how to reset macbook 10.6.8 to factory settings without a installation disk?

[maraash]

Im selling a macbook 2010 with a 10.6.8 snow leopard OS, but im not being able to find a way to reset the laptop to factory settings, so that there is no data passed on.

 

[chscag]

Im selling a macbook 2010 with a 10.6.8 snow leopard OS, but im not being able to find a way to reset the laptop to factory settings, so that there is no data passed on.

You could wipe it clean from Single User Mode but then you would have no way to reinstall the OS. Best way is just order a Snow Leopard DVD from Apple for $19.95. I realize you're in India but I'm sure you can purchase it from Apple India.

 

[IHelpId10t5]

Unless you have another Mac with a Snow Leopard installer then you can't do what you want.

What you can do is to hook up the old mac to a new one using a FireWire cable, then hold down the "T" key when booting the old Mac. That will put the old Mac it in "Target Disk Mode" and it's drive will mount on the new Mac. You can then use Disk Utility to format the drive, using the security options to wipe the drive with at LEAST an overwrite with zeros.

The purchaser of the Mac will then need to find a solution to put an OS back on it. As long as you advertise it as not having an OS then the buyer can deal with it.

 

[chrfr]

Im selling a macbook 2010 with a 10.6.8 snow leopard OS, but im not being able to find a way to reset the laptop to factory settings, so that there is no data passed on.

The 2010 Macbook supports internet recovery– it is one of the very first computers to do so. Just hold down Command-option-R as the computer starts up, and that will allow you to reformat the disk and install a new copy of the operating system without needing a disk at all. It may put an operating system newer than 10.6.8 on the computer, but it may not.

 

[chrfr]

You could wipe it clean from Single User Mode but then you would have no way to reinstall the OS. Best way is just order a Snow Leopard DVD from Apple for $19.95. I realize you're in India but I'm sure you can purchase it from Apple India.

The retail 10.6.3 will not boot or install on these computers.

 

[ApolloBoy]

What you can do is to hook up the old mac to a new one using a FireWire cable, then hold down the "T" key when booting the old Mac. That will put the old Mac it in "Target Disk Mode" and it's drive will mount on the new Mac. You can then use Disk Utility to format the drive, using the security options to wipe the drive with at LEAST an overwrite with zeros.

That won't work at all as the white unibody MacBook doesn't have FireWire.

 

[kpgh554]

you could try by deleting all progs you don't want on it . then delete all the preferences from the prefs folder then if you had a techtool disc could defrag and erase empty space should leave you with afresh start

 

[Mr_Brightside_@]

you could try by deleting all progs you don't want on it . then delete all the preferences from the prefs folder then if you had a techtool disc could defrag and erase empty space should leave you with afresh start

Easier way would be to make a temp admin folder, then go into it and delete your user, then delete any apps you don't want them having.
Then, follow this and the buyer will be able to make their own account:
http://www.theinstructional.com/guides/how-to-re-run-the-os-x-setup-assistant

 

[aarontgrogg]

This worked for me: