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View Full Version : Removing all user data - how?




BFG
Jan 9, 2007, 12:43 PM
Im about to sell my MBP, and i was wondering how can i remove all my data i.e. webpages, cookies, passwords, users, files? But leave the programs installed?

thanks in advance



jeremy.king
Jan 9, 2007, 12:45 PM
I'd highly recommend a reinstall, with a multipass format depending on sensitivity of contents on your HDD.

Otherwise, if you want to ignore that and take a risk, try creating a new admin user, login as that new user and delete all the other user logins. This will remove the home folders where a majority of that information you want removed lives.

BFG
Jan 9, 2007, 12:54 PM
ok if i was to do a reinstall, is it simply a matter of inserting the osx cd and following on from there?

WildCowboy
Jan 9, 2007, 12:57 PM
Yep...you'll want to do an Erase and Install. Very straightforward.

You will get erase options for the number of passes...note that 35-pass is really only needed for computers with nuclear launch codes on them. (The procedure will likely take days to complete.)

Seven-pass is very thorough and should only take a few hours...go grab some lunch.

BFG
Jan 9, 2007, 01:05 PM
ok thanks for all your help.