Setting up MBP as new?

Vita · 10 Sep 2012 at 09:01

I'm looking to sell my MBP and want to reinstall Mountain Lion and have the laptop set up as I received it when new.

How do I go about this?

ubersonic · 10 Sep 2012 at 09:35

Depending on the age of it, reboot it and hold option key down when you hear the startup BING to enter the boot menu, select recover or whatever and follow the on-screen instructions.

Beasty · 10 Sep 2012 at 09:50

CMD and R key I think with Lion onwards.

You can totally wipe and restore to the 'fresh out the box'

I did when giving my old MBP to the girlfriend's mother

Logsi · 10 Sep 2012 at 10:22

Hold option on startup or c and choose to boot from the install disk or USB.

Once loaded up go to disk utility and erase the hard disk and do a 3 pass zero out. You can do a 7 pass zero out or even a 1 pass but i find 3 a good trade off with time and security. Once that's done, should take 3 hours or so, install Mountain Lion and once it's done just leave it. This will be exactly how it comes new.

Vita · 10 Sep 2012 at 10:23

Logsi said:
Hold option on startup or c and choose to boot from the install disk or USB.

Once loaded up go to disk utility and erase the hard disk and do a 3 pass zero out. That way it'll be harder to get data back. Once that's done, should take 3 hours or so, install Mountain Lion and once it's done just leave it. This will be exactly how it comes new.

Thank you so much for this and the replies. I will do this. Thanks again.

Logsi · 10 Sep 2012 at 10:26

No worries. Just make sure to do the zero out to stop anyone getting your data back.

Vita · 10 Sep 2012 at 10:51

Logsi said:
No worries. Just make sure to do the zero out to stop anyone getting your data back.

One more question. When I bought my MBP last year (Early 2011), it came with some Apple apps pre-installed. Such as iLife/Movie/etc...Will these still be available for the new owner or will they need to buy them again?

Logsi · 10 Sep 2012 at 11:13

Hmmmm, i think if you want it brand spanking new with the fancy login screens and step by step process then no.

You can setup a dummy account and name the computer yourself and then install the software that's on the install CDs, if you got them with your mac that is. Otherwise, no they'll be gone.

When i sold my Mac i sold it without software so that the new owner got the setup screen.

Vita · 10 Sep 2012 at 11:16

Ah right I see. Yeah I wanted it with the factory logon screen. Nevermind. I'll have to sell without the software.

AbsenceJam · 10 Sep 2012 at 11:30

Logsi said:
Hold option on startup or c and choose to boot from the install disk or USB.

Once loaded up go to disk utility and erase the hard disk and do a 3 pass zero out. You can do a 7 pass zero out or even a 1 pass but i find 3 a good trade off with time and security. Once that's done, should take 3 hours or so, install Mountain Lion and once it's done just leave it. This will be exactly how it comes new.

Just do single pass, it's impossible to recover data that has been written over. Nothing but a waste of time.

If you reinstall and then power off after the install when it comes to entering user details it'll be ready for the new user.