Is there a specific software or steps to take to clean out files / old stuff / cache / preferences? Or do I have to do it manually This will be my first time handing down a mac to another family member.
Onyx can do this job for you: 10.6 Snow Leopard Link: http://www.macupdate.com/info.php/id/11582 10.5 Leopard Link: http://pagesperso-orange.fr/joel.barriere/dl/105/OnyX.dmg
Erase and install OS X. Simply boot from the install disk and open Disk Utility from the Menu Bar and erase the HD with it. You may want to do zero-pass or 7-pass erase so the data will be unrecoverable. OnyX doesn't do more than just clear caches AFAIK
Well the point is I didnt want to do erase and install The person I'm handing it down to is still sorta new to Mac and I kinda have everything nicely setup right now. Adium, iWork all the essentials. I just want to wipe preferences clean. Like Adium account settings and the like, logs, cache, bookmarks, browsing history, you know personal stuff so its sorta a clean slate. Onyx sounds good enough though. I might have to manually delete the rest of the stuff.