Is installing Snow Leopard the same as using Install disks?

[stxnpx]

Forgive my ignorance here. I'm giving my old 13" Macbook to a family member and want to delete all of my info for security. I can't find the original Install DVD but do have the original Snow Leopard disk I bought as an upgrade. If I wipe the machine with Disk Utility and then reinstall Snow Leopard, will that do the same thing as using the original Install DVD with an upgraded OS X? Thanks in advance ...

[justperry]

Simple answer, Yes.

Go ahead, you get a clean system with it.

[simsaladimbamba]

To create a Clean Install (formerly known as Erase & Install) of Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard (the 29/19 USD Upgrade DVD is a fully working retail version of Mac OS X and does not need a prior installation of Mac OS X on the Mac), follow one of the following guides:

• Short version: Clean Install of OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard
• Long version: Mac OS X v10.6 Snow Leopard: How to Erase and Install

[Duff-Man]

Duff-Man says...one difference is that the retail Snow Leopard just has the operating system while the discs the computer originally came with would also have contained the iLife application installers.....oh yeah!

[stxnpx]

I was concerned that I'd end up with a white brick and a very-disappointed teenager who has been hoping to archive his PC in the landfill (actually, we'll donate it). I appreciate your willingness to share your knowledge and will get to work on this now!