So I will be returning an Air but I am clueless as to what to do with deleting my info from the laptop. How do I delete my Apple ID from the Air? Do I have to do a reformat? Can I just remove my Apple ID and poof nothing can be tied back to me? I will be deleting the apps and programs I installed but want to be sure that when it is back in the store's hands, my info will be gone.
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Returning Air, deleting data
- Thread starter SoIsays
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
Just simply format the entire machine?
Don't necessarily have to bother reinstalling the OS...
this. Boot holding option and go to disk utility and then erase the drive. Like he said, you do not have to reinstall the OS
Restart your computer. Hold down alt (opt) when it's rebooting. A menu should come up with two icons Macintosh HD and Recovery HD. If the menu did not come up, you were too late. Restart again and hold alt.
Click on the arrow below Recovery HD. Choose Disk Utility. Select Macintosh HD and then click the Erase tab. Click Erase... (you can also choose a one pass security option if you wish)
Everything is gone. You will not be able to boot up again with going into the internet recovery and having to reinstall everything.
To remove your id create a throwaway email and change it to that, then delete your old.
If it's going back to the store i imagine they reimage the machine. The second method is good if you're selling and don't want to reinstall. If you're doing that I'd recommend a program to delete your files, not just the pointers.