Returning Macbook pro 13" for 15" at BB.....backup

[awfpack]

I am going to return my 13" for the 15". How is the best (easiest) way to backup my 13" before I return it. This is my 1st ever MAC. I've had the 13" for about 10 days.

Thanks for your help

 

[GuitarG20]

the easiest way is to get an external and use time machine to backup. that way you can restore using it when you get the new one.

 

[awfpack]

will it keep everything the same as i put it on my 13"?
In iphoto i have over 10,000 pics that i organized and did the grouped by faces.
Thanks

 

[GuitarG20]

someone that's restored comment on this... although I think it will.

 

[shoppy]

If you back up and then restore it will be exactly as you left your 13" all preferences, settings files etc. I do this when I change machines, which I do frequently and it is fantastic saves me a day worth of installing and transferring files from the good old days. How i do not miss them at all.

 

[awfpack]

Do you back up to a DVD or to a external drive?

 

[AlphaDogg]

Do you back up to a DVD or to a external drive?

Drive.

 

[awfpack]

i have all my files backed up on external drive. How to i get the computer back to factory settings (erase everything).
Thanks

 

[maflynn]

Use Carbon Copy Cloner to an external drive. That will create an exact duplicate of your 13 MBP's hard drive.

 

[awfpack]

how do i do this?
do i clone the mac hd or the external drive?
Thanks

 

[randomrazr]

just use time machine

 

[awfpack]

Thats what I did with the 13 inch (ran time machine).... do i need to do anything else to the external drive? when i get the 15" do i just plug it in and the 15" will find the external hd?

also how do i set the 13" back to factory settings with NONE of my info on the computer.

Thank you so much for your help

 

[newdeal]

...

if all you care about is your iPhoto library just copy the library to a usb key.

 

[awfpack]

Can someone tell me how to delete everything off the 13" before I take it back
Thanks

 

[dlimes13]

Reinstall Mac OS X Lion.

 

[awfpack]

My computer already had lion on it. There was no disk.
Thanks

 

[tears2040]

My computer already had lion on it. There was no disk.
Thanks

Why are you trading it back in?

 

[Nick McEnjoy]

My computer already had lion on it. There was no disk.
Thanks

Didn't it come with the software USB drive?
Use the drive to restore the laptop to its factory default.

 

[aristobrat]

My computer already had lion on it. There was no disk.
Thanks

The beginning part of this article talks about how to boot your Mac to the Lion recovery partition. http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4718

Do that, then look for the Disk Utility program on the menu bar. You may have to go a screen or two in before you can see that. Anyhow, use the Disk Utility program to erase your drive.

IIRC, even if you use the Recovery Partition to reinstall Lion, it's not going to erase what was already on your drive unless you manually go into Disk Utility and erase the drive first.