How to delete ALL accounts in preparation to sell computer?

From a note at MacOSXHints on how to "Make OS X re-run the initial setup assistant":

1.Boot into single-user mode (command-S during startup)
2. Once the command-line prompt appears, type the following:
mount -uw /
cd /private/var/db/netinfo
mv local.nidb local.old
rm ../.AppleSetupDone
exit
When you hit RETURN after typing exit, OS X will restart and the setup assistant will launch automatically. So if you've somehow messed up your primary OS X user, this is a good fix that may get you up and running again, even if re-running the OS X installer does not.

Using that as a basis, then in your case, since you've installed the OS, you should only have one user, boot each machine with a bootable external FWHD (or mount each to a good machine in TDM), launch the Terminal app, and then do these commands:

sudo cd /Volumes/<machine's name>/private/var/db/netinfo/
sudo mv local.nidb local.nidb.old
sudo cd /Volumes/<machine's name>/
sudo rm -R /Users/<username>
sudo rm ../.AppleSetupDone




G4 450 MP Gigabit Mac OS X (10.4.3)

baltwo

One problem with this is that 'cd', being a builtin, will not work with 'sudo'. Just do a plain 'cd' instead, the permissions will allow it.

Personally I would just do this in Single User mode, thus bypassing the need for sudo at all.

One problem with this is that 'cd', being a builtin, will not work with 'sudo'. Just do a plain 'cd' instead, the permissions will allow it.

Hmmm! Thanks, I didn't know that—never tried it. If that's the case, then eliminate sudo from the sudo cd entries.

Personally I would just do this in Single User mode

But, when you exit from Single User mode, doesn't this boot into the machine and bring up the setup assistant, defeating resetting it?

baltwo

Well, just don't exit from Single User. Instead:

shutdown -h now

I never use 'exit' anyway, usually 'reboot', but you can halt the system and then the next reboot will bring up the Setup Assistant. I'm not sure if you can exit from that if you make a mistake though.

Use shutdown -h now

Great! Learn new stuff everyday. That's why I visit. Now the OP can proceed.

Thanks for the feedback. You might want to append your findings to the Mac OS X Hint relating to "shutdown" if it isn't already mentioned.

Hello all,

I usually suggest yet another way to "do this deed:"

1. First, enable the root account, then log in as root.

2. In the root account, drag the entire contents of the "Users" folder to the trash and empty it. Use "Secure Empty" if you like (and wait a while...).

3. Immediately restart into Single-User mode. Remove the current NIDB and AppleSetupDone file.

4. Finally, type:

<pre style="overflow:auto; font-family: 'Monaco'; font-size: 10px">sync;sync;sync</pre>

and press <RETURN>. This will allow you to simply power the machine off, safely. When the new owner starts it up for the first time, it will boot directly to the Setup Assistant.

Scott

And that may well work. I, for one, would never advocate enabling the root account (especially in a general discussion forum), since I think only power users should muck around at that level. I especially don't advise it without explicitly giving the commands. E.g., Remove the current NIDB might make sense to a Unix guru, but would fluster a normal GUI user. Specifically, it should be remove the existing NetInfo database and you should point out the exact command and path to do that little trick.

Just my 2¢.

G4 450 MP Gigabit Mac OS X (10.4.3)