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How Long Does It Take To Reset Computer For Buyer?
- Thread starter Fazzl
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You should perform at least 0-pass erase so it will take awhile. I would "reset" it before he comes and then just create a test user so you can show him that it works. He can then reinstall the OS X again if he wants to see the Welcome video and stuff.
From DVD it should take around 30 minutes, from an external USB thumbdrive it should take 20 minutes, but the installation will not wipe your personal data. Make sure you used Disk Utility and the ERASE FREE SPACE option after you deleted your personal data (maybe setup a dummy account for the preview and delete your account, the ERASE FREE SPACE).
Clean Install of OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard
Guide on how to use Disk Utility from the restore / installation DVD.
Format Your Hard Drive Using Disk Utility
Partition Your Hard Drive With Disk Utility
DiskWiping One Pass is Enough
Clean Install of OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard
Guide on how to use Disk Utility from the restore / installation DVD.
Format Your Hard Drive Using Disk Utility
Partition Your Hard Drive With Disk Utility
DiskWiping One Pass is Enough
+1 go ahead and clean install now and set it up with some generic account name like "main" ... this way when he gets there, he has a fresh machine he can play around with.
Absolutely do the 0 pass erase, too.
If you tried to do this in his presence, you'll be sitting around for 1-3 hours.
Absolutely do the 0 pass erase, too.
If you tried to do this in his presence, you'll be sitting around for 1-3 hours.
Not that I know. I would 0-pass the whole drive though, you don't want someone to access any of your files, even though that is unlikely.
Comprehensive steps here: http://macs.about.com/od/snowleopardmacosx106/qt/cleaninstall_sl.htm
What you are specifically looking for is the Erase a Volume link (note that there are about five pages of steps with detailed screenshots, etc. for each task).
Take the time to read the whole thing all the way through first, it'll give you a good overview of what you are trying to accomplish.
Good luck.
In case you haven't seen this post, I quote it again.
And this are the search results to guides for applying the ONE PASS ERASE in Mac OS X: http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=ma...&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&oq=&pbx=1&fp=851dac784f652e5f
And this are the search results to guides for applying the ONE PASS ERASE in Mac OS X: http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=ma...&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&oq=&pbx=1&fp=851dac784f652e5f
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Ok thanks guys. I just did an erase with zero pass.
One thing though. I selected the actual hdd (says 500gb hdd) instead on the volume called Macintosh hd. I hope this is ok and I didn't mess anything up. Thanks.
Ok thanks guys. I just did an erase with zero pass.
One thing though. I selected the actual hdd (says 500gb hdd) instead on the volume called Macintosh hd. I hope this is ok and I didn't mess anything up. Thanks.
Glad it worked out for you.
By default, your drive would have been named "Macintosh HD" but you can change it to anything you like.
FWIW, I give mine obvious names like "Mac mini HD", "MacBookPro SSD", "Media HD", etc. so it's apparent what I'm looking at when I'm running SuperDuper! or booting from target disk mode. (I also name my backup drives "Backup 1 HD" or "Backup 2 HD" for the same reason.)
You also can choose whether the drives show up on your desktop or under "Devices" in Finder from Finder -> Preferences...
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http://www.anti-forensics.com/disk-wiping-one-pass-is-enough
Unless you are housing government secrets in your HD, 0-pass should be enough.