Cleaning up a MacBook Pro

[MikeFromMesa]

I will be giving my (early 2013 15" i7 Retina) MacBook Pro to a family member and was just about to restore it to its factory settings when a question popped into my mind. If I restore it to its factory settings that will clean it and restore it to Mavericks (which, as I remember, was the release OS). I will then give it to my step-son who will try to upgrade it to Sierra to be current, but that will require a 3 OS upgrade at once which may be a bit chancey. That made me wonder if there is any way to clean it completely, but leave the current OS in place. That is, is there any way to remove any personal information without doing a complete restore to a previous OS?

I will do a factory reset if needed, but I am trying to save my step-son the problem of having to upgrade 3 OS versions at one time. Or is a 3 OS update not an issue?

Thanks.

 

[Ember1205]

If you previously upgraded to each of the former OS'es, you may have the option to download the ISO's for them. This would afford you the opportunity to format the drive, re-install Mavericks, and then take it through each OS upgrade prior to handing it over. Or, you could just hand over the DVD's with the machine and let your step-son take it from there.

When re-setting a machine for use by someone new, I always prefer the format and re-install path because it ensures that EVERYTHING non-essential is removed.

 

[MikeFromMesa]

If you previously upgraded to each of the former OS'es, you may have the option to download the ISO's for them.

From where? I have updated the MBP to each subsequent OS but I do not know where I can download the appropriate images. I have never seen this option at the App Store, but perhaps I just never noticed.

When re-setting a machine for use by someone new, I always prefer the format and re-install path because it ensures that EVERYTHING non-essential is removed.

Reinstall path?

I can see the upside of doing that as everything is clean and, since I have a CCC backup of the MBP in its current state, I could always restore that backup if something fails. That sounds like the best option, provided I can get the ISO files to do it.

 

[pigoo3]

From where? I have updated the MBP to each subsequent OS but I do not know where I can download the appropriate images. I have never seen this option at the App Store, but perhaps I just never noticed.

Everytime an OS upgrade has been performed...the installer app was downloaded. This is how the OS upgrade installation takes place. What you may have experienced is:

- The OS upgrade installer is downloaded.
- The OS upgrade install process begins automatically.
- The OS upgrade install process completes.
- The downloaded OS ugrade app/installer is deleted automatically.
- The computer reboots into the newly upgraded OS.

What needs to be done is...after the install app is downloaded & the OS upgrade install starts automatically...is stop the install. Then you will have access to the OS installer file. This is how many folks make their own bootable OS installer on a USB thumb drive.

HTH,

- Nick

 

[Ember1205]

Look in your App Store account under "Purchased."

 

[MikeFromMesa]

Everytime an OS upgrade has been performed...the installer app was downloaded. This is how the OS upgrade installation takes place. What you may have experienced is:

- The OS upgrade installer is downloaded.
- The OS upgrade install process begins automatically.
- The OS upgrade install process completes.
- The downloaded OS ugrade app/installer is deleted automatically.
- The computer reboots into the newly upgraded OS.

What needs to be done is...after the install app is downloaded & the OS upgrade install starts automatically...is stop the install. Then you will have access to the OS installer file. This is how many folks make their own bootable OS installer on a USB thumb drive.

HTH,

- Nick

Since I have done 3 OS upgrades I am sure all of those installers are now gone from my system by now. The question is whether or not they are available anywhere.

It is good to know this is how it is done and will help me for future updates, but unless I can somehow find those installers online to download I do not see how they can help me now.

 

[pigoo3]

Since I have done 3 OS upgrades I am sure all of those installers are now gone from my system by now.

As I mentioned in my earlier post. The installers are automatically deleted when the OS upgrade is completed. That's why you do not have them.

...but unless I can somehow find those installers online to download I do not see how they can help me now.

Please see member Ember1205's earlier post. You need to sign into your Apple account...and look under "Purchased". Then redownload the OS installer you want.

- Nick

 

[pm-r]

Why not just setup a new admin "testuser" account, then login to use that account and delete your existing User account and any other personal folders/files you may have saved at the root drive volume level and then empty the trash.


I'll assume you have a backup if you want to use your data with a new Mac that you can Migrate if needed etc..






- Patrick
==========

 

[ferrarr]

You can also start up into Recovery, https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201314.

 

[MikeFromMesa]

As I mentioned in my earlier post. The installers are automatically deleted when the OS upgrade is completed. That's why you do not have them.



Please see member Ember1205's earlier post. You need to sign into your Apple account...and look under "Purchased". Then redownload the OS installer you want.

- Nick

Yes. I see it now. Thanks for pointing that out.

 

[MikeFromMesa]

Well, that turned out to be a lot easier than I had expected.

I followed the instructions, formatted the ssd and asked for a reinstall of the OS. I thought the machine would reinstall the original OS (Mavericks) but instead installed Sierra so I don't have to worry about upgrading the OS or having my step-son do it. It all appears to be done.

Thank you to everyone who posted for your help.

 

[pigoo3]

Congrats. Apple usually try's to make things pretty easy.

- Nick

 

[pm-r]

Congrats. Apple usually try's to make things pretty easy.
- Nick

Until one might want to go back to a non-current OS version that is…






- Patrick
==========

 

[Slydude]

Guys, I know that MikeFromMesa has resolved his issue but I would like to clarify something for the benefit of others reading this thread. If what I am about to say is incorrect please let me know:

Assume that someone restores a Mac to a previous OS version (in this case Mavericks). Can't said user then go straight to the newest OS the machine support? In other words can't they skip the intermediate OS versions?

 

[chscag]

Assume that someone restores a Mac to a previous OS version (in this case Mavericks). Can't said user then go straight to the newest OS the machine support? In other words can't they skip the intermediate OS versions?

Yes, assuming that the particular version of OS X is available to download. (My understanding is that Apple has now made El Capitan available for those owners of machines that can not support Sierra.)

Apple more or less does the same thing with versions of iOS. For example: My iPad 3 can not support any version of iOS greater than 9.3.5. However, 9.3.5 is available to me to download to my iPad 3 (not my iPhones).

 

[ferrarr]

Guys, I know that MikeFromMesa has resolved his issue but I would like to clarify something for the benefit of others reading this thread. If what I am about to say is incorrect please let me know:

Assume that someone restores a Mac to a previous OS version (in this case Mavericks). Can't said user then go straight to the newest OS the machine support? In other words can't they skip the intermediate OS versions?

Yes, that is possible.

 

[MikeFromMesa]

Yes, that is possible.

That is something else I did not know. I thought you had to go through all of the intermediate version updates.

In my particular case I formatted the main drive and then did a restore. I thought that the restore would use the OS that originally came with the MBP but it just downloaded Sierra and installed it. Saved me time but, perhaps more importantly, taught me something I did not know.