How to Factory Reset Big Sur?

[krs]

I have a 2019 16-inch MacBook Pro running Big Sur.
Would like to Factory Reset that Mac so that I can set it up like a new one.

On line, I get different instructions how to do that - some rather convoluted using System Preferences.
But then there is also this very straight forward one:

How do I factory reset my Mac Big Sur OS?
macOS Big Sur or older

1. Power off your Mac. ...
2. In Recovery mode, click Disk Utility from the menu.
3. Click Continue.
4. Select the Macintosh HD and click on Erase. ...
5. Voila, your MacBook has been reset.

Wondering what the proper way is to do that and if the above is all that is needed.
And....I assume when a factory reset is done, the installed macOS stays intact - or is it reinstalled?

 

[Raz0rEdge]

From the source: Erase and reinstall macOS

 

[pm-r]

But then there is also this very straight forward one:

I don't know what all the other more complicated methods and solutions for what you want to do you have been reading, but Apple's method as Ashwin posted doesn't come much simpler than what they suggest... It usually works when installing a clean MacOS, just like it was when it left the original MacBook factory if you shut it down before you carry on setting it up as a user.




- Patrick
=======

 

[MacInWin]

Just bear in mind that EVERYTHING will be erased, so if you want to keep your data, make a backup of it first.

 

[krs]

Just bear in mind that EVERYTHING will be erased, so if you want to keep your data, make a backup of it first.

Yes, erasing the data is fine, that's what I want.
I'm just not crazy about the OS being deleted and then being reinstalled over the net considering problems people have had in the past doing that.

i was hoping there would be a factory reset option that keeps the existing macOS on that MBp in tact and just deletes and resets the rest.

 

[krs]

I don't know what all the other more complicated methods and solutions for what you want to do you have been reading, but Apple's method as Ashwin posted doesn't come much simpler than what they suggest... It usually works when installing a clean MacOS, just like it was when it left the original MacBook factory if you shut it down before you carry on setting it up as a user.




- Patrick
=======

The other factory reset procedures I came across on the net involved using System Preferences multiple times.
The link Ashwin posted is just erqsing the SSD and reinstalling the OS via the Net.

 

[pm-r]

The other factory reset procedures I came across on the net involved using System Preferences multiple times.
The link Ashwin posted is just erqsing the SSD and reinstalling the OS via the Net.

OK, but most likely the other restore mac OS reset option methods you refer to will probably not restore the Mac to the same Factory install that you were wanting.

The method that Ashwin referred to is the proper way to do what you wanted to do, reinstall the mac OS just like a factory install would have done.



- Patrick
=======

 

[Raz0rEdge]

Starting with Monterey, there is an option to factory reset the Mac which removes all of your data while leaving the OS intact. Read more here: Erase your Mac and reset it to factory settings - Apple Support

The bigger question is why you haven't upgraded a support MBP to the a newer version of the OS. Generally, unless there are very specific reasons, you should be upgrading the OS to benefit from all the updates (security primarily).

 

[MacBiter]

The bigger question is why you haven't upgraded a support MBP to the a newer version of the OS. Generally, unless there are very specific reasons, you should be upgrading the OS to benefit from all the updates (security primarily).

Just for the record, my iMac is 2011 which goes as far as High Sierra (which I run as a Parallels VM), and my main OS is Mavericks. Yes, there are a few features in later OS's which would be useful but really, not that many. Perhaps you would take on board that there is a minority of us in that position and quite happy with it.

 

[krs]

Starting with Monterey, there is an option to factory reset the Mac which removes all of your data while leaving the OS intact. Read more here: Erase your Mac and reset it to factory settings - Apple Support

The bigger question is why you haven't upgraded a support MBP to the a newer version of the OS. Generally, unless there are very specific reasons, you should be upgrading the OS to benefit from all the updates (security primarily).

The answer to your bigger question is simply that there doesn't seem to be any way to run 32-bit applications on macOS beyond Mojave.
One of my favourite hobbies offered something like 30 years of back issues of a magazine on a searchable DVD that requires 32-bit Mac or Windows software to run, it's a fantastic reference source that I use regularly.
The magazine has ceased publication a few years back; their DVD software will never be rewritten as64-bit.
The 16-inch 2019 MBp which was shipped with Big Sur (that I asked about) should also run macOS Mojave and thus any 32-bit application - I'll try that later this week.
If that works, I can partition the SSD and use a small partition to boot up on Mojave and run that 32-bit publication software and run a later macOS on the other partition.

 

[MacBiter]

The answer to your bigger question is simply that there doesn't seem to be any way to run 32-bit applications on macOS beyond Mojave.
One of my favourite hobbies offered something like 30 years of back issues of a magazine on a searchable DVD that requires 32-bit Mac or Windows software to run, it's a fantastic reference source that I use regularly.
The magazine has ceased publication a few years back; their DVD software will never be rewritten as64-bit.

Actually, there is - if you get virtualisation software (Parallels or VMWare which are paid-for, or Virtual Box which is free) you can run Mojave or even earlier OS's within and alongside the later OS. The main downside is RAM as you need to have enough to run both OS's at once, though if you're running e.g. Mojave for only one piece of software, you could allocate the minimum that Mojave needs (or preferably an earlier OS that needs less RAM). I have 16 GB on my iMac which is enough for Mavericks as the host OS and High Sierra as the guest VM. .

 

[pm-r]

If that works, I can partition the SSD and use a small partition to boot up on Mojave and run that 32-bit publication software and run a later macOS on the other partition.

Just use a small external SSD drive to hold those 32-bit files and the compatible OS if the newer Mac has a rather small Drive.

I would think even a small HDD would probably be quite adequate for working with text files if prices are consideration.


- Patrick
=======

 

[krs]

Actually, there is - if you get virtualisation software (Parallels or VMWare which are paid-for, or Virtual Box which is free) you can run Mojave or even earlier OS's within and alongside the later OS. The main downside is RAM as you need to have enough to run both OS's at once, though if you're running e.g. Mojave for only one piece of software, you could allocate the minimum that Mojave needs (or preferably an earlier OS that needs less RAM). I have 16 GB on my iMac which is enough for Mavericks as the host OS and High Sierra as the guest VM. .

I had read that virtualization doesn't work for what I need.
That issue, somehow running a 32-bit application on a newer 64-bit only Mac has come up in this forum several times before and the comments were made that virtualization doesn't work.
The solution people were using is to keep an older Mac that can run Mojave for just that purpose.

 

[krs]

Just use a small external SSD drive to hold those 32-bit files and the compatible OS if the newer Mac has a rather small Drive.

I would think even a small HDD would probably be quite adequate for working with text files if prices are consideration.


- Patrick
=======

A small external was an option I considered but it means having an extra "box"
I bought the 2019 Mac I want to use with a 1 TB SSD so a small partition to run Mojave would be no problem.

Side question: The newer Mac will officially run any macOS from Big Sur to the latest.
In the past there was usually a "preferred" macOS that people migrated to - like Snow Leopard, El Capitan, Mojave ...
Is there a recommendation on the best macOS beyond Big Sur?

 

[MacBiter]

I had read that virtualization doesn't work for what I need.
That issue, somehow running a 32-bit application on a newer 64-bit only Mac has come up in this forum several times before and the comments were made that virtualization doesn't work.
The solution people were using is to keep an older Mac that can run Mojave for just that purpose.

That just doesn't make sense. Virtualisation means running an actual OS installed into a virtual machine. There is only one way it might not work: VMs use the host machine's RAM for graphics, i.e. they don't have access to the host's card (I don't know why). This means that Photoshop for example won't activate GFX-only features that require 3D such as lighting effects, though it will operate everything else as per normal, e.g. Levels, Curves, layers, the normal range of image adjustments etc.

32-bit applications won't run in Rosetta 2 on Apple Silicon, but as you have a 2019 machine that isn't relevant, so virtualisation SHOULD work just fine. If you had the right Parallels Desktop for your Mac you could install everything from Snow Leopard (Server only), or the regular Lion onwards.

 

[krs]

That just doesn't make sense. Virtualisation means running an actual OS installed into a virtual machine. There is only one way it might not work: VMs use the host machine's RAM for graphics, i.e. they don't have access to the host's card (I don't know why). This means that Photoshop for example won't activate GFX-only features that require 3D such as lighting effects, though it will operate everything else as per normal, e.g. Levels, Curves, layers, the normal range of image adjustments etc.

32-bit applications won't run in Rosetta 2 on Apple Silicon, but as you have a 2019 machine that isn't relevant, so virtualisation SHOULD work just fine. If you had the right Parallels Desktop for your Mac you could install everything from Snow Leopard (Server only), or the regular Lion onwards.

I think we're talking about two different things.
Here is my reason why I bought the 2019 MacBook pro
....the early 2019 MacBook pro was shipped with macOS 10.14.5 so it will run 32-bit applications, but it still has the problem keyboard
....the late 2019 MacBook pro was shipped with macOS 10.15.1 but looking at the architecture and reviews/comments on line, it should also be able to run Mojave nd thus 32-bit applications.
..... the 2020 MacBook pro will definitely not run Mojave

So with the 2019 MBp I have I should not need any form of virtualization for my 32-bit app.

My comment that virtualiuzation does not work applies to later versions of macOS and Macs with Apple silicon. Don't know if that is true, but that was the information at the time when people with Apple Silicon were looking for ways to run old software.

 

[MacBiter]

I think we're talking about two different things.
Here is my reason why I bought the 2019 MacBook pro
....the early 2019 MacBook pro was shipped with macOS 10.14.5 so it will run 32-bit applications, but it still has the problem keyboard
....the late 2019 MacBook pro was shipped with macOS 10.15.1 but looking at the architecture and reviews/comments on line, it should also be able to run Mojave nd thus 32-bit applications.
..... the 2020 MacBook pro will definitely not run Mojave

So with the 2019 MBp I have I should not need any form of virtualization for my 32-bit app.

My comment that virtualiuzation does not work applies to later versions of macOS and Macs with Apple silicon. Don't know if that is true, but that was the information at the time when people with Apple Silicon were looking for ways to run old software.

Your 2019 AND 2020 Macs (assuming both are Intel) will take virtualisation software. M1 onwards won't run virtualisation unless the VM is also ARM-based, e.g. Windows 10 or certain Linux. So as long as the Mac is Intel - i.e. up to Big Sur or earlier - they will run virtualisers.

 

[ferrarr]

Just as an FYI, VMWare Fusion Player is free (although hard to navigate to) for personal use.

VMware Fusion Player 12 is FREE! Test macOS, Linux or Windows 10

Have you ever wanted setup a virtual machine to run macOS Windows 10 or Linux? VMware Fusion Player 12 is now FREE on the Mac for personal use

mrmacintosh.com

 

[MacBiter]

Just as an FYI, VMWare Fusion Player is free (although hard to navigate to) for personal use.

VMware Fusion Player 12 is FREE! Test macOS, Linux or Windows 10

Have you ever wanted setup a virtual machine to run macOS Windows 10 or Linux? VMware Fusion Player 12 is now FREE on the Mac for personal use

mrmacintosh.com

But is that ARM based only? If so, it's no good for the OP with Intel Macs.

 

[ferrarr]

But is that ARM based only? If so, it's no good for the OP with Intel Macs.

I'm not sure about newer versions, but I used both versions 11 & 12 on my 2014 Mac Mini.