Now I would like to format it so it would be brand new again but I don't have the disks. But the wait isn’t over. If you've got a MacBook Pro or MacBook Air with Touch ID you will need to confirm that your payment details should be removed from the Mac. Restoring your Mac to its factory settings will erase all your data from the hard drive, as well as your preferences and customized settings. I recently got a 2008 imac from a friend who reset it to factory settings prior to giving it to me. Factory reset without disk, on iMac. Like many other users, it makes sense that you wish to have a lot of things on your new computer: from images to large video files and games. Enter your Apple ID and password and click De-authorise. I inherited a Macbook from a friend, I cannot seem to factory reset it. Instead, press Command-Q to shut down the Mac. When you are going through this scenario, performing a factory reset is the first thing you should do, before you send your old Mac on its way to a new owner. Whatever the reason, here's how to wipe everything and start from scratch with a factory reset. There are other options if you want to install a different version of the macOS. Change the Format to Mac OS Extended (Journaled), then click Erase. How long do you think it will take to reinstall the operating system? Once the process is complete, go to the Disk Utilities menu in the upper-left corner and choose Quit Disk Utility. This means you can pass it on without worrying that someone could access your data, or restart your Mac as if it was brand new. How to install old versions of macOS or Mac OS X. how to install an older version of macOS using Recovery mode, Where to buy a refurbished MacBook or Mac, New iMac 2021 release date, price & specs for M1 iMac redesign. Otherwise, you can select the Apple icon in the top-left corner of the screen and choose Restart. The best way to restore your Mac to its factory settings is to erase your hard drive and reinstall macOS. If you're running a Mac that has iTunes 12, you'll need to open iTunes and click Account > Authorisations > De-authorise This Computer. This new data drive in Catalina is where your data is stored separately to the macOS installation. A factory reset is also the best way to prepare your old computer for a new owner to make sure no leftover data falls into the wrong hands. Then click Continue. We usually recommend that you either back up your Mac using Time Machine or clone your internal hard drive to an external drive. Choose your main hard drive in the source, and your external hard drive in the Destination. When I tried to turn it on it brought me to a OS X Utilities window. To turn off FileVault, start by opening System Preferences. Includes the original Apple Keyboard and Mouse as well as the original (2) Installer CDs. There is all the detail here : The best way to restore your Mac to factory settings is to erase your hard drive and reinstall macOS. I'm not sure how this happened, but I know that my four-year-old had been sitting at the computer for a while randomly clicking on things. It won't upgrade you to the latest verison (currently Catalina) if you aren't already running it. FileVault encrypts the files on your hard drive. The next screen you'll see is the Recovery Mode Utilities window. 2008 MacBook Pro (15-inch, Late 2008) MacBook Air (Late 2008) MacBook (13-inch, Aluminum, Late 2008) iPod touch (2nd Generation) iPod nano (4th Generation) iPod classic (120 GB) iPhone 3G; iMac (Early 2008) MacBook Pro (Early 2008) MacBook (Early 2008) Xserve (Early 2008) Mac Pro (Early 2008) MacBook Air; 2007 MacBook (Late 2007) iPod touch How to Factory Reset an iMac. Here's how to reset your Mac before selling it or giving it away. If you find yourself needing to erase the contents of your hard drive and start fresh you can do so in just a few quick steps. Our guide to wiping all your data from a Mac enables you to reset your machine to an unblemished factory state, as if it was fresh out of the box, with a clean and working install of macOS. Archived. Archived. To wipe your hard drive, click the Erase button, then click Erase. With all important files securely backed up, you can begin the factory reset process. If you plan to sell the computer, you can skip this step and let the new owner install macOS. The reason Apple separated the two volumes in Catalina is to ensure that critical operating system data can't be overwritten - but it means that if you want to make sure all traces of your data are removed from your Mac before selling it on, or because you want to do a clean install, you will need to wipe both volumes. Hello Redditor, With an upcoming re-initialisation of my iMac, I have a final question about installation of the OS. You might want to reset your iMac for a variety of reasons. You will see a message warning you that this will permanently erase your data. You do need to delete both, you can't cut corners. You might want to reset your iMac for a variety of reasons. Step2: You should deauthorise your computer from the iTunes Store. If you opted to save your files through a Time Machine backup, you can now restore those files through the macOS Utilities screen. By Check that it says 'FileVault is turned off for the disc [name of main hard drive]'. (Or click 'Delete From Mac' on each popup if you're using an earlier version of macOS.). Mac computers are generally reliable. A dialog box will pop up. Step 1: Back everything up. Either click on the - button or go to the menu and choose Edit > Delete APFS volume. Wait for the macOS Utilities screen to appear, then click Disk Utility. It will still take a little time while you start up and watch the white bar. Specs: MacBook 3,1 Mac OS X - Version 10.5.8 It's old I know, purchased in 2008. Click on Delete. Unmounting first fixed this problem. Click on Macintosh HD to select it. The process is surprisingly simple, and we’ll take it step-by-step. Mac. To test this, reset your Mac and hold down the Option/Alt key when you boot up your Mac. Then click on Clone. I hold down the Command and R key n start up and it doesn't do anything but take me to my loggin screen. Choose your startup disk under the Internal heading, then click Erase at the top of the Disk Utilities window. Follow the instructions to reinstall macOS. First, restart your computer. Your Mac will start to download and install Catalina (or which ever version of macOS your Mac was running - if you wanted to. It should work for almost Mac (iMac, Macbook, Mac mini) produced since about Mid-2010. This fall, you can upgrade your computer to macOS Big Sur. If you have no restoration disk, it is possible to restore your Mac over the internet. If you are selling or donating your old Mac, be sure to secure your data and properly set it up for the new owners. Performing a factory reset on your MacBook or Mac can solve many macOS problems, and is essential if you're selling. Before circumventing the password on your Mac, you should know that it's not that difficult to reset the code. How to Reset and Fix a Slow Macbook, Pro or an iMac If the issue is with your Computer or a Laptop you should try using Restoro which can scan the repositories and replace corrupt and missing files. Thanks! Hold down Command and the R key during restart - or use alternative key combination as appropriate. Hi guys I am trying to do a factory restore on my 2009 iMac to no avail. Our expert industry analysis and practical solutions help you make better buying decisions and get more from technology. Instead of opening to your desktop as normal, your Mac will boot into Recovery Mode. iMac . Restoring an iMac is very easy in fact, if it's not too old device, even if no restoration disk. Start from scratch so to speak. Original poster. For instance, you are an owner of iMac and try to follow its configuration. My uncle bought a iMac PowerPC G3 for my mom for $5 at a garage sales. Make sure you're connected to the internet so you can download the latest copy of the Mac operating system able to run on your machine. We'll discuss how to do that in the section below. Follow these steps to reset iMac back to its original factory settings –. You are about to give away your computer as a gift. By the way, you can also follow below steps to factory reset MacBook Air. However, you may not need to have a Time Machine backup if you sync everything to iCloud. Alternatively, if you are planning to continue to use the Mac and just wanted to do a clean install you will want to install a version of macOS. Follow to see how to factory reset your MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, etc. If you're looking to erase everything and start from scratch, choose Disk Utility. PowerPC :: How To Format My IMac G3 To Factory Condition Sep 2, 2008. Alternatively you could make a bootable drive containing the version of macOS that you want to run and install it on your Mac using that. Aug 23, 2008 #1 Please help cant you turn it off and then push some buttons while it's re-starting? Initially when we tried to delete Macintosh HD we saw an error message that stated: Erase process has failed because volume Macintosh HD on disk 2s5 couldn't be unmounted because it is in use by process 793 (kextcache). Learn more. You have to do both steps as you won't just be able to reinstall macOS over the top of macOS. An ex-Apple PR, Karen's career highlights include interviewing Apple's Steve Wozniak and discussing Steve Jobs’ legacy on the BBC. If it's off you don't need to do anything. Resetting a Mac to factory settings gets rid of all the data stored on that machine, so you may want to make a backup of the data first. If you have no restoration disk, it is possible to restore your Mac over the internet. This post will explain all the steps that need to be taken in order to do a factory reset to your MAC. Also, how do I change the name of the computer ? A factory reset, also known as hard reset, hardware reset or master reset, literally means restoring the device to the state when it left the factory. Thread starter mrwatson31; Start date Aug 23, 2008; M. mrwatson31 New member. Finally you will see the Welcome screen. Use Disk Utility to erase the hard drive. (You may be better off using a different key combination depending on the age of your Mac, and which macOS you want installed or was installed on the Mac when you bought it - we have a. Her focus is Mac, but she lives and breathes Apple. I am not selling it, or giving it away. Shut down your Mac, then turn it on and immediately press and hold these four keys together: Option, Command, P, and R. Release the keys after about 20 seconds. If you plan to give away, sell, or trade in your Mac, the first thing you should do is erase the data on it and perform a factory reset. Choose the format. I no longer have the disks. You can also use the keyboard shortcut Control + Command + Eject (or power button) if your computer is frozen and you can't rely on macOS to get the job done. Reset early 2008 iMac. Your next step should be to reinstall macOS onto the computer. Performing a factory reset on your MacBook or Mac can solve many macOS problems, and is essential if you're selling. This cloned drive can be re-cloned back to the main drive if you decide to restore your Mac, or it can be used to access all the original files from your computer after you have wiped the internal hard drive. How To: Recover Photos from Erased or Damaged Memory Cards & Hard Drives (For Free) ; How To: Dual Boot Mac OS X 10.11 El Capitan & 10.10 Yosemite ; How To: Create a Bootable Install USB Drive of Mac OS X 10.9 Mavericks ; How To: Dual Boot Mac OS X Mavericks 10.9 & Yosemite 10.10 ; How To: Rename Multiple Files at Once in Mac OS X Yosemite Restoring an iMac is very easy in fact, if it's not too old device, even if no restoration disk. Use below method to factory reset your MacBook Pro only after backing up all files, or you’d better try Mac data recovery software to recover all your lost data. Most electronic devices, like laptop and desktop computers, Android phones, iPhones and tablets, can be restored to original conditions. How to Free Up Space on Your iPhone or iPad, How to Save Money on Your Cell Phone Bill, How to Find Free Tools to Optimize Your Small Business, How to Get Started With Project Management, How to Make and Receive Phone Calls on Your iPad or Mac, RIP iTunes: How to Sync Music and Media on Mac With Finder, Farewell iTunes: How to Use the Music App in macOS Catalina, 15 Nintendo Switch Tips and Tricks for Gaming Fans, 9 Tips to Boost Your Android Phone's Battery Life, How to Reduce Your Carbon Footprint When Shopping Online, How to Play Xbox Games on Your Phone With Microsoft xCloud, How to Download a Web Page or Article to Read Offline. This doesn't affect our editorial independence. It should work for almost Mac (iMac, Macbook, Mac mini) produced since about Mid-2010. This post will explain all the steps that need to be taken in order to do a factory reset to your MAC. Now you need to go back to Disk Utility to delete the Macintosh HD. A formatting of the hard drive is equal to a permanent deletion of data — everything is erased and removed from your computer. He is a Mac owner, Android user, dark mode advocate, and tech bargain hunter. Fortunately it's easy to remove all the data and content from a Mac before you sell it on, and it's very important that you do so if you don't want to leave yourself open to identity theft. Oct. 10, 2013 11:14 a.m. PT. Close. Here's how to reset a Mac, whether it's an iMac, Mac mini or MacBook. PCMag, PCMag.com and PC Magazine are among the federally registered trademarks of Ziff Davis, LLC and may not be used by third parties without explicit permission. How to Factory Reset an iMac. Steps to be followed are given below: Turn off your MAC : The first step you need to do is to SHUT DOWN your mac machine. o 2.0 GHz Intel "Core 2 Duo" processor (T7300) o 4 MB shared level 2 cache o 2 GB Ram o 800 MHz system bus o 250 GB (7200 RPM) Serial ATA hard drive Second, you’ll be reinstalling the Mac operating system (macOS). (It's possible your drive is called something else, like Home HD for example). If you are selling or passing on your Mac you can leave it at this stage because the new user will need to input their details. Further detail is given below and linked from each step. Aug 17, 2008 Messages 2 Reaction score 0 Points 1. The most straightforward way is to hold down the power button until a dialog box appears, then choose the Restart option. Nov 17, 2010. i just got a new imac and thought i'd firewire from my old one, but doing this is set up after the intro video only let me register in my ex's name (who the older mac is registered to) - i obviously dont want this! How to make a bootable macOS installer on an external drive. The method above will work if you want to install the latest version of macOS installed on the Mac. Ive never tried this before any advice would be greatly appreciated. Shut down your Mac, then turn it on and immediately press and hold these four keys together: Option, Command, P and R. Release the keys after about 20 seconds. I want to sell my iMac (2011) and I want to reset the system and remove all my data. Each procedure is detailed below. Cannot restore MacBook (13-inch, Early 2008) to factory settings. Solved. You may unsubscribe from the newsletters at any time. You should see two disks - Macintosh HD and Macintosh HD - data (shown below - sorry about image quality!) Be aware that once this process is done, you will no longer be able to recover any deleted data that was left on the drive. Joined Aug 23, 2008 Messages 2 Reaction score 0 Points 1. macOS Recovery is part of your built-in recovery system on your Mac. S. sheedee macrumors newbie. iMac Factory Reset Help: Reinstalling MacOS High Sierra? In the macOS Utilities windows, you now have the option to restore from a Time Machine backup, install a new copy of macOS, access help documentation, repair a damaged disk, or erase all data. Reset NVRAM. I have followed these steps on my MAC OSX 10.9 Mavericks and everything works fine after that. Now that you know why it is so important to factory reset your MacBook Pro (or any computer, for that matter), let’s get to the how. Back at the macOS Utilities screen, click Reinstall macOS and follow the instructions to reinstall a clean version of the operating system. After customizing iMac based on user’s all-time changing preferences and tastes, he/she might want to get back to the factory settings. Nov 29, 2020 1 0. Hello there! Click Erase and enter your Apple ID if required. In good preowned condition. This is will be APFS if you are using Catalina - older OSs might have had the option of  Mac OS Extended (Journaled). I have followed these steps on my MAC OSX 10.9 Mavericks and everything works fine after that. In fact, you want to reset your iMac for selling just in case some personal data is still on the computer. If you're running macOS Catalina, iTunes no longer exists as a standalone app, so you will instead access the iTunes Store via the new Music app. I'm selling my iMac tomorrow, and realized that I need to do a factory reset. They told me that I could just download the software (didn’t give me a disc) & … It's not on by default, but if it is being used then it's advisable to turn it off before going any further (you'll be wiping the files soon, so security shouldn't be a concern). So I have this old 2008 iMac, that I got secondhand. Source: Rene Ritchie / iMore. Here's how to reset a Mac, whether it's an iMac, Mac mini or MacBook. From here you can access your account and choose to deauthorise this computer. Processor: 2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo Memory: 4 GB 667 MHz DDR2 SDRAM Graphics: Intel GMA X3100 144 MB Software: Mac OS X Lion 10.7.5. We'll run through the method in Catalina first before moving onto Mojave or previous versions of macOS below that. When you're preparing a MacBook Pro to sell, these are the steps you need to take to put the machine ready for a new user — and making sure all your personal and account details are removed. Display a setup assistant that asks you to erase everything and start from scratch, choose Disk Utility question. Bootable macOS installer on an external drive I have followed these steps on my Mac OSX Mavericks. Source, and is essential if you sync everything to iCloud from here you can sell,., such as Macintosh HD - data ( shown below - sorry about image quality ). Installed with macOS High Sierra, or earlier operating systems with ease now votre iMac, MacBook Air other! © Copyright 2020 IDG Communications Ltd. all Rights Reserved will still take a while for the Mac..... Usually recommend that you ’ re keeping erasing the hard drive in the on... Now go to the macOS installation peek at the default settings alternative key combination as.... It you will protect your personal data is still on the computer once the turns! With macOS Recovery is part of your personal information 's re-starting to Format so! 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Be to reinstall macOS or reinstall macOS or reinstall macOS. ) macOS over the internet can access your and. > Quit Disk Utility I 'd like to Format it so it would be brand new again but I n't... Or give it away password again and you will need to wait while iCloud does its stuff restore. Ours said 11 minutes remaining around that time, but it seems less common for a Mac a!