Factory Restore - With Ethernet Cable - How do you do it?

[Macaroooon]

EDIT: I've gotten to the stage where I am re-installing Mountain Lion. It's taking ridiculously long over Wifi, barely moving. I've found an ethernet cable though, and been told doing it this way is faster. Can I cancel this re-installation and do it with the cable, and if so, how?
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(I had another thread addressing one of the topics, but as I was receiving no answers, and I couldn't bump it, I've edited and removed the question, so I can ask it in this thread along with my other question - I hope I'm allowed to do this.

2) MBP arrived yesterday, and on start up , it mentioned transferring files, and I thought great, I want to transfer some photos and my itunes - so I selected 'transfer other files' (or something along those lines) thinking it would allow me to specifically select what I wanted to transfer - but alas, suddenly it was like 'transferring giles' estimated time 3 hours!

It's just finished transferring them (I'm about to 'Create my computer account' however I'm really annoyed as I don't want to transfer all my files to it, only specific ones as I've got much crap on my old computer and this one I want clean of it.

If I restore factory settings now, will that rid it of all files I've just sent and have it like new, and I can then select specific ones at a later date?

(I can't actually see any files in the MPB, but I'm worried they could be lurking.

IS Factory Restore the same as just re-installing OSX - and if there are any files I transfered, will they be like gone, so I free up space?

Please help! I'm getting no answers anywhere!

 

[thatoneguy82]

(I had another thread addressing one of the topics, but as I was receiving no answers, and I couldn't bump it, I've edited and removed the question, so I can ask it in this thread along with my other question - I hope I'm allowed to do this.

1) I have free £70 student apple gift voucher - can I use this on the Apple Store to but a case? Or only the App Store/ iTunes?

2) MBP arrived yesterday, and on start up , it mentioned transferring files, and I thought great, I want to transfer some photos and my itunes - so I selected 'transfer other files' (or something along those lines) thinking it would allow me to specifically select what I wanted to transfer - but alas, suddenly it was like 'transferring giles' estimated time 3 hours!

It's just finished transferring them (I'm about to 'Create my computer account' however I'm really annoyed as I don't want to transfer all my files to it, only specific ones as I've got much crap on my old computer and this one I want clean of it.

If I restore factory settings now, will that rid it of all files I've just sent and have it like new, and I can then select specific ones at a later date?

(I can't actually see any files in the MPB, but I'm worried they could be lurking.

IS Factory Restore the same as just re-installing OSX - and if there are any files I transfered, will they be like gone, so I free up space?

Please help! I'm getting no answers anywhere!

1. If it's a store card/voucher and not for the App Store or iTunes then you can use to buy anything Apple sells, except gift cards.

2. I'm kind of confused at what you're saying here. If you want to start clean, you have to boot into recovery and then format your drive so you can cleanly install your OS.

Manual file transfers are usually much better than automatic ones. This time you should manually transfer the files you want to your new mac.

 

[Macaroooon]

1. If it's a store card/voucher and not for the App Store or iTunes then you can use to buy anything Apple sells, except gift cards.

2. I'm kind of confused at what you're saying here. If you want to start clean, you have to boot into recovery and then format your drive so you can cleanly install your OS.

Manual file transfers are usually much better than automatic ones. This time you should manually transfer the files you want to your new mac.

Thank you

How do I format my drive?

Maybe I've explained clearer here:

My 13" MBP arrived yesterday, but I made the mistake of on the first time start up menu, choosing to transfer data from my Mac to my Pro, thinking I'd be able to specifically select files, alas, having them all transfered.

I want to do a Factory Restore and start again, just to be sure (even thogh I can't even see the files on my Pro).

How do I do this?

I'm away I have to go to Disk Utilities and erase, but when I go there, the left hand Menu shows up:

500.11 GB APPLE HDD T..
Macintosh HD
SuperDriv (faded out)
----------------------------------------
disk1
Mac OS X Base System

Which of these do I erase? And by doing this, I'm only erasing any data I transfered, am I right, so it's as it would have been if I'd started it up without transfering data.

Then do I re-instal OS X Mountain Lion?

 

[thatoneguy82]

Thank you

How do I format my drive?

Maybe I've explained clearer here:

My 13" MBP arrived yesterday, but I made the mistake of on the first time start up menu, choosing to transfer data from my Mac to my Pro, thinking I'd be able to specifically select files, alas, having them all transfered.

I want to do a Factory Restore and start again, just to be sure (even thogh I can't even see the files on my Pro).

How do I do this?

I'm away I have to go to Disk Utilities and erase, but when I go there, the left hand Menu shows up:

500.11 GB APPLE HDD T..
Macintosh HD
SuperDriv (faded out)
----------------------------------------
disk1
Mac OS X Base System

Which of these do I erase? And by doing this, I'm only erasing any data I transfered, am I right, so it's as it would have been if I'd started it up without transfering data.

Then do I re-instal OS X Mountain Lion?

Did you see this Disk Utility display in the recovery boot drive or when you're logged in? You won't be able to format the drive if you've logged, because well, you're logged in. That's why you have to get off it, not physically but partitionally(haha!). Since Lion I believe, Recovery drives have been made automatically. It's a tiny partition, around 650mb. It doesn't show up in Disk Utility but it does in System Report.

This is assuming you don't know how to do this. To boot into the recovery drive. Press and hold "option" button as soon as you hear the startup sound your mbp makes. If you did it right, it should show your regular disk and to the right of it, the recovery drive. Click on that, go into disk utility and format. Then you can reinstall via the same method.

Just make sure you have an install copy of Mountain Lion before you do this.

 

[Macaroooon]

Did you see this Disk Utility display in the recovery boot drive or when you're logged in? You won't be able to format the drive if you've logged, because well, you're logged in. That's why you have to get off it, not physically but partitionally(haha!). Since Lion I believe, Recovery drives have been made automatically. It's a tiny partition, around 650mb. It doesn't show up in Disk Utility but it does in System Report.

This is assuming you don't know how to do this. To boot into the recovery drive. Press and hold "option" button as soon as you hear the startup sound your mbp makes. If you did it right, it should show your regular disk and to the right of it, the recovery drive. Click on that, go into disk utility and format. Then you can reinstall via the same method.

Just make sure you have an install copy of Mountain Lion before you do this.

Thank you.

I spoke to someone (before I saw this on the apple community)


https://discussions.apple.com/thread/4314953

So I've erased the Macintosh OS Extended (journaled) and now reinstalling Mountain Lion, but I don't have an ethernet cable so I reckon it's going to take ages, ergh!

 

[thatoneguy82]

Thank you.

I spoke to someone (before I saw this on the apple community)


https://discussions.apple.com/thread/4314953

So I've erased the Macintosh OS Extended (journaled) and now reinstalling Mountain Lion, but I don't have an ethernet cable so I reckon it's going to take ages, ergh!

Yep. That thread pretty summed it up. I've only done it once, but it didn't take long. I believe I used a install usb and it just did it from there. It was done is less than an hour. But, I'll never remember how I did that.

So, I take it it's downloading Mountain Lion then via WiFi?

I'm glad you got it settled. From now on, just manually transfer your files to your mbp instead of some automatic process so you can control it!

 

[Macaroooon]

Thank you! Ergh I always mess things up the moment I get them!

But yes, I'm using WiFi and once it has downloaded (I assume in a good few hours at least) I will go to the app store and re-install my iLife apps!

 

[Macaroooon]

I think I've found an ethernet cable - pale grey, both ends have a yellow connector.

The Reinstall of Mountain Lion seems to be taking VERY long over Wifi. It hasn't even moved for the last hour. (Been doing for say, 3 hours)

If I cancel it, can I then do it again, but this time via the ethernet, and if so, how do I do it.

Thank you!

 

[Macaroooon]

I'm pretty sure something is wrong now, as it has remained at '35 hours and 51' minutes for about an house, and is about 1/14th of the bar full.

:/

 

[Dark Void]

It shouldn't be that long of a process.

Which volume did you erase? If you turn off your computer and hold Cmd + R on startup you will be able to access Disk Utility. Erase "Macintosh HD," reformat it as one partition in a journaled format, and then proceed with restoring. This is what you did, correct?

If it really is taking that long - go buy an ethernet cable. You can wait it out if you want. Just as long as the progress bar does not stall you will be fine - don't worry about the estimated time.

 

[Macaroooon]

I've done a bit of research, still unclear but I cancelled the installation, as it was so slow, connected the ethernet cable (literally just connected it whilst it was in the Boot Recovery mode, and then restarted the installation.

It now has a time of 'about 28 hours and 13 minutes' which seems better, and it seems a bit faster.

 

[Dark Void]

The estimated time may stall but as long as the progress bar continues you will be fine for the installation.

 

[iAppl3Fan]

It might be worth it to take it into Apple to have them help. It would surely be faster than the Internet Recovery if you're having problems.

 

[Dark Void]

It might be worth it to take it into Apple to have them help. It would surely be faster than the Internet Recovery if you're having problems.

That wouldn't really be necessary, and would probably take longer considering an appointment and what not.

What method would they even have that would be faster? I'm curious.

 

[Macaroooon]

The estimated time may stall but as long as the progress bar continues you will be fine for the installation.

Thank you for your reply (and sorry for my incompetence)

The progress bar seems to be moving.. but still really slowly.

I just want it to be done before I go to bed, because I don't want to overcharge it, or risk it powering out.

And also, I live in North Wales, nearest apple store is Cardiff (about 4 hours drive!)

 

[Dark Void]

Thank you for your reply (and sorry for my incompetence)

The progress bar seems to be moving.. but still really slowly.

I just want it to be done before I go to bed, because I don't want to overcharge it, or risk it powering out.

No need to apologize, message boards are meant for this type of thing. As long as it's moving, even slowly, you're fine. You also don't have to worry about "overcharging" the laptop, you can leave it plugged in for a large amount of time, just let it discharge every once in a while.

 

[Macaroooon]

I'm concerned it's doing the same thing, it's about a 20th of the bar full, and it's been like that for.. a while :/

Do I actually need to reinstall Mountain Lion? Surely if I erased the Macintosh HD then I've got rid of the things I transfered?

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No need to apologize, message boards are meant for this type of thing. As long as it's moving, even slowly, you're fine. You also don't have to worry about "overcharging" the laptop, you can leave it plugged in for a large amount of time, just let it discharge every once in a while.

Thank you. I just don't want to pester people. It's only because I've only got 2 days to sort this before I go to Uni, and I'll need it up and working by then!

It doesn't really seem to be moving.. much. I mean it has moved since it started, but for about half an hour it's literally been at the same point, not moving.

 

[Dark Void]

I'm concerned it's doing the same thing, it's about a 20th of the bar full, and it's been like that for.. a while :/

Do I actually need to reinstall Mountain Lion? Surely if I erased the Macintosh HD then I've got rid of the things I transfered?

Are you using Ethernet this time?

You do need to reinstall Mountain Lion as when you erased your original format, that includes the files that make up the operating system itself.

 

[Macaroooon]

Are you using Ethernet this time?

You do need to reinstall Mountain Lion as when you erased your original format, that includes the files that make up the operating system itself.

Yes, I believe so. When I cancelled the first re-installation I was doing via Wifi, I simply plugged the ethernet cable from the MBP to the router.

And I see, makes sense

 

[Dark Void]

Yes, I believe so. When I cancelled the first re-installation I was doing via Wifi, I simply plugged the ethernet cable from the MBP to the router.

I would simply wait it out, from what I understand internet recovery takes a while even with an Ethernet connection.

 

[Macaroooon]

I would simply wait it out, from what I understand internet recovery takes a while even with an Ethernet connection.

Okay, thanks. I'm not very patient which doesn't help. Hopefully I'll see some improvement in the next hour Will let you know! Thanks for your help!

 

[Dark Void]

Okay, thanks. I'm not very patient which doesn't help. Hopefully I'll see some improvement in the next hour Will let you know! Thanks for your help!

No worries, and yes patience is usually required when dealing with computers and the like unfortunately. =)

 

[Macaroooon]

No worries, and yes patience is usually required when dealing with computers and the like unfortunately. =)

Ergh, I know.

It's still the same as it was

 

[iAppl3Fan]

That wouldn't really be necessary, and would probably take longer considering an appointment and what not.

What method would they even have that would be faster? I'm curious.

They could load it via USB by having a copy locally.

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Okay, thanks. I'm not very patient which doesn't help. Hopefully I'll see some improvement in the next hour Will let you know! Thanks for your help!

I've done Internet Recovery numerous times and over WiFi it takes about 1 - 1.5 hours.

 

[Macaroooon]

Well I've been doing this for nearly three hours now. Still the same..