (Journaled) then click on the Options button. Select the one pass Zero Data option and click on the OK button. Then click on the Erase button.

Note: You can skip the Zero Data option if you are not concerned about removing sensitive personal data from the hard drive. If you choose to skip this part of the process then it is possible for others to recover data from the hard drive. The Zero Data procedure will prevent others from getting access to your personal information.

This process will take 30 minutes to several hours depending upon the size of the hard drive. After formatting has completed quit DU and return to the installer. Now complete the OS X installation. At the completion of the installation do not restart the computer. Instead just shut it off. The next user will be presented with the Setup Assistant when they turn on the computer just as it would if new out of the box.

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Answer 2

Carlouk

Level 1

13 points

Feb 27, 2010 2:25 PM in response to sig

Here is an article i wrote when i sold mine.

http://www.softpages.co.uk/category/tutorials/macbook-and-osx/

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Answer 3

sig

Level 8

35,862 points

Feb 27, 2010 4:02 PM in response to Carlouk

The OP is selling the Mac. There is no need to go through Part Two. That doesn't get it to "factory condition." Part One does which is the same as Kappy's guide.

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Answer 4

Penman61 Author

Level 1

14 points

Feb 28, 2010 7:57 AM in response to Penman61

Thanks for the responses and links. It will definitely help. 🙂

I assume that, once I've re-loaded the OS (Snow Leopard), I would then have to either reload the software that came already loaded on the laptop (iLife, for instance) or include the discs with the laptop.

I was planning on doing the latter in any case, but is there any reason not to load that software again myself before I sell it?

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Answer 5

eww

Level 9

53,028 points

Feb 28, 2010 8:13 AM in response to Penman61

You should always include the discs that came with a Mac when selling it or giving it away. I'm glad to hear you were already thinking of doing so.

I wouldn't bother to install the additional apps beyond what's on the OS installer disc. The new user may want to buy and install newer versions of those apps, and if not, s/he can always install the original versions from the discs you hand over. Just be sure the buyer realizes that you've left that choice open for him or her to make.

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Answer 6

Network 23

Level 6

12,333 points

Feb 28, 2010 10:43 AM in response to Penman61

Penman61 wrote:
I was planning on doing the latter in any case, but is there any reason not to load that software again myself before I sell it?

Because you would have to go through the first-time setup again, forcing you to enter personal info and create an account with a password. Preferences files would start to be created, your network information may be recorder, etc. By the time you have finished doing a favor, the system is no longer factory-new and will contain a number of references to your local environment/network, intended or not.

It's better to erase the hard drive and run the MacBook Pro OS X install disc, then stop and let the new owner go through the startup, registration, and setup process for themselves. I would highly recommend that you instruct the new owner that the first thing they should do is fill out the setup screens for themselves, run Software Update, then keep running Software Update until no more new versions turn up (because some updates aren't visible until earlier versions have been installed).

Also, if you run the MacBook Pro installation discs that came with it rather than a generic OS X installation, it should install iLife apps as part of the process. OS X retail does not include iLife apps.

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Answer 7

Penman61 Author

Level 1

14 points

Mar 1, 2010 5:14 PM in response to Penman61

Thanks, all for the responses. They really help.

If there's anything else that one expects when one buys a used Mac laptop, feel free to post it here. (Obviously I'll include a/c, original boxes, and I'll clean the surfaces.)

Again, thanks to all. 🙂

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