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Return to factory state?

R

RealRobD

macrumors newbie
Original poster
If I wanted to return my Mac Mini back to the state it was in when I pulled it out of the box, how would I do that, or is it possible?

Thing is, I'm going to be selling it and I want it to be in the same state is was when I first booted it up.
 
RealRobD said:
If I wanted to return my Mac Mini back to the state it was in when I pulled it out of the box, how would I do that, or is it possible?

Thing is, I'm going to be selling it and I want it to be in the same state is was when I first booted it up.
Click to expand...

boot it attached to the internet. keep your finger on cmd r and do an internet install.
 
You didn't say which model you have, or which version of OS X you are running, but beware of creating a new iCloud account with the fresh installation of OS X:

http://www.apple.com/legal/icloud/en/terms.html
"Apple reserves the right to limit the number of Accounts that may be created from a device and the number of devices associated with an Account."
Click to expand...

I recently wanted to pass on my old MacBook Pro to a relative and they were unable to create an iCloud account on that machine. Just make sure to not set up iCloud on the Mac Mini when the installer reboots and starts asking you for user account creation and all that.
 
Thanks for the info so far guys.

Model: MD387xx/A

OS: Mountain Lion

Is there anyway to avoid the internet install? Can I get ML on USB and go that route?
If you've purchased a Mac with the OS preinstalled as I have here, you then own the OS as well. Is there a download for ML somewhere?
 
RealRobD said:
Thanks for the info so far guys.

Model: MD387xx/A

OS: Mountain Lion

Is there anyway to avoid the internet install? Can I get ML on USB and go that route?
If you've purchased a Mac with the OS preinstalled as I have here, you then own the OS as well. Is there a download for ML somewhere?
Click to expand...

Since your machine came with Mountain Lion, all you need to do is command-r boot to recovery then when the recovery screen comes up start Disk Utility. Use Disk Util to erase Macintosh HD then quit Disk Util. Now click install OS and Mountain Lion will be downloaded and installed to the drive fresh.

There is no way to avoid this download. You can use this workaround to snag the install image and make a USB key installer, but that still does not avoid the download.
 
Okay so I've managed to get "InstallESD.dmg" downloaded and on to a 2 partition USB. Do I now have to use Disk Utility and do a restore? If not, then how do I point it to the USB so I don't have to go through the download?

Edit: Did a Restore onto the USB with the image. Everything looks to be golden.
 
Last edited:
philipma1957 said:
good. I usually copy my oem hdd to an external and leave it be in case i want to install.
Click to expand...

That's a good idea too.

The only thing I'm not sure of now, is how to actually use it.

I understand the default method of command r > disk utility > erase > fresh install. But this usually prompts the internet download and install. How do I avoid that and utilize my new OS image on the usb?
 
RealRobD said:
That's a good idea too.

The only thing I'm not sure of now, is how to actually use it.

I understand the default method of command r > disk utility > erase > fresh install. But this usually prompts the internet download and install. How do I avoid that and utilize my new OS image on the usb?
Click to expand...

Hold the Option key at startup, the boot manager will show up, choose the USB and Install, erase with Disk Utility before, choose it from the Menu Bar.
 
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