Should I erase both containers for a factory reset ?

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Level 1

4 points

Should I erase both containers for a factory reset ?

Intel w Big Sur

I am doing a factory reset to sell and erased the Macintosh HD Volume Group but I noticed when I went back in and 'viewed all devices' that there is also a CONTAINER DISK2 showing MacinstoshHD and a capacity of 121GB but only 51GB available space (which tells me there is still data stored on the machine somewhere)

Question is: should I do also go through the process and erase the Macintosh HD in this Container Disk2 as well before 'reinstalling the OS'?

I just want everything erased and gone as if it was a brand new laptop.

Thanks~

MacBook Air 13″, macOS 11.6

Posted on Jun 29, 2022 4:47 PM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

John Galt

Level 10

146,522 points

Jun 29, 2022 5:38 PM in response to livfit

Follow these instructions: Erase and reformat a storage device in Disk Utility on Mac - Apple Support.

Pay attention to Step 4. "The device" in its context refers to the entire storage device, meaning not a volume or partition subordinate to that device.

The accompanying illustration indicates it as the Internal storage device. Erasing it will erase all Containers within it. That's what you want to do.

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Answer 2

John Galt

Level 10

146,522 points

Jun 29, 2022 6:21 PM in response to livfit

Yes, you have to be.

A more comprehensive answer starts with What to do before you sell, give away, or trade in your Mac - Apple Support which leads to Use Disk Utility to erase an Intel-based Mac - Apple Support which led to the document I linked. Somewhere along the line it explains you have to boot Recovery to do that.

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Answer 3

livfit Author

Level 1

4 points

Jun 29, 2022 7:14 PM in response to John Galt

BTW- I initially followed the instructions What to do before you sell, give away, or trade in your Mac - Apple Support & Use Disk Utility to erase an Intel-based Mac - Apple Support but it only showed to erase the 'Volume Group' not the entire storage, which I realized did not erase everything and why I opened this support thread. :-)

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Answer 4

John Galt

Level 10

146,522 points

Jun 29, 2022 7:21 PM in response to livfit

👍

That's why I prefer directing people to Erase and reformat a storage device in Disk Utility on Mac - Apple Support. It explains the requirements with greater precision, but the details are still easily overlooked.

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