Bought a macbook on craigslist - how to 'deregister'

The above answer is correct, though I may append it with the suggestion to upgrade to SL, for the simple reason that it's only $30. Just a standard erase/install should do the trick: MRoogle search here.

If you need the admin account reset also try this :
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/851626/

CylonGlitch said:

If you need the admin account reset also try this :
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/851626/

Click to expand...

I don't recommend it. When you get a new computer, always wipe and do a fresh install before doing anything else. There's no telling what the previous owner may have left behind.

The only downside to buying the Snow Leopard discs and doing an erase and install is that you will lose any software that may have been installed. Snow Leopard doesn't come with iLife or iWork, so if you need those you'll have to buy new copies.

You might try calling Apple to see how much they will charge for replacement restore discs for that computer. They'll usually provide those for little to no cost, and at least the original software (iLife) would be included.

"I have an imac at home with all my leopard install disks.... can i use those? How can i wipe all this guys crap off the macbook?"

Suggestions:

Does the MacBook have firewire? If so, then connect the MacBook up to the iMac via Target Disk Mode (with the MB as the "target").

Then, examine the drive for any applications you might want to retain. Copy those over to an intermediary storage device.

Keep the MB in target disk mode for the moment. Get out your iMac Leopard install DVD, and restart the iMac from the install DVD.

Once rebooted, launch the installer and see if it "recognizes the presence" of the MB as a valid hard drive to which the OS can be installed.

Does it "see" the MB internal drive? In that case, erase the MB drive and try to go ahead with the installation.

IF THE INSTALLATION SUCCEEDS, do this next:

Before rebooting the MB, connect it to your modem/router VIA ETHERNET. DO NOT reboot "in wireless".

Now try to reboot the MB with the fresh install. Does it work? Do you get a good boot?

If it DOESN'T work, you've "lost nothing". Spend $30 and get yourself a Snow Leopard installation DVD. Install, and then re-copy over any of the applications you saved (first step above).

If you DO get a "good boot", create a new account for yourself and IMMEDIATELY go to Software Update and download any and all System-related updates. You may even get some of the copied-over applications updated, as well!

similar QUESTION: clean re-install of MS Office 2008 after reformatting

I just bought a MacBook Pro off eBay (converting from a Windows XP laptop). It came fully loaded with Snow Leopard 10.6 and Microsoft Office 2008. The Snow Leopard install DVD was included, but no install disks for Office. Whenever I boot up or start an application, it is "registered" in the previous owner's name. I asked & received his password so I could delete his and add my own administrative account, but all the software/applications still bear his name. Additionally, he left loads of his movies, iTunes, etc., on the computer.

Problems & Questions: I want to have a "clean slate" and wipe everything out, and put everything in my name (and get rid of all his files). I have backed everything up using Time Machine to an external USB hard drive. Is it possible, and advisable, to re-format the hard drive, re-install Snow Leopard from the DVD, and then use Time Machine to re-install "Office" (since I don't have those disks)? Can you pick and choose which programs and files to re-install, and how do you know and choose all the zillions of "Office" files that you need? Would I need the codes/keys to re-install Office? Does Time Machine simply copy those folders and files back to the hard drive, or do an "install"? (I learned on my Windows computer that it isn't simply a matter of copying files back to re-install a program.) Thanks for any help. I'm a real newbie to Mac, so please keep it simple and straightforward! ;-)

Most Mac applications can in fact be reinstalled just by dragging them to the Applications folder, although they'll lose all of their configuration settings in the process. Office, unfortunately, is not one of these.

You aren't legally allowed to keep Office. Whether you choose to do so or not is your business. Personally, I would advise against it. As I suggested earlier, it's always best to start with a clean slate.