2nd hand iMac - OSX 10.5.5 no discs - how to reset to factory settings ?
 

Just bought a second hand iMac and have no discs etc at all and want to restore it to factory settings so its "clean" for starting again.

Any ideas how best to do this without having any password problems?

Go easy - it's my very first iMac after years of PC's !!

Ro.

in all honesty order snow leopard and do a clean install :thumb:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Mac-Snow-Leo...5604465&sr=8-1

Cheers - it's more I guess a re-set / wiping of the previous users info / settings etc.

Is there an easy way of doing that ?

you need the restore or installtion dvd.

that's why i'd reccommend the new os

So I can't download a restore / install file onto a memory stick and run that - or suchlike?

Sorry if that sounds stupid, very Mac-illiterate me !!

if there is it'll be under disk utility app which comes under utilities

Do you have the password for the account the mac using?
What you could do is create a new admin account for your use. This will remove all user settings, but apps will still be there

disk utility will be of no use as it won't allow you to format/ erase the disk as it is the disk you are booted from. Plus if you did do that then you would end up with a mac without an OS on it which isn't a lot of use

I am sure a bit of searching ;) would find you a 10.5 install DVD but as others have said it is probably worth getting 10.6. before you do that though, tell me the exact model type and I will jeck it can run 10.6.

To find out the exact model, go to the Apple menu, select "About this Mac". You'll see the OS version listed under Mac OS X, click on that version number text and keep doing do until is shows serial number. Then pop over to here and pop that number in and it'll tell you the machine spec, and from that we should be able to ensure it runs 10.6.