HOW TO WIPE A COMPUTER AND START OVER UPGRADE
HOW TO WIPE A COMPUTER AND START OVER SOFTWARE
HOW TO WIPE A COMPUTER AND START OVER PASSWORD
HOW TO WIPE A COMPUTER AND START OVER MAC
HOW TO WIPE A COMPUTER AND START OVER WINDOWS

Now click Erase Volume Group, enter your Apple ID when prompted, and click Erase Mac and Restart. YouвЂ™ll be prompted to enter a new name (consider Macintosh HD, for simplicityвЂ™s sake) and Format (which should be APFS). Once thatвЂ™s done, click Disk Utility > hard drive (again, called Macintosh HD unless you changed the name) in the left sidebar > Erase. Click Options.ДЄt this point, you may be asked to input a username and password. Eventually a screen will appear featuring a black background and two icons: your hard drive (called Macintosh HD unless you changed it) and Options. Once thatвЂ™s completed, turn off your Mac and then turn it back on while holding down the power button.

HOW TO WIPE A COMPUTER AND START OVER SOFTWARE

You can do that by clicking System Preferences in the Apple Menu in the upper left-hand corner and then clicking Software Update. If youвЂ™re selling your computer, you can skip setup by pressing Command + Q and let the new owner complete that process.ДЇor M1-based Macs, Apple says you need to make sure youвЂ™re running the latest version of MacOS before you get started. This should look familiar if you've set up this computer before. To finish the reset, navigate back to the Utilities window and choose Reinstall MacOS (or OSX) to reinstall the original operating system.ДЄfter the reinstall, the Mac will begin the setup process. Then select MacOS Extended (Journaled) format and quit Disk Utility when the process ends. Make sure to select the disk, not the volume name listed beneath it. Open the Disk Utility and erase your built-in hard disk. Once you've done that, the Utilities window will pop up in the middle of your screen.

HOW TO WIPE A COMPUTER AND START OVER UPGRADE

Alternatively, you can hold Command + R to reinstall the latest MacOS installed on your Mac or Option + Command + R to upgrade to the latest version of the OS compatible with your computer. This will reinstall the operating system that came with your Mac. To perform a factory reset on Intel-based Macs, hold down the Shift + Option + Command + R keys while starting up your Mac until the Apple logo appears on the screen.

HOW TO WIPE A COMPUTER AND START OVER PASSWORD

This step isnвЂ™t required, but transferring those account names and passwords onto your new machine will save you the hassle of re-entering the WiFi password at the local coffee shop or the login info for online retailers. You should also copy your keychains to a flash drive. That can be done in the Apple ID section of the System Preferences app. Once again, before you begin, be sure to back up important files and then sign out of iCloud. You'll need to perform different steps to perform a factory reset on one of those (see below) than on a Mac with an Intel processor.

HOW TO WIPE A COMPUTER AND START OVER WINDOWS

But once thatвЂ™s over and done with, and youвЂ™ve verified that the data has been safely backed up, actually carrying out a factory reset is simple whether youвЂ™re on a Mac, Chromebook, or Windows PC.ДЄpple last fall introduced computers using its own homegrown M1 processor, also known as Apple silicon. Of course, youвЂ™ll want to back up any important data you may have to another drive, or to the cloud, before you perform a factory reset (or, perhaps, break out the hammer and nails). вЂњJust make sure you're wearing safety glasses.вЂќ вЂњThe gold standard in hard drive security consists of using a pointy nail and a few swift swings of a hammer,вЂќ he says half-jokingly. ThatвЂ™s why Richard Fisco, who oversees electronics testing for Consumer Reports, cautions that some consumers may feel more comfortable removing the hard drive altogether before sending the laptop off to its new home.

Theoretically, however, a determined hacker may be able to use advanced data recovery software to unearth your old files, even if youвЂ™ve performed a factory reset. So if you're handing off your old computer to a friend or sibling, or donating it to a well-known charitable organization, the steps listed below should suffice. In most cases, wiping a computer with a factory reset will be sufficient to safeguard your personal data. 'Reinstalling your system before sale is a much safer alternative.вЂќ

Or you can miss deleting some important files altogether,' he says. вЂњYou're likely to forget things like passwords saved in browsers and personal data in the deleted items folder.

How to wipe a computer and start over