How to reset mac mini to factory settings ?

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Level 1

11 points

How to reset mac mini to factory settings ?

Hi,

I have a mac mini with El capitan that I bought brand new one month ago.

I had set it up and have been using it for some time now, but I would like to reset it to factory settings, and re-setup the device.

1. Is it possible to do this without downloading the entire OS from the internet ?

2. Also I don't have any installation or recovery disc with me, but I understand it is possible to reset the system without any of these ?

3. What will be the size of the download from apple server ? Will the entire OS be downloaded from the internet ? Isn't there a recovery partition that contains the OS ?

Please help...

thanks

a

Note:

The reason for resetting the system is because there seems to be a process ( nsurlsessionid ) that is consuming my entire internet bandwidth, I searched in the internet, it seems this is triggered by some application, this was not there when I first installed it. Besides I have a macbook pro (mid 2012) that I purchased brand new around the same time, and this does not have any problems.

Posted on Oct 25, 2016 10:13 AM

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Answer 1

Csound1

Level 9

60,063 points

Oct 25, 2016 10:19 AM in response to arunfrommrt

If the mini still has its original version of OS X you can use Recovery, if you have upgraded then you must use Internet Recovery (which will only download the original version). This is because you do not have a license to transfer an upgraded version to anyone at all.

Recovery = Cmd-R

Internet Recovery = Cmd-Option-R

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Answer 2

Niel

Community+ 2026

Level 10

743,627 points

Oct 25, 2016 10:21 AM in response to arunfrommrt

1. Only if you previously created an installation thumbdrive.

2. See #5.

3. About 6.2GB.

4. Yes.

5. The recovery partition doesn't contain the entire OS; it only has an installer which downloads it and various utilities.

(145599)

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Answer 3

lllaass

Level 10

210,519 points

Oct 25, 2016 10:22 AM in response to arunfrommrt

What to do before selling or giving away your Mac - Apple Support

Yes, you have to download the entire El Capitan install file which is about 6 GB or so.

There is an Recovery partition that contains rudimental tools/uitilities.

Your Mac also has Internet Recovery that also allows you to install macOS on a new disk without the Recovery partition. That just also booting and then connects to the Internet to download tools/utilities

About macOS Recovery - Apple Support

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Answer 4

arunfrommrt Author

Level 1

11 points

Oct 25, 2016 9:14 PM in response to Niel

Niel wrote:

1. Only if you previously created an installation thumbdrive.

2. See #5.

3. About 6.2GB.

4. Yes.

5. The recovery partition doesn't contain the entire OS; it only has an installer which downloads it and various utilities.

(145599)

I searched some sites, they suggested using the El Capitan Installer app from the App Store, unfortunately I was unable to find it, could you suggest any other app for the purpose

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Answer 5

arunfrommrt Author

Level 1

11 points

Oct 25, 2016 9:16 PM in response to Csound1

Csound1 wrote:

If the mini still has its original version of OS X you can use Recovery, if you have upgraded then you must use Internet Recovery (which will only download the original version). This is because you do not have a license to transfer an upgraded version to anyone at all.

Recovery = Cmd-R

Internet Recovery = Cmd-Option-R

The mac mini is still using the original OS that it came with (El Capitan), does this mean by using the Recovery option (Cmd-R) I can reset the mac mini to factory state without downloading the entire OS from the internet ?

thanks

a

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Answer 6

Niel

Community+ 2026

Level 10

743,627 points

Oct 25, 2016 9:21 PM in response to arunfrommrt

The Mac App Store installers cannot be used to perform a factory restore, and unless you create an installation thumbdrive or have a blank partition or drive, cannot be used to perform a fresh installation. Use the recovery partition or the Internet Recovery system.

Regardless of whether you are able to use a Mac App Store installer or need to choose one of the options listed above, you'll need to download the entire OS.

(145608)

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