Reset Macbook pro for a new owner

Restart with the Option, Command, and R keys held down, and see if Apple's Internet Recovery system appears. If that Mac is too old to use it, you need a disk; append the last three characters of its serial number to http://www.everymac.com/ultimate-mac-lookup/?search_keywords= , load the page, and post its original OS version here to determine which ones it can use.

(131855)

To properly transfer ownership you must do what the former owner should have done before parting with it. To correctly sell or transfer ownership of a Mac, even to someone in your family, you must follow these instructions.

Refer to What to do before selling or giving away your Mac

1. If you enabled FileVault, disable it in System Preferences > Security & Privacy.
2. "Deauthorize" your iTunes account. Same for Audible if you have one.
3. System Preferences > iCloud > de-select "Back to My Mac" and "Find my Mac".
4. Sign out of iCloud. Select "Delete from Mac" when it appears.

Next: Remove all your personal information by completely erasing the Mac's internal storage.

1. If your Mac shipped with a grey System Install DVD, start your Mac with that disc inserted in the optical drive while holding the c key to boot from it instead of its internal volume, which should be erased before selling it.
2. If your Mac did not ship with discs, boot OS X Internet Recovery:
   • using three fingers press and hold the following keys: ⌘(command), option, and R.
   • With a fourth finger press the power button to turn on the Mac.
   • Keep the other three fingers where they are until you see the "spinning globe" icon.
   • This method forces the Mac to download its originally installed OS from Apple's servers, which will not require an Apple ID to install.
3. Remove any Open Firmware password if you created one: select Firmware Password Utility from the Utilities menu and remove it.
4. Select Disk Utility from the Utilities menu.
5. Remove any partitions you may have created.
6. Select the Mac's hard disk icon, then select the "Erase" tab.
7. Select the "Security Options" button and erase the disk.
   • The more "securely" you erase the disk, the longer it will take.
   • The fastest method is sufficient since all but the most expensive techniques and equipment will be able to recover securely erased data.
8. When it finishes, quit Disk Utility.
9. Select Install Mac OS X from the Utilities menu.
   • An Apple ID will not be required. If a prompt for an Apple ID appears, return to Step 5.
   • Do not create any user accounts.
10. When it finishes, shut down the computer.
11. If you want to install the bundled apps that were included with your Mac, restart by using your Applications DVD if one was included, and install the bundled apps.

    Apps bundled with newer Macs that shipped without discs cannot be transferred. Its new owner must purchase them from the Mac App Store using his or her own Apple ID.

If the Mac is being sold to someone outside the family consider the following additional information:

1. System Install DVDs that came with your Mac should remain with it forever, and must be included with the sale.
2. Consider including your AppleCare certificate if you bought it, printed documentation, even the box if you still have it.

   AppleCare stays with the equipment and is transferable.

3. Execute a bill of sale showing the Mac's serial number.
4. Once no longer in your possession, remove the Mac from your devices in My Support Profile.

Before acquiring a second-hand computer, you should have run Apple Diagnostics or the Apple Hardware Test, whichever is applicable.

The first thing to do after acquiring the computer is to erase the internal drive and install a clean copy of OS X. You—not the original owner—must do that. Changes made by Apple over the years have made this seemingly straightforward task very complex.

How you go about it depends on the model, and on whether you already own another Mac. If you're not sure of the model, enter the serial number on this page. Then find the model on this page to see what OS version was originally installed.

It's unsafe, and may be unlawful, to use a computer with software installed by a previous owner.

1. If you don't own another Mac

a. If the machine shipped with OS X 10.4 or 10.5, you need a boxed and shrink-wrapped retail Snow Leopard (OS X 10.6) installation disc from the Apple Store or a reputable reseller—not from eBay or anything of the kind. If the machine is very old and has less than 1 GB of memory, you'll need to add more in order to install 10.6. Preferably, install as much memory as it can take, according to the technical specifications.

b. If the machine shipped with OS X 10.6, you need the installation media that came with it: gray installation discs, or a USB flash drive for a MacBook Air. You should have received the media from the original owner, but if you didn't, order replacements from Apple. A retail disc, or the gray discs from another model, will not work.

To start up from an optical disc or a flash drive, insert it, then restart the computer and hold down the C key at the startup chime. Release the key when you see the gray Apple logo on the screen.

c. If the machine shipped with OS X 10.7 or later, you don't need media. It should start up in Internet Recovery mode when you hold down the key combination option-command-R at the startup chime. Release the keys when you see a spinning globe.

d. Some 2010-2011 models shipped with OS X 10.6 and received a firmware update after 10.7 was released, enabling them to use Internet Recovery. If you have one of those models, you can't reinstall 10.6 even from the original media, and Internet Recovery will not work either without the original owner's Apple ID. In that case, contact Apple Support, or take the machine to an Apple Store or another authorized service provider to have the OS installed.

2. If you do own another Mac

If you already own another Mac that was upgraded in the App Store to the version of OS X that you want to install, and if the new Mac is compatible with it, then you can install it. Use Recovery Disk Assistant to prepare a USB device, then start up the new Mac from it by holding down the C key at the startup chime. Alternatively, if you have a Time Machine backup of OS X 10.7.3 or later on an external hard drive (not a Time Capsule or other network device), you can start from that by holding down the option key and selecting it from the row of icons that appears. Note that if your other Mac was never upgraded in the App Store, you can't use this method.

3. Partition and install OS X

a. If you see a lock screen when trying to start up from installation media or in Recovery mode, then a firmware password was set by the previous owner, or the machine was remotely locked via iCloud. You'll either have to contact the owner or take the machine to an Apple Store or another service provider to be unlocked. You may be asked for proof of ownership.

b. Launch Disk Utility and select the icon of the internal drive—not any of the volume icons nested beneath it. In the Partition tab, select the default options: a GUID partition table with one data volume in Mac OS Extended (Journaled) format. This operation will permanently remove all existing data on the drive.

c. An unusual problem may arise if all the following conditions apply:

OS X 10.7 or later was installed by the previous owner

The startup volume was encrypted with FileVault

You're booted in Recovery mode (that is, not from a 10.6 installation disc)

In that case, you won't be able to unlock the volume or partition the drive without the FileVault password. Ask for guidance or see this discussion.

d. After partitioning, quit Disk Utility and run the OS X Installer. If you're installing a version of OS X acquired from the App Store, you will need the Apple ID and password that you used. When the installation is done, the system will automatically restart into the Setup Assistant, which will prompt you to transfer the data from another Mac, its backups, or from a Windows computer. If you have any data to transfer, this is usually the best time to do it.

e. Run Software Update and install all available system updates from Apple. To upgrade to a major version of OS X newer than 10.6, get it from the Mac App Store. Note that you can't keep an upgraded version that was installed by the original owner. He or she can't legally transfer it to you, and without the Apple ID you won't be able to update it in Software Update or reinstall, if that becomes necessary. The same goes for any App Store products that the previous owner installed—you have to repurchase them.

4. Other issues

a. If the original owner "accepted" the bundled iLife applications (iPhoto, iMovie, and Garage Band) in the App Store so that he or she could update them, then they're irrevocably linked to that Apple ID and you won't be able to download them without buying them. Reportedly, Mac App Store Customer Service has sometimes issued redemption codes for these apps to second owners who asked.

b. If the previous owner didn't deauthorize the computer in the iTunes Store under his Apple ID, you wont be able to authorize it immediately under your ID. In that case, you'll either have to wait up to 90 days or contact iTunes Support.

c. When trying to create a new iCloud account, you might get a failure message: "Account limit reached." Apple imposes a lifetime limit of three iCloud account setups per device. Erasing the device does not reset the limit. You can still use an iCloud account that was created on another device, but you won't be able to create a new one. Contact iCloud Support for more information. The setup limit doesn't apply to Apple ID accounts used for other services, such as the iTunes and Mac App Stores, or iMessage. You can create as many of those accounts as you like.