I purchased a used iMac. It has OS X Mavricks installed. I'd like to re-purpose it for my web designer to use here at my office, since she cannot easily run the Adobe suite on the Ubuntu machines we already have. So, I want to wipe all of the user data, essentially doing a "factory reset".
I do not have the login info to the machine.
I have tried the cmd+r reboot and reinstalled OS X but the original user data is still there. I also tried the cmd+opt+p+r thinking that user account info might be stored in NVRAM but that didn't seem to do the trick either (I know it's only supposed to be system settings like: time, locale, monitor res, etc. but thought that it was worth a shot).
Here are the steps I've already done: (Apple also explains the process here: but the instructions at Chron.com seemed easier to follow). In neither of these processes was I ever prompted for an Apple ID.
I have spent hours Googling and it seems that I can do a complete disk wipe and reinstall using a USB flash drive, but I cannot find a downloadable version of Mavericks anywhere. Apple is pushing Yosemite on the OS X page () and doesn't seem to provide Mavericks anymore.
Furthermore, I am a Linux user and every machine I have available to me is running Linux (Ubuntu 14.04). I do not have, nor have I ever had, an Apple account.
Is this possible? Can I wipe all of the user data from this machine and start anew? Am I going to be required to create an Apple account to be able to use this machine?
EDIT:
An Apple ID is not required. I am now 10,000% certain of that.
61 Answer
I can confirm from resetting many display models in my shop that you need to complete steps 6 and 7 from your first link otherwise the previous owners data will remain.
With Apple when you 'reinstall' you are only refreshing the operating system files and not actually formatting the entire drive like you would on a Windows computer.
The comment by "The_IT_Guy_You_Don't_Like" is exactly correct. I will however expand on the steps required. Also an Apple ID is required - so setup a free generic one.
Steps - From memory
- With Mac off Hold CMD + R and tap power button to turn on computer.
- Still holding CMD + R wait for recovery screen to appear that gives reinstall option.
- Before clicking reinstall click 'disk utility'
- On disk utility click the 'Macintosh HD' then the erase tab on the right.
- Now choose 'Mac OS Extended (Journaled)' and name the drive
- Click erase (doing this step deletes the previous user's data)
- Close disk utility with either the red x top left or you may have to click 'disk utility' top left and click quit on the drop-down to get back to the main screen (like first image).
- Now click 'Reinstall Max OS X' and it will download the os via the internet.
- Now when setting up the computer it would be like brand new, with no data from the previous owner.
- Once on the new desktop update to the latest OS by either clicking 'app store' on the dock or Apple logo top left and clicking software update.
You will need any Apple ID to complete the updates. With experience in Windows re-installs I have made the similar mistake of missing out the deleting drive steps.
This is My 2nd post on here so I hope it helps.
Regards, Ivan G-S
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