What should you do before selling a Macbook?

Bateluer

Lifer
Jun 23, 2001
27,730
8
0
I've already wiped it clean, reinstalled Mountain Lion from a clean install so I'm not worried about data. But its SN is still tied to my AppleID which it set up on the initial login. I cruised through what passes for settings on the Mac and didn't see any option for factory reset, or account desync, what not.

Aside from simply creating a new user account for the buyer, setting it as Admin then deleting mine, whats the best way to do this?
 

Centauri

Golden Member
Dec 10, 2002
1,628
54
91
You're confusing me; wipe the hard drive, reinstall the OS. When it makes its first boot and begins to ask for initial user account creation... turn it off, put it in the box and ship it.

Regardless, why/how would your Apple ID factor in?
 

sxr7171

Diamond Member
Jun 21, 2002
5,079
40
91
That is a bit tricky because to restore the OS you need to log in to your account. I think you have to deauthorize the machine in iTunes after you restore. I would wipe my keychain also just in case. And make sure I'm logged off of iCloud.
 
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TheStu

Moderator<br>Mobile Devices & Gadgets
Moderator
Sep 15, 2004
12,089
45
91
That is a bit tricky because to restore the OS you need to log in to your account. I think you have to deauthorize the machine in iTunes after you restore. I would wipe my keychain also just in case. And make sure I'm logged off of iCloud.

You should only need to log into an account that has mountain lion attached to it, so his idea should work.

Set up the dummy account, then delete yours. That should take care of it.
 

Childs

Lifer
Jul 9, 2000
11,313
7
81
Aside from simply creating a new user account for the buyer, setting it as Admin then deleting mine, whats the best way to do this?

Just install, and when it reboots and starts the configuration phase, just Apple-Q, then click shutdown. It'll give the new user the new install experience.
 

Bateluer

Lifer
Jun 23, 2001
27,730
8
0
That is a bit tricky because to restore the OS you need to log in to your account. I think you have to deauthorize the machine in iTunes after you restore. I would wipe my keychain also just in case. And make sure I'm logged off of iCloud.

Forgot about iTunes, never use it, but I do have iTunes purchased music from years ago.

Just install, and when it reboots and starts the configuration phase, just Apple-Q, then click shutdown. It'll give the new user the new install experience.

So I have two options, account switcharoo and wipe&reinstall again. Easy enough.

Nothing with the serial number being registered with Apple needing to be released?
 

Childs

Lifer
Jul 9, 2000
11,313
7
81
Forgot about iTunes, never use it, but I do have iTunes purchased music from years ago.



So I have two options, account switcharoo and wipe&reinstall again. Easy enough.

Nothing with the serial number being registered with Apple needing to be released?

I dont think the serial number matters, unless its reported stolen. I dont typically register my Macs, just skip that section.
 

MotionMan

Lifer
Jan 11, 2006
17,123
12
81
I am currently preparing three older Mac Minis for sale. I did a zero-out reformat of each, reinstalled OSX and ran all the updates. I then created a new, fresh login and deleted the "old" one. These things are now pristine, but the OS and related apps are completely updated.

Is there a way to have that out-of-the-box, new login creation event, while maintaining all the updates?

MotionMan
 

Childs

Lifer
Jul 9, 2000
11,313
7
81
I am currently preparing three older Mac Minis for sale. I did a zero-out reformat of each, reinstalled OSX and ran all the updates. I then created a new, fresh login and deleted the "old" one. These things are now pristine, but the OS and related apps are completely updated.

Is there a way to have that out-of-the-box, new login creation event, while maintaining all the updates?

MotionMan

You can do an internet recovery. The lastest version of the OS will be downloaded and used for recovery. I would erase the volume, then reinstall. And once it reboots and starts the user setup portion, just Apple-Q and shutdown.
 

MotionMan

Lifer
Jan 11, 2006
17,123
12
81
You can do an internet recovery. The lastest version of the OS will be downloaded and used for recovery. I would erase the volume, then reinstall. And once it reboots and starts the user setup portion, just Apple-Q and shutdown.

Does that work with Snow Leopard?

MotionMan
 

Childs

Lifer
Jul 9, 2000
11,313
7
81
Does that work with Snow Leopard?

MotionMan

It works with Lion or later. For 10.6.8, you would need a 10.6.8 retail image, and you can still shutdown when user setup starts. Just did a quick search, and there are images floating around. Apple still sells Snow Leopard on the Apple store, but they dont specify the version. More than likely its 10.6.8.
 

MotionMan

Lifer
Jan 11, 2006
17,123
12
81
It works with Lion or later. For 10.6.8, you would need a 10.6.8 retail image, and you can still shutdown when user setup starts. Just did a quick search, and there are images floating around. Apple still sells Snow Leopard on the Apple store, but they dont specify the version. More than likely its 10.6.8.

OK. Thanks.

MotionMan
 

tim Paul

Banned
May 21, 2013
10
0
0
Login your admin account and create a dummy account and then delete yours for safety purpose. Before selling your Mac, you must wipe your confidential data from Mac hard disk. Let me know if you have any question.


 
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Bateluer

Lifer
Jun 23, 2001
27,730
8
0
Login your admin account and create a dummy account and then delete yours for safety purpose. Before selling your Mac, you must wipe your confidential data from Mac hard disk. Let me know if you have any question.

Thats basically what I did. Already had wiped the SSD, since I'd had Mint installed for a while, then reinstalled 10.8, then created a dummy account, made it admin, logged in as dummy and deleted mine.

Listed the thing on CL on Monday morning, and had a dozen offers by the afternoon though. Not bad, though all the offers all tried to low call it. Come on guys, thats pretty basic capitalism. :p

This is the first time in almost 8 years I've had no laptop at all . . . feels strange.
 

Mixolydian

Lifer
Nov 7, 2011
14,566
91
86
gilramirez.net
internet recovery is in the firmware. check to see if the firmware supports it. i believe 2010 models and newer all support it. there will be an update availabel for those 2010 models, 2011 models and newer built in.