You can make a difference in the Apple Support Community!
When you sign up with your Apple Account, you can provide valuable feedback to other community members by upvoting helpful replies and User Tips.
When you sign up with your Apple Account, you can provide valuable feedback to other community members by upvoting helpful replies and User Tips.
I wish to clear all content before I sell it, on my 2015 21.5 " iMac running Monterey 12.6. I can find plenty on youtube about deleting with the "Erase all settings" function, but I haven't got that
Thank you
iMac 21.5″, macOS 12.6
Then there is the -->>
Scorched Earth Method
This method will WIPE ALL Data and there is No Recovery - Period.
>> Only works on Intel Based Apple Computer <<
To perform this action will require booting from a Bootable Installer.
The Bootable Installer can Only be performed on an Apple Computer
This will have to be performed from a Qualifying Computer to run the version of macOS to be made on the Bootable Installer. Example ONLY : Bootable Installer of Big Sur would have to be done on a computer that Qualifies to run Big Sur.
Notation: If the computer being used to perform this action is Too New or Too Old to qualify to run the version of macOS - this computer can not be used.
Alternative is, to gain access to a Qualifying Apple Computer from a family member, friend or associate.
1 - Shutdown computer and disconnect all external drive Except the newly created Bootable Installer.
2- Restart and immediately hold the OPTION key until the Startup Manager appears and choose the USB Drive.
3 - It will present options >> Disk Utilities >> View >> View ALL attached Drives.
4 - Choose the Upper Most Drive ( not the volumes indented and list below ).
5 - The drive normally is called Apple Media or Apple SSD - that is the drive to Erase and format as APFS with the GUID Partition Map. This applies to macOS 10.14 Mojave and above.
5A - Formatting for macOS 10.13 High Sierra and below requires HFS Journaled with the GUID Partition Map
6 - Once that is done >> backup out of Disk Utilities and choose install macOS.
7 - Follow the prompts and it may automatically reboot several time.
8 - Upon a final reboot - Setup Assist will present with the newer version of macOS.
9 - The just Power Down the computer via Power Button
In " good computer practices " , when selling a computer, it should be rolled back to the version of OS X / macOS it Originally came with as New.
This would allow the new Owner to have all the Options to upgrade or keep the Original version of OSX / macOS .
You are welcome
Do come back to the Apple Support Communities ( ASC ) in the future, if / or when additional questions may arise
Thank you for confirming what I've thought all along.
Thank you all - now sorted
You're welcome.
how to delete all content on 2015 imac with Monterey 12.6
