mgray87
Level 1 (0 points)

Q: How do I restore factory settings on MacBook Air?

Just bought a new-to-me 13" MacBook Air.

How do I restore it to factory settings & get rid of all the other person's residue?

MacBook Air, Mac OS X (10.7.5)

Posted on Apr 19, 2013 5:02 PM

by Bimmer 7 Series,Solvedanswer
Bimmer 7 Series Bimmer 7 Series
Level 6 (10,282 points)
A:

if your new-to-you Macbook Air is running Lion or Mountain Lion - start your Macbook Air while holding down the command + r key and when you see the recovery menu - go to disk utility and erase/format your hard drive to Mac OS Journaled Extended - after you have done that - exit disk utility and reinstall your OS.

 

if your Macbook is a 2010 or older - it came with a USB Installer.  Stick that USB installer in your USB Port - turn your macbook on while holding down the options key and select your USB installer as your boot drive - again, go to disk utility - format/erase the drive then proceed to install.

Posted on Apr 19, 2013 5:28 PM

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mgray87

Q: How do I restore factory settings on MacBook Air?

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  • Helpful answers

  • by Bimmer 7 Series,Solvedanswer

    Bimmer 7 Series Bimmer 7 Series Apr 19, 2013 5:28 PM in response to mgray87
    Level 6 (10,282 points)
    Apr 19, 2013 5:28 PM in response to mgray87

    if your new-to-you Macbook Air is running Lion or Mountain Lion - start your Macbook Air while holding down the command + r key and when you see the recovery menu - go to disk utility and erase/format your hard drive to Mac OS Journaled Extended - after you have done that - exit disk utility and reinstall your OS.

     

    if your Macbook is a 2010 or older - it came with a USB Installer.  Stick that USB installer in your USB Port - turn your macbook on while holding down the options key and select your USB installer as your boot drive - again, go to disk utility - format/erase the drive then proceed to install.

  • by mgray87,

    mgray87 mgray87 Apr 19, 2013 8:20 PM in response to Bimmer 7 Series
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 19, 2013 8:20 PM in response to Bimmer 7 Series

    Thanks Bimmer!

    I believe this is a 2012 model, and nothing else was in the box. Am I to assume that everything needed to reinstall the OS is on the machine, or do I need something that should have been included?

  • by Niel,Helpful

    Niel Niel Apr 19, 2013 8:22 PM in response to mgray87
    Level 10 (314,073 points)
    Mac OS X
    Apr 19, 2013 8:22 PM in response to mgray87

    Macs which originally ship with Mac OS X 10.7 and 10.8 contain a preloaded recovery partition; this plus an Internet connection is enough to reinstall the OS.

     

    (81324)

  • by Bimmer 7 Series,

    Bimmer 7 Series Bimmer 7 Series Apr 19, 2013 8:37 PM in response to mgray87
    Level 6 (10,282 points)
    Apr 19, 2013 8:37 PM in response to mgray87

    you're welcome.....

     

    Yes, as Niel has pointed out - everything you need is preloaded in the recovery partition.