reinstall a Mac

[Skel]

My girlfriend came with a Macbook Pro, the A1150 to be exact. She’s moved off of it to a new PC laptop, I need to wipe the book so none of her personal stuff is on there. As someone who doesn’t do anything with Macs if he can help it, I don’t have a clue how to reload it, or what I need. As it doesn’t have any software disks with it, I’m assuming I’m going to have to buy it. Is the OS disks like windows where there’s a full version and upgrade that I should pay attention to? Is the process pretty straight forward for someone that spends his work days working on Redhat and windows servers?

Thanks in advance for any help…

 

[KeithP]

Buy Snow Leopard http://store.apple.com/us/product/MC573Z/A

Watch this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NhLUcng-kog It isn't the best but it will get the job done.

At 1:40 where he has gone into Disk Utility to erase the drive you need to do something a little different then shown.

At the bottom of the window in Disk Utility there is a "Security Options" button. Click it. This will bring up a screen where you will get options for a secure erase. If I remember correctly, you can choose between 1 pass, 3 pass, 7 pass or 35 pass. Select whichever you option want, then continue with the installation.

-KeithP

 

[slashbinslashbash]

BTW there is no upgrade vs. full version, and no codes or other activation process. If the OS will install on that Mac (different versions have different cutoffs as to how old a machine they will support -- A1150 looks like a first-gen with a 32-bit Core Duo, so Snow Leopard is the highest it will support, don't try Lion) then it just installs.

 

[TheStu]

BTW there is no upgrade vs. full version, and no codes or other activation process. If the OS will install on that Mac (different versions have different cutoffs as to how old a machine they will support -- A1150 looks like a first-gen with a 32-bit Core Duo, so Snow Leopard is the highest it will support, don't try Lion) then it just installs.

You are correct, Snow Leopard is the limit. OP, if you have an Apple Store nearby, you could always take it into them see if they can help you out. You'll need to make an appt with the genius bar, don't forget that.

 

[TheStu]

Also, OP, what are you wanting to do with the machine after the fact? Sell it? Use it? Install Windows or another OS on it?

 

[Skel]

Also, OP, what are you wanting to do with the machine after the fact? Sell it? Use it? Install Windows or another OS on it?

First, thanks to everyone for all the help. As for what we're going to do with it afterwards I'm not 100% sure. I'd just as soon sell the thing, but as it's hers she may end up wanting to keep it, or give it to her mother. It's in nice shape, slightly used of course, so selling it is still an option (at least for me ). As the Mac-noob I am I'd have to look at what they're going for.

 

[TheStu]

First, thanks to everyone for all the help. As for what we're going to do with it afterwards I'm not 100% sure. I'd just as soon sell the thing, but as it's hers she may end up wanting to keep it, or give it to her mother. It's in nice shape, slightly used of course, so selling it is still an option (at least for me ). As the Mac-noob I am I'd have to look at what they're going for.

OG MBP? You can check mac2sell.net see what they say it is worth. You can sometimes get more than that through craigslist/ebay.