Sell a MBP/How do I wipe the HD Clean

I would like to sell my 3 year old MBP. It still has about a year on Applecare and has RAM added.

I need to switch because Apples are just not for me and I am going to teach an online course. I need a windows based computer.

Does anybody care to help me wipe the computer clean of all my stuff? How to back up the HD and wipe clean the HD?

Anyway, thanks and I hope to get some help on selling this machine. It has a neoprene case and some other things that make it a great notebook for an Apple lover.

 

I don't know how to use Time Machine to back up if that's what you mean. I always do a fresh install, and keep important files backed up to disc.
But for erasing your hard drive, it's easy. Just boot up with the OS X Install Disc, once there, go to Disk Utility. Click on the hard drive and Erase, and click Security Options. There you can zero out the disc. Once it's finished, just quit the Installer and when it reboots, eject the disc.

 

you might want to look into the following resources
http://www.techtalkpoint.com/articles/how-to-secure-erase-files-from-your-hard-drive-in-osx/
http://support.apple.com/kb/TA24002?viewlocale=en_US

and if that still doesn't work then -

http://www.mireth.com/wt/sxme-shred-file-mac.html

 

if its 3 years old there is no way it has a year left.... if any... it comes with 1 year, and buying Applecare additional warranty makes it 3.. it doesnt give you 3 more, just 2 more for a total of 3.

 

I heard I should make a new disk which I never did because I am not even sure which disks to buy. anyway, can I use the disk that came in the box if the MBP is 3 years old or do I have to makee a disk with the newer utility stuff on it? sorry I am not sure of the right words to use.

 

For the record, MBP's can run Windows.

Anyways, If you have the original installation discs that came with your MBP, back up your files and just reinstall OS X (choose to remove all data). It goes through the paces and eventually gets to the "Welcome to OS X" thing. At that point turn the laptop off. When the new owner turns it on, they get the "Welcome to OS X" thing and they go through the paces as if they just bought it from the store.

 

+1

I did exactly that when I sold my SR MBP earlier this year. But before I did that, I connected an external HD and ran Time Machine which backed everything up and allowed me to migrate all my stuff to the new MBP - it was a piece of cake.

 

Boot to CD. Erase and install the best way to go..