Making a new Mac.

[Lively]

I am wondering if there is a way to delete all the of the items on my hard-drive, making my macbook pro like it just came out of the box. Is there a way to do this?

 

[dtravis7]

Which version of OSX? If it's 10.5 Leopard, boot up with the OSX DVD in the drive. Hold down C right after the startup sound till it starts to boot from the DVD. When you get to the installer choose Erase and and Install.

If you are running 10.6 Snow Leopard, you have to use the Disk Utility once you get to the installer from the Utilities drop down and erase the drive, then proceed to the install.

 

[Jaygray]

Insert the OS X installation disc that came with the MBP. Restart the MBP and hold down the 'C' key while it reboots to boot from the install CD. Use the 'Disk Utility' on the CD to erase the HD and then follow the prompts to reinstall the OS.

It will take a couple hours, but when it's done, it will be exactly like the first time you took it out of the box.

 

[Lively]

No, I've had this macbook pro for a while, and I want to delete EVERYTHING from the hard-drive, to make it brand new, I don't want to install a new OS. I want everything off my mac.

 

[Lively]

And I don't have a Installation disk.

 

[dtravis7]

You do not want an OS on your MBP? Then what are you going to do with it? That makes no sense at all.

ONLY way to erase everything is with the DVD that came with your Mac.

Your Mac came out of the box with OSX installed and all the applications that came with it. Out of the box has an OS.

 

[Lively]

So there is no way to make my mac like it just came out of the box without buying a new OS, when I already have one on my mac?

 

[cwa107]

So there is no way to make my mac like it just came out of the box without buying a new OS, when I already have one on my mac?

If you wanted to make it "just like it came out of the box", then you would use your installation discs to do a clean install of the OS since the OS is pre-installed from the factory.

If you just want to have a clean volume (which will result in a non-functional machine) and you don't have your system discs, you could always use a Linux or Windows CD to do just that.

 

[cwa107]

Another thought - you could always just create a new user account and delete your old one. That would, in effect, remove any customizations you've made and make the machine much like it was from the factory.

 

[Lively]

Where can I buy a new version of the Leopard OS, with it not being Snow Leopard?

 

[TattooedMac]

Online but they are a lot more expensive than the Snow Leopard disks...

$100 +

If you have the Mac specs Snow Leopard is the way to go @ $29

 

[cwa107]

Where can I buy a new version of the Leopard OS, with it not being Snow Leopard?

eBay, but be aware that the prices are uber-inflated since Apple stopped selling it and it's the last version that runs on PPC Macs.

Alternatively, you can contact Apple to get a set of replacement discs from spare parts. They should run you around $20, and this way you'll have the iLife suite and diagnostics that are built into the discs as well.

 

[Lively]

So, if I buy Snow Leopard, it will delete everything on my HardDrive?

 

[TattooedMac]

As with the earlier post, it will once you go through the right processes

 

[cwa107]

So, if I buy Snow Leopard, it will delete everything on my HardDrive?

No. By default, it will do a straight upgrade of the existing OS (I'm assuming, Leopard). You can do a clean install if you wish, but you don't have to.

I have to admit this thread feels like we're falling down the rabbit hole. What is it that you are ultimately trying to accomplish?

 

[Lively]

No, sorry. I got it guys. Thanks.