Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Yankeesxd

macrumors member
Original poster
Aug 2, 2010
71
0
If i am selling my Macbook air how will i go about restoring it to a like new condition? thanks i am on mountain lion by the way.
 
Do u have the original install disc? Reload OS from scratch.

If u don't, and I assume you have no original nothing on-hand since u asked, u will have to download ML from Apple, then create a bootable USB HD or thumb drive with it (8G minimum), boot with that (USB) then run disk util and erase everything (with partition) on the Internal drive, THEN re-install OS from scratch from the USB HD/thumbdrive.

Here's an excellent article on how to do that.
 
Do u have the original install disc? Reload OS from scratch.

If u don't, and I assume you have no original nothing on-hand since u asked, u will have to download ML from Apple, then create a bootable USB HD or thumb drive with it (8G minimum), boot with that (USB) then run disk util and erase everything (with partition) on the Internal drive, THEN re-install OS from scratch from the USB HD/thumbdrive.

Here's an excellent article on how to do that.

Since he's using a MacBook Air disks wouldn't have come with the computer, so creating a bootable Flash Drive would be the only option really.
 
you should have a bootable volume already. hold down Option right after the start up dong, see if an orange Recovery volume appears.
 
you should have a bootable volume already. hold down Option right after the start up dong, see if an orange Recovery volume appears.

when i reboot and hold option R do i just choose reinstall mountain lion? will that delete all my stuff first?
 
when i reboot and hold option R do i just choose reinstall mountain lion? will that delete all my stuff first?

No that won't delete everything. While in that recovery screen start Disk Utility and erase Macintosh HD. Then quit Disk Util and proceed with the install. That will give you a system with nothing but the OS.

It will take some time as the OS will be downloaded from Apple's servers.
 
No that won't delete everything. While in that recovery screen start Disk Utility and erase Macintosh HD. Then quit Disk Util and proceed with the install. That will give you a system with nothing but the OS.

It will take some time as the OS will be downloaded from Apple's servers.

ok thanks alot for the reply and by clicking install you mean clicking " resinstall mountain lion" right?
 
If your new-to-you Macbook Air is running Lion or Mountain Lion - start your Macbook Air while holding down the command + r key and when you see the recovery menu - go to disk utility and erase/format your hard drive to Mac OS Journaled Extended - after you have done that - exit disk utility and reinstall your OS.

if your Macbook is a 2010 or older - it came with a USB Installer. Stick that USB installer in your USB Port - turn your macbook on while holding down the options key and select your USB installer as your boot drive - again, go to disk utility - format/erase the drive then proceed to install.
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.