selling macbook air. how to erase user data?

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ALTRON

577 posts

Ultimate Geek

#120960 19-Jun-2013 17:21

Im selling my macbook air and want to erase all data from it.
I could restore it to factory but doesn't that mean I have to enter in my apple ID again download OSX lion?

then id have to securely delete apple ID from it once installed???

mattwnz

20153 posts

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#839671 19-Jun-2013 17:59

Apple support is probably the best place to ask, especally with accounts.

jarledb

Webhead
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#842147 24-Jun-2013 05:07

Some good tips on how to go about it here: https://discussions.apple.com/thread/4473305?start=0&tstart=0

If you have the lion disks, you could do a format of the HD and then install Lion to the point of the setup wizard, then turn the machine off and give it to the new owner which can then finish the installation and register their AppleID.

More about doing this on Lion: http://apple.stackexchange.com/questions/76194/how-can-i-delete-everything-from-my-macbook-pro-before-selling-it

I would recommend the person buying the Macbook Air to upgrade to Mountain Lion.

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CYaBro

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#842153 24-Jun-2013 07:17

If the air came with lion installed from new then no you shouldn't have to enter in any apple id to do a factory restore.
It will use the serial number to authenticate the download.

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gehenna

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#842192 24-Jun-2013 09:38

Conversely if you bought Lion yourself as an upgrade to it's original OS then you need to restore to the original OS as you can't sell the Mac with your version of Lion as it's attached to your account.

That's the official line anyway.

Also is it Lion or Mountain Lion?

ALTRON

577 posts

Ultimate Geek

#842194 24-Jun-2013 09:42

UPDATE
I restored it back to factory mountain lion without having to use apple ID.
Mountain lion is what the macbook ships with so that's what it restores to i guess