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Need to semi-wipe old iMac

A

akidd

macrumors regular
Original poster
Jan 30, 2007
242
122
Tunbridge Wells, UK
Finally clearing out the old iMac. It still turns on and works fine but it needs to go. It would be nice to leave on various software for whoever has it next, such as Word etc, PS CSsomething old. What's best way of doing this? A simple wipe will probably mean it'll be for the tip as I cant see anyone wanting it without usable software, and charity shops dent want electrical items as they have to test them.I probably would help if is said which ISX version it's but I cant remember and I'd need to dig it out of the attic first!
Thanks.
 
Cleanest in my opinion:
  1. Full Time Machine backup of the Mac, unless you're very happy with a migration to a new one
  2. Make a new admin account on the Mac, call it temp, test, whatever
  3. Log into new admin account
  4. Delete old admin account immediately (in System Preferences)
  5. Delete AppleSetupDone so the next person can make their own, fresh account https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/How+to+reset+the+password+on+a+Mac/125092
 
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Your thread title has a typo in it. Should read "semi-wipe" right? Maybe fix so that people don't have to click into here to figure out what you're talking about.
 
FreakinEurekan said:
The licenses for that software isn't transferrable; you're best off just erasing it and putting pure OS X on it. If the next user wants an old version of Word or PhotoShop they'll pirate it themselves.
Click to expand...
If it's CS, they own the software. That was before rentals when software came on physical media.

Silly "license" nonsense does not apply, whiny software company claims don't matter.
 
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Mr_Brightside_@ said:
Cleanest in my opinion:
  1. Full Time Machine backup of the Mac, unless you're very happy with a migration to a new one
  2. Make a new admin account on the Mac, call it temp, test, whatever
  3. Log into new admin account
  4. Delete old admin account immediately (in System Preferences)
  5. Delete AppleSetupDone so the next person can make their own, fresh account https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/How+to+reset+the+password+on+a+Mac/125092
Click to expand...
From a security point of view, this is a nightmare.

There is a lot of information about the owner of a Mac that is stored outside the default user folder. (Binding the hardware to an AppleID is just one example).

The "cleanest" approach, imho, would be to wipe the Mac, as Apple recommends:

What to do before you sell, give away, trade in, or recycle your Mac - Apple Support

Reset your Mac to factory settings to prepare it for a new owner.
support.apple.com support.apple.com
and then tape a USB stick to the back of the Mac containing the installers of the applications in question.
 
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tonmischa said:
From a security point of view, this is a nightmare.

There is a lot of information about the owner of a Mac that is stored outside the default user folder. (Binding the hardware to an AppleID is just one example).

The "cleanest" approach, imho, would be to wipe the Mac, as Apple recommends:

What to do before you sell, give away, trade in, or recycle your Mac - Apple Support

Reset your Mac to factory settings to prepare it for a new owner.
support.apple.com support.apple.com
and then tape a USB stick to the back of the Mac containing the installers of the applications in question.
Click to expand...
What other examples are there?
 
Mr_Brightside_@ said:
What other examples are there?
Click to expand...

Have a look into the <BootDisk>/Library folder, especially into the Preferences and ApplicationSupport folders. you will find many .plist files in there, which contain owner-specific info.
You will also find the Keychain folder in there, which contains systemwide installed keys. (all Wifi and Bluetooth credentials the mac was ever connected to are also in there.)

*edited*
 
Last edited:
If you are giving/selling software to someone else, ideally you need to give them the installers and serial codes (and then not use them yourself).

How will the new user do a clean install, if they need to for some reason?
 
Last edited:
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