Reset factory settings - how???

[iedwards1919]

Probably a very basic enquiry but the solution is escaping me.

I have a 2011 27" iMac which is running incredibly slowly.

I have a time capsule attached to it which is backing up as it should.

I want to restore the iMac to its factory settings and to then only put back on the photos and documents that I want.

I tried this a while back but think that I just put all the old material back on.

Can someone with patience please step me through the process.

Secondly, when I did the attempt at a factory reset last time I found that I lost my word, excel and powerpoint. I have them back now. Any advice on how to retain these would be good too.

Any patience would be greatly appreciated

 

[AppleNewton]

did you get Office applications as a download or CD/DVD?

Mainly to restore to factory settings is to restart the computer and immediately hold COMMAND R to launch internet recovery.

Click Disk Utility

And click the Macintosh HD and select erase

then close out of disk utility and select Install OS X

let the restore process take place...you can set-up a new account and then when logged into OS X you can browse time machine back-ups and restore just your photos and wanted documents, by click the time machine icon and select browse other back-ups.

 

[iedwards1919]

Thank you for your help so far:
I think I got the Office applications as a download, although I do have the Office for Mac disks from about 2010.

When I reinstalled previously I got the Office for Mac programs back up but had to go to time machine to get the 'newer' program. I think this is where I probably just reinstalled everything.

Again, a simple question I'm sure but...

Will my time machine just show up in Finder once I have restored to factory settings? You have said that I should 'click the time machine icon and select browse other back-ups.' Where will this icon be found?

 

[AppleNewton]

if you have office for mac 2011, you may have the download from microsoft.com
with your account info.

the time machine icon in the menu bar next to the wi-fi and clock, you may have to Option-Click the icon to see browse other back-ups.

 

[iedwards1919]

Thank you
Once I have hit the time machine icon, will it just display a list of the back ups that I can then open and find the items I want to reload?

 

[Dopeyman]

Defrag your startup drive

or replace your drive with an SSD

 

[iedwards1919]

Thank you.

Can you step me through how I defrag the start up disk please

 

[AppleNewton]

Thank you.

Can you step me through how I defrag the start up disk please

no need to, erase & restore and you should be set.