radiochris
Level 1 (0 points)

Q: How to reset or restore factory setting on PowerBook before selling?

I want to sell my old PowerBook g4 but I don't have to original install discs to install a fresh copy of Leopard. Is there any way possibe to reset or restore the factory settings and delete all my information without having to do it manually?

 

Thanks in advance!

Powerbook G4, Mac OS X (10.5.8)

Posted on Jan 21, 2013 1:13 PM

by edex67,Solvedanswer
edex67 edex67
Level 4 (3,250 points)
A:
  1. Reboot the machine in single user mode (Cmd-S while booting).
  2. Type cd /Users.
  3. Type rm -rf * (BE CAREFUL! Make sure you are in the users directory!)
  4. cd /var/db/netinfo
  5. rm local.nidb
  6. cd ..
  7. rm .AppleSetupDone

Reboot. You should be back at the welcome screen.

Posted on Jan 21, 2013 11:50 PM

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radiochris

Q: How to reset or restore factory setting on PowerBook before selling?

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  • Helpful answers

  • by edex67,Solvedanswer

    edex67 edex67 Jan 21, 2013 11:50 PM in response to radiochris
    Level 4 (3,250 points)
    Jan 21, 2013 11:50 PM in response to radiochris
    1. Reboot the machine in single user mode (Cmd-S while booting).
    2. Type cd /Users.
    3. Type rm -rf * (BE CAREFUL! Make sure you are in the users directory!)
    4. cd /var/db/netinfo
    5. rm local.nidb
    6. cd ..
    7. rm .AppleSetupDone

    Reboot. You should be back at the welcome screen.

  • by tanner1294,

    tanner1294 tanner1294 Jan 22, 2013 9:25 AM in response to edex67
    Level 1 (10 points)
    Jan 22, 2013 9:25 AM in response to edex67

    Look up how to log into OS X under the Root account and delete whatever user accounts were/are on the machine before you do what edex67 has said. That way when the computer boots to the Welcome To OS X screen, there will be no other accounts except the one that's being created right then.

  • by edex67,

    edex67 edex67 Jan 23, 2013 8:20 AM in response to tanner1294
    Level 4 (3,250 points)
    Jan 23, 2013 8:20 AM in response to tanner1294

    Yes, you could do that (although I thought that's what steps 3 and 5 did?)