Resetting Snow Leopard back to Setup Assistant

[shiunn]

Hi ppl,

I've asked this question few years before and was taught the Single User (UNIX) mode method. I'm trying to get my MacBook ready for hand-me-down. Is there a way to delete the necessary files/folder via target disc mode instead? And what files/folder do I need to delete?
Thanks!

 

[simsaladimbamba]

Do a clean installation and when the Setup Assistant appears, shut the Mac off. Next time the Mac starts, the Setup Assistant starts again.
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

 

[shiunn]

should have phrased my question more specifically.

I've done a clean install, and I've went ahead and created an user account to do all the updates and install bundled apps. Now, before I hand it down to my sister, I want to delete my user account etc, so when she switches it on the first time, she will be greeted by the setup assistant. what files/folder do i delete? (i'm going to user target disc mode)

Thanks!!

 

[Runwin]

How to reset OS X 10.6 to "Factory Fresh"

It's a bit late, but I hope this helps someone. Just did it myself:

Here are the Terminal commands to delete a temporary (or lone) account in single-user mode on Leopard (in the following commands, replace username with whatever account short name you've created). Note that this must all be done in single user mode (hold Command-S during boot).

How to Reset your Snow Leopard 10.6 Mac to "factory fresh" user experience with setup assistant:

Note: this does not securely delete data. If you are transferring this computer to another person, do a secure wipe, reinstall, run your updates, and THEN do this to clean up after yourself and provide a new experience to the recipient.

-Make sure your temp account has a password set, however short.
-Boot to single user mode by holding down Command+S when powering on until you see the boot sequence start.
-Run these commands (the $ means the prompt)

$ mount -uw /
$ rm -R /Library/Preferences/
$ rm -R /Users/USERNAME/
$ /bin/launchctl load /System/Library/LaunchDaemons/com.apple.DirectoryServices.plist
$ dscl . -delete /Groups/admin GroupMembership <username>
note: this line doesn't seem to be needed: $ dscl . -delete /Users/USERNAME
$ rm /var/db/.AppleSetupDone
$ shutdown -h now

that's it.
If you want to boot up and verify, let it boot, set your volume level and when you get to the first setup window press Command+Q to shut down without leaving any traces.