How do I restore factory settings on my MacBook Air?

As quoted from apple member Kappy

Boot from the Recovery HD by restarting the computer and after the chime press and hold down the COMMAND and "R" keys until the computer starts from the Recovery HD. Select Disk Utility from the main menu and click on the Continue button.

2. After DU loads select your hard drive (this is the entry with the mfgr.'s ID and size) from the left side list. Click on the Partition tab in the DU main window.

3. Under the Volume Scheme heading set the number of partitions from the drop down menu to one. Set the format type to Mac OS Extended (Journaled.) Click on the Options button, set the partition scheme to GUID then click on the OK button. Click on the Partition button and wait until the process has completed.

4. Select the volume you just created (this is the sub-entry under the drive entry) from the left side list. Click on the Erase tab in the DU main window.

5. Set the format type to Mac OS Extended (Journaled.) Click on the Options button, check the button for Zero Data and click on OK to return to the Erase window.

6. Click on the Erase button. The format process can take up to several hours depending upon the drive size.

At this point all your data are securely removed. You can shut down the computer or reinstall Lion from the main menu.

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/3269952?start=0&tstart=0

This works exactly as outlined. Thanks for the guideline.

Just curious...why did you sell and what did you buy?

Not really my comment, but, I similary sold my Macbook Air 2011, my own and the wife's. It's planned obsolescence by Apple releasing new hardware every year. I got the new retina display-equipped Macbook Pro 15". The wife got this year's Macbook Air 2012.

Apple makes their money by selling you hardware. Either you maintain it's recency, or you eventually 'can't do this and can't do that. What is a shame though is, it is environmentally unfriendly especially with Apple's increasing trend towards commoditization of their products. (i.e., hard wiring the memory to the system board). If something happens to the hardwired memory... you're screwed. Through the system away (=environmental unfriendly) and replace it with a new one. With modularity, one can replace a hard disk (or SSD), or memory, etc., and still get good mileage of the main unit. But, this is not Apple's way in the modern age. There is good and bad in both ways though. So, figure it's better to stay current with technology.

Worked perfectly!! Thank you.

Worked perfectly, thank you!

I have only had my Yosemite powered Macbook Air for less than 1 day, and it's going back to the store. There is nothing on it other than a few pics and 4 songs...and my Apple id. Nothing I'm concede about, but I did need to enter my credit card info for an iTunes account. I bought it at staples here in Canada, so I hope they factory restore it. Any similar experiences, or input would be appreciated.

Why? because after my trusty old Dell 11Z gave up the ghost after 6 years of abuse...dropped, kicked, and more beer spilled on it than a casino floor. But it never faltered. My best friend, who has a Mac, implored me to "try" a mac again...my first experience in the early 90's was rather painful, as work required me to use one, I suffered through it. He loves his, so knowing he is not a ludite, and also owns PC's, I figured why not.

Well, right out of the box, the "coloured wheel of death" showed up. First when prompted to update software...It kept telling me I had 4 updates to install...never happened. The box remained greyed out...the wheel kept turning round and round. So I moved on to Garage band...ditto with the wheel of death. Itunes finally updated, after about an hour of relaunching and hoping...only to prompt me, many, many times, to log in...to eveything...did I mention many times? So at this juncture, the Dell XPS 13 was starting to look pretty good. My wise and wonderful wife suggested I sleep on it and decide with a cooler head. I did. The mac goes back. I really had high expectations. Bummed. Sorry to drone on, but I'm sure someone would ask why I was "jumping ship" so soon.

Having also just had my Macbook Air for about a day, I can say that the events you are describing are normal. It most likely wanted you to update iTunes and the operating system before it would let you update the other 4 apps. After the restart, it would probably prompt you to log into iCloud, iTunes, and iMessages. Especially if you have other Apple devices that can hand off with the Mac.

Sorry to hear that you're giving up so soon. If you had decided to hold onto it, there are plenty of helpful people on these forums that could have talked you through your frustrations.

Thanks for your words of encouragement. The mac got a last minute reprieve, after, I cooled off...again... and did the logical thing. I called Apple support...free for another 65 days lol...and the very kind and patient tech, calmly sorted out the problem, and explained why it happened (something to do with permission settings for program updates or something) anyway...no more wheel of death, all seems stable now. Hating it less as time goes on...maybe...I will learn to...like it? 😮 I am learning loads of stuff from a David Cox on YouTube...I like step by step stuff...I'm old 😉

really work for my mac air, thanks