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Preferred method to Reset Monterey 12 to Factory Settings?

G

GrievousAngel

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Apr 10, 2022
17
1
I am somewhat new to Mac computers, so I tend to 'stumpel around' checking things out, clicking and then wondering if I made the best choice, etc. So, maybe I need to do a Factory Reset or even a Clean install. I purchased my Mac Studio for use in my project recording studio with the Universal Audio's Apollo X8 as the base interface (using TB3 networking). I most likely will use this Mac Studio for studio use only, therefore attempting to maintain a lend '[it's a] clean machine', as Lennon & McCartney lyric spoke of in Penny Lane.

What is the preferred method to Reset Monterey 12 to Factory Settings?

Strangely, after I have reinstalled Monterey OS via Recovery, after 30 minutes or so, all my apps and settings are still intact! Is that normal if I did not perform a Clean Install?

Is there a link to a document with detailed steps involving such procedures?

Thanks
 
If you want to wipe it clean:

Launch System Preferences
Top left menu – System Preferences > Erase all contents and settings

Screen Shot 2022-05-05 at 6.52.09 PM.png
 
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After opening the Systems Preference window (with all of the icons), go up to the top left menu item that says "System Preferences." There you'll find the "Erase All Content and Settings..." option.
 
Yes, you did not successfully insert your screenshot...

(Oops - posted about the OP, not the responder... I need to pay more attention (?) )
 
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GrievousAngel said:
This removes user settings and content? NOT a Clean Install correct?
Click to expand...
Correct. There is no need to do anything more unless you want to completely roll back to an earlier macOS which would need DFS mode and Apple Configurator.

"Erase all content and settings" leaves just the locked unwritable System Volume. This is checked every boot and if corrupt or faulty the machine will not start.

There is a mistaken view that a clean install will remove "cruft" and fragments from uninstalled apps etc. All such cruft is on the -Data volume and eliminated by "Erase all data and settings".
 
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Yes, "Erase All Content ... " appears on Macs with security (T1, T2, etc.) chips.
Clean install is more involved on those Mac models, and is probably not ever needed (being a protected volume) -- unless one is reverting to an older system version.
 
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OP:

System Preferences --> "erase all content and settings" is what you want.

Try it.
Then get back to us and tell us how it went.

BUT...
If there's anything you want to save ... anything at all... better have it backed up beforehand...!
 
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GrievousAngel said:
My System Preferences is different from your example. It opens into many icon tabs. I think I have the latest Monterey 12 as I updated it today (12.3.1).

Suggestions?
Click to expand...
I was mistaken. It looks as you said. It took me a minute to realize the drop-down was at top left corner! I was focused on the screen center options. Thanks.

I am somewhat new to Mac OS as I have not used one since my Air Notebook around 2013 or so. [It] took off like a bird from my 3rd floor balcony when I lived near 10k feet in Avon, CO for a year or so!

I have stumbled around in Monterey 12.3.x for a month or so. Since I am using the Mac Studio for 90% recording studio use, I am thinking it would be a good idea to start fresh.

The question is how fresh? What option is reasonable? It runs OK now. So, I am thinking of a fresh install but NOT clearing or re-formatting the HD! What would be the better option? Consider >>>

I have a Samsung X5 that will be here is a few days. My plan is to use the T7 (500Gb) for system backup (Time Machine) and the X5 (1Tb) partitioned into two file systems, i.e., one for VI Samples and the other for DAW active session project work. Of course, I will use icloud or Google Drive for backup copies of my documents and so forth in related directories. The Mac internal SSD will be left to do what it does.

Strangely enough, back when I had a daytime job as EE, I poked around with UNIX. Long story short ... Mac OS is very similar to UNIX. I bet C and UNIX was used intensely in developing the Mac OS over the years. Of course those tools have been super upgraded by now.

Since this Mac will be dedicated to music creation, I am seeking advice on what directory structure to implement? That's what the very fast X5 is intended for. Any advice on this?

Thanks,
 
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Does this Monterey Erase all content and settings remove securely all your personal data and files from MacBook before selling it? Also when doing this, are you supposed to activate machine at the end of this process? Instructions are a bit vague and from Apple official guide it looks to me as if you should activate it but in some Youtube videos they instruct not to do that if selling. However I've seen some complaints where peoples buying used MacBook were unable to pass this activation and there was issues it not detecting WiFi, so I would want to make sure new buyer really can use it without issues but so that there is absolutely nothing left from my data or settings?
 
0906742 said:
Does this Monterey Erase all content and settings remove securely all your personal data and files from MacBook before selling it? Also when doing this, are you supposed to activate machine at the end of this process? Instructions are a bit vague and from Apple official guide it looks to me as if you should activate it but in some Youtube videos they instruct not to do that if selling. However I've seen some complaints where peoples buying used MacBook were unable to pass this activation and there was issues it not detecting WiFi, so I would want to make sure new buyer really can use it without issues but so that there is absolutely nothing left from my data or settings?
Click to expand...
Yes, the erase all content and settings securely deletes your data and applications. I would activate the computer afterward, as this might be an unexpected step for a buyer. Once the activation is completed and the Setup Assistant starts, you can type command-q to quit the setup assistant and shut down the computer. The new buyer would then run through the setup as if it were a new computer.
 
Thanks, so if I activate it during erase, new buyer will be able to continue setup at home and will also get prompt to join their own WiFi? I mean it doesn't automatically try to continue setup using my WiFi and fail due to that?
 
0906742 said:
Thanks, so if I activate it during erase, new buyer will be able to continue setup at home and will also get prompt to join their own WiFi? I mean it doesn't automatically try to continue setup using my WiFi and fail due to that?
Click to expand...
That's all correct.
 
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Interesting problem occured after erasing settings this way from MacBook. All seemed to go well and I actually once created local account on in and checked that all was removed and it was. So I erased settings again and activated it and gave to buyer. However for some reason it still showed up in my iCloud page as device list but it was not in Find my device, so I just removed it from the list. All seems fine now but in my iPhone allow calls from another device list my MacBook still shows there and is allowed!! It actually shows two times there. However it is not in the list of iMessages.

I guess that is just display error and not actually receiving my calls but how do I remove this ghost MacBook from the list entirely?
 
0906742 said:
Interesting problem occured after erasing settings this way from MacBook. All seemed to go well and I actually once created local account on in and checked that all was removed and it was. So I erased settings again and activated it and gave to buyer. However for some reason it still showed up in my iCloud page as device list but it was not in Find my device, so I just removed it from the list. All seems fine now but in my iPhone allow calls from another device list my MacBook still shows there and is allowed!! It actually shows two times there. However it is not in the list of iMessages.

I guess that is just display error and not actually receiving my calls but how do I remove this ghost MacBook from the list entirely?
Click to expand...
I have seen the same. Takes a while for devices to disappear from the iCloud device lists (on other devices and iCloud.com) even after after signing out of iCloud. I always check and delete manually as you did.
 
Mike Boreham said:
I have seen the same. Takes a while for devices to disappear from the iCloud device lists (on other devices and iCloud.com) even after after signing out of iCloud. I always check and delete manually as you did.
Click to expand...
But how to get it off the allow phone calls from other device list? It still show there even removed from iCloud device list manually.
 
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