Format (and reinstall OS X)

[Todthebod]

How do I format and install fresh OS? I want to do it so I can sell it. I didn't see a disc anywhere in the box unless I lost it. I'm usually good about keeping those sort of things. I see a sealed black thing in the box that looks like it could be a holder for a disc but I don't know.

I've turned my house upside down looking for a disc that may or may not exist. My wife got it for me for Christmas 2011 if that has to do with anything.

 

[maflynn]

If its a fairly new mac and your version of the OS is Lion, or Mountain Lion then the computer did not come with a disk.

Reboot the computer and hold the cmd and r keys together. That will get you into the recovery mode and from there you can reformat the drive (via the disk utility) and reinstall the OS.

 

[Todthebod]

I must be doing it wrong. I hit the Command - R thing and went through the 'Reinstall fresh OSX'. It verified and installed but when it finished and booted up , it still had all my same stuff on there.

Do I have to go to the utility thing and erase before I do this?

 

[Weaselboy]

I must be doing it wrong. I hit the Command - R thing and went through the 'Reinstall fresh OSX'. It verified and installed but when it finished and booted up , it still had all my same stuff on there.

Do I have to go to the utility thing and erase before I do this?

Yes, once you get to the recovery screen from the command-r boot you need to start Disk Util and erase Macintosh HD... then reinstall the OS. This will get you a fresh install with nothing but the OS on there.