I have an iMac with 10.8 and it's getting slower as I download things. So I want to reset the computer clean, but don't know how. I have 10.8, like I said, but don't have a disl or anything. I've checked other tutorials and they have a installation disk, which I don't have. Any other ways?
iMac (21.5-inch, Late 2012), OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.5)
Lion (10.7.x) and forward do not have installation discs. However the real question is on such a new machien why in the world do you want to set the machine to the factory settings, OS X is not like a Windows box that requires that to be done annually. You can do it of course but before you go down that road why not properly troubleshoot your problem whatever it is.
I ran out of space in my Hard Drive and wish to reset it 😝
Most people run out of space on their hard disk by filling it with lots of music (iTunes), photos (iPhoto or Aperture) or movies. If that is the case with your machine the solution is very very simple, move those libraries to an external HD which frees up the space of your internal HD.
Is that is what is happening with your machine?
I checked About Mac, and seems to be mostly Other and Movies. But I'd rather have them deleted then moving into an external HD. Most are just junk and moving into another HD will be a waste of space.
OK. Well before you do ANYTHING do a complete backup of your computer to an EHD using Time Machine or create a bootable clone. Then test the backup to ensure it works.
After backing up and testing it boot to the Recovery Partition. How you do that is simple, restart and when you hear the startup tone hold down the Option Key and choose the Recovery Partition.
Open Disk Utility and do an erase of the internal HD, next exit Disk Utility and while still in the Recovery Partition do an Install of OS X to your internal HD. If you screw it up then you will have to take a trip with the machine to your local Apple Store or AASP to have it done correctly. Note I DO NOT RECOMMEND doing this so all this risk is yours.
Now, I want to move my files to an external HD. The way you say it scares me, and I'd rather not mess with the Internal HD with summon commands.
Do you have a tested Time Machine or Bootable Clone backup? If not that is the very first thing you need to do, without one you are taking a huge risk.
How to restore Imac 10.8 to Factory Settings?
