So my mac is pretty slow now, because throughout the years I've installed and downloaded loads of **** and I just wanna delete all the content on the computer (except my pictures and documents, the rest is stored in iCloud). After I have backed up this, what do I do to safely reset my mac, so that everything is the same as when I got it? I want to keep my microsoft office though.
MacBook Pro, OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.2), null
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.
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.
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.
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.
Since there is usually little or no reason to do that, maybe if you could please download and install EtreCheck from http://www.etresoft.com/etrecheck
This might provide us with enough information to tell you an easier way to fix your Mac.
Run it and post the report here.
After years of use and abuse sometimes the best solution is to erase the drive and start from scratch. I do that at least once or twice a year. Of course, I do keep lots of backups. 🙂
To each his own but I have never felt the need to do that.
I know with Windows it was imperative that you do that but with the Mac running OS X which is based on Unix, I have alway felt that was more a waste of time. That is providing you have have not used cleaning, speed enhancing or AV apps on the Mac. If you have then it is quite likely you will need to erase and reinstall. I tend to stay far, far away from all of that scamware so I have never needed to do that
Being retired IT, I also do backups. I currently do two regular with an additional one of my photos.
How to reset mac?
