dr_evill
Level 1 (0 points)

Q: Need Help

I bought a mac from a friend and need to know how to clear all his personal stuff and making it all my own?  In other words, when you first open a mac out of the box and it lets you set it up with your own info.  I want the computer to be in my name all together.  How do I do that with no discs?

Posted on Jul 11, 2012 11:03 PM

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dr_evill

Q: Need Help

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  • Helpful answers

  • by Kappy,

    Kappy Kappy Jul 11, 2012 11:05 PM in response to dr_evill
    Level 10 (271,811 points)
    Desktops
    Jul 11, 2012 11:05 PM in response to dr_evill

    You can't do that without installer discs.

  • by dr_evill,

    dr_evill dr_evill Jul 11, 2012 11:05 PM in response to Kappy
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jul 11, 2012 11:05 PM in response to Kappy

    how would i use installer discs if lion is purchased on the app store?

  • by clintonfrombirmingham,

    clintonfrombirmingham clintonfrombirmingham Jul 11, 2012 11:07 PM in response to dr_evill
    Level 7 (30,009 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jul 11, 2012 11:07 PM in response to dr_evill

    What OS are you running? Is your friends user account still active? Maybe this will help - http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1428. If you want to change the name of your computer, just go to Sharing in System Preferences and edit the name of the computer.

     

    Call back with any questions,

     

    Clinton

  • by shldr2thewheel,

    shldr2thewheel shldr2thewheel Jul 11, 2012 11:09 PM in response to dr_evill
    Level 7 (25,881 points)
    Jul 11, 2012 11:09 PM in response to dr_evill

    ask your friend if the mac was bought new with Lion already installed from the factory.  If not, you need the disks and can purchase them by calling AppleCare.

  • by dr_evill,

    dr_evill dr_evill Jul 11, 2012 11:10 PM in response to clintonfrombirmingham
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jul 11, 2012 11:10 PM in response to clintonfrombirmingham

    its currently running snow leopard. I already changed the name in system preferences>sharing.  However, I see his name on the home folder in finder (has the house symbol picture).  I can't figure out how to change that folder name.  I also changed the account name in system preferences>accounts.

  • by Kappy,

    Kappy Kappy Jul 11, 2012 11:10 PM in response to dr_evill
    Level 10 (271,811 points)
    Desktops
    Jul 11, 2012 11:10 PM in response to dr_evill

    Well you stated you had no discs. You did not state you were running Lion. It helps to give us reliable information so we can help you.

     

    You would use the Recovery HD that Lion created:

     

    Install or Reinstall Lion from Scratch

     

    If possible backup your files to an external drive or second internal drive.

     

    Boot to the Recovery HD:

     

    Restart the computer and after the chime press and hold down the COMMAND and R keys until the menu screen appears. Alternatively, restart the computer and after the chime press and hold down the OPTION key until the boot manager screen appears. Select the Recovery HD and click on the downward pointing arrow button.

     

    Erase the hard drive:

     

    1. Select Disk Utility from the main menu and click on the Continue button.
    2. After DU loads select your startup volume (usually Macintosh HD) from the left side list. Click on the Erase tab in the DU main window.
    3. Set the format type to Mac OS Extended (Journaled.) Click on the Erase button and wait until the process has completed.
    4. Quit DU and return to the main menu.

     

    Reinstall Lion: Select Reinstall Lion and click on the Install button.

     

    Note: You will need an active Internet connection. I suggest using Ethernet if possible because it is three times faster than wireless.


  • by Kappy,

    Kappy Kappy Jul 11, 2012 11:13 PM in response to dr_evill
    Level 10 (271,811 points)
    Desktops
    Jul 11, 2012 11:13 PM in response to dr_evill

    So, now you say you are running Snow Leopard. Could you please make up your mind?

     

    You cannot reset the computer to factory default without the Snow Leopard DVD which you can buy for $29.00 from the Apple Online Store.

     

    In the meanwhile what you can do is create a new user account that you wish to use. Log into that new account then delete the old one. Do not attempt to rename the existing account because you don't know how, and you need an installer DVD to do so.

  • by clintonfrombirmingham,

    clintonfrombirmingham clintonfrombirmingham Jul 11, 2012 11:15 PM in response to dr_evill
    Level 7 (30,009 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jul 11, 2012 11:15 PM in response to dr_evill

    The tech support doc that I posted a link to should help you in changing the users. Also note that you may just want to scrap his home folder as there would be nothing in it except for his personal documents, etc.

     

    Clinton

  • by dr_evill,

    dr_evill dr_evill Jul 11, 2012 11:15 PM in response to clintonfrombirmingham
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jul 11, 2012 11:15 PM in response to clintonfrombirmingham

    Clinton, I saw that link in an older post, but I cannot seem to find a way to log in as root.  I've tried all the directions.  No idea how to log in as root.  I'm to the point now where I'd rather just wipe the computer clean and start it out just like it was brand new out of the box.

  • by clintonfrombirmingham,

    clintonfrombirmingham clintonfrombirmingham Jul 11, 2012 11:24 PM in response to dr_evill
    Level 7 (30,009 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jul 11, 2012 11:24 PM in response to dr_evill

    The other's are right - you'll either have to upgrade to Lion (for it's Recovery partition) to wipe the disk and start anew, or you'll have to buy the Snow Leopard disc. Either way, you're going to spend $30.

     

    See this - http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1528 - for helping you to set up a root account... if that's the way you choose to go.

     

    Call back with any questions,

     

    Clinton