Resetting a second-hand MacBook Pro?

[johnsmith555]

Hi everyone. Just a very quick query if I may.

I’ve just taken delivery of my new Mac - a 2017 MacBook Pro 15”. It’s beautiful! The original owner had sent it back through AppleCare for repairs and they were sent a replacement unit in return just a couple of weeks ago (I have the AppleCare report) - the machine looks to be brand spanking new (though most likely refurbished). The owner decided to sell it while still in the AppleCare packaging and I’ve got a bit of a bargain. Even the battery settings show that it has only had two cycles.

Anyway, it arrived password protected (which I have) and there doesn’t seem to be any documents or files on the machine - so I guess the owner just rattled-through the setup to make sure it was working and so he could show the screen in the ad

I’d obviously like to do a factory reset and to make sure there is nothing dodgy on there.

now there are hundreds of videos on YouTube showing how to reset a laptop before sale but nothing about doing it after a purchase. This may be a silly question and I’m sure it’ll be the exact same process but I’d love to ask the forum to confirm this as my nightmare is that I end up bricking the machine if I’m later asked to download software or OSX and that I am somehow unable to do due to not being the first owner.

so a quick confirmation would be wonderful! Thank you.

 

[ferrarr]

Personally I would create a bootable USB installer,

Create a bootable installer for macOS - Apple Support

Use an external drive or secondary volume as a startup disk from which to install macOS.

support.apple.com

You will need a 16GB USB flash/thumb drive and also download the macOS version you prefer. That model will run everything from macOS 10.12.5 (Sierra) through the current macOS 11.1 (Big Sur).

Edit: I forgot to mention, you will want to boot from the USB installer to erase the drive properly. When using Disk Utility to erase the internal MBP drive, confirm the "View" is set to "Show all devices".

 

[MacInWin]

And make sure the other owner followed Apple's directions on how to prepare a system for sale. https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201065

If the MBP was never set for his account, that's ok, but if it was, either by him or Apple, those directions need to be followed.