Can I reset the Admin account without reinstalling?

[AVR2]

I'm getting ready to sell my PB G4 17, having recently bought a MacBook Pro. I want to be sure that *all* my private data is removed first, and I've done all the obvious things like trashing the Music, Movies and Documents folders, cleared the cookies etc. But I've noticed that Skype still logs into my account automatically, even though I tried trashing it and reinstalling it, so it's obviously stored my login data somewhere I don't know about, which means that there's probably other private data still hiding in there too.

Is there any way to automatically restore the computer to its "virgin" state, or otherwise be sure that all private data, website logins etc has gone, but *without* having to reinstall OSX? I really don't want to go through the hassle of reinstalling the third-party apps if I can avoid it.

Or is it possible to reinstall OSX without affecting all the other apps such as iLife etc?

 

[WildCowboy]

Stuff gets stored in lots of places that are tough to pin down. By far your best bet is to an Erase and Install and just wipe the whole system. It's really easy to do...once you start the process, it just goes by itself.

If you're selling it, why would you be worried about putting apps on it?

 

[ham_man]

I'm getting ready to sell my PB G4 17, having recently bought a MacBook Pro. I want to be sure that *all* my private data is removed first, and I've done all the obvious things like trashing the Music, Movies and Documents folders, cleared the cookies etc. But I've noticed that Skype still logs into my account automatically, even though I tried trashing it and reinstalling it, so it's obviously stored my login data somewhere I don't know about, which means that there's probably other private data still hiding in there too.

Is there any way to automatically restore the computer to its "virgin" state, or otherwise be sure that all private data, website logins etc has gone, but *without* having to reinstall OSX? I really don't want to go through the hassle of reinstalling the third-party apps if I can avoid it.

Or is it possible to reinstall OSX without affecting all the other apps such as iLife etc?

What I would do is just clean install the computer for whomever you are selling it too, and make sure you send along the restore disk. On it, it has the "Install OS" option and the "Install Included Software", or something like that. You can just send them a little note saying that they will need to install that extra software themselves (it isn't a big hassle at all). That's the only real surefire way of doing things...

 

[AVR2]

Stuff gets stored in lots of places that are tough to pin down. By far your best bet is to an Erase and Install and just wipe the whole system. It's really easy to do...once you start the process, it just goes by itself

I know it's easy, I've done it before when I upgraded to Tiger. Unfortunately, when I came to reinstall my apps, I discovered that my iLife '05 disc was invisibly damaged (at least, I couldn't see any damage on it); when I tried starting the install, the drive did a lot of seeking and then came up with an error.

Fortunately I was able to pull the iLife apps back across from the Panther backup I'd made before the upgrade, but I don't have that any more. Unless you can recommend a way to back up just the iLife apps?

If you're selling it, why would you be worried about putting apps on it?

I'm selling it to a friend who specifically wants some of the apps I've got on it, including iLife '05.

 

[WildCowboy]

Okay, well, depending on the apps, you'd be most likely be violating the terms of your licenses if you install your apps and then giving them to your friend. Unless of course you're giving him the discs too, in which case he can install them himself.

As for the iLife apps, you should contact Apple to get a replacement disc.