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How to factory reset OS X Yosemite?

I have a lot of unnecessary stuff, files, etc. that I want to wipe from my computer; all of the important things have already been backed up to USB, and so I want to start my spring cleaning with a spring cleaning of my laptop.


I've looked up how to factory reset, has gotten as far as the Disk Utility, but am unable to actually interact with anything on the Erase tab menu.


Has anybody else come across this issue? Does anybody know any solutions?


I'm running on OS X Yosemite (version 10.10.2), if that affects anything.

MacBook Pro, OS X Yosemite (10.10.2)

Posted on Apr 28, 2015 8:18 PM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Apr 28, 2015 8:29 PM

Install or Reinstall OS X from Scratch


Be sure you backup your files to an external drive or second internal drive because the following procedure will remove everything from the hard 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.) Optionally, click on

the Security button and set the Zero Data option to one-pass. Click on

the Erase button and wait until the process has completed.


4. Quit DU and return to the main menu.


Reinstall OS X: Select Reinstall OS X 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.


This should install the version of OS X that you had installed.

3 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Apr 28, 2015 8:29 PM in response to KathrynAnon

Install or Reinstall OS X from Scratch


Be sure you backup your files to an external drive or second internal drive because the following procedure will remove everything from the hard 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.) Optionally, click on

the Security button and set the Zero Data option to one-pass. Click on

the Erase button and wait until the process has completed.


4. Quit DU and return to the main menu.


Reinstall OS X: Select Reinstall OS X 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.


This should install the version of OS X that you had installed.

How to factory reset OS X Yosemite?

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