Re-formatting iMac from just Snow Leopard disc

AndyWest

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Is it possible to re format the HDD on my iMac with just the Snow Leopard upgrade disc? I have lost the original install discs but have the Snow Leopard disc. I have had a look on youtube but I don't know if the snow leopard disc they use is the full or upgrade version....if there is a difference???

Any help appreciated.
 
try and boot from it (press C while booting and select the CD drive) and you should get at the top of the screen (at the welcome screen, may not appear straight away) a utilities menu where you should have disk utilities.
 
Do you not have to wipe the HDD first?

Thanks
 
No, if you want to install Snow leopard (10.6) over Leopard (10.5), or if you simply want reinstall Snow Leopard then you don't have to wipe the disk, however all your users and data will remain.

If you want a completely new install then, as Neil has already said, you'll need to use the Disk Utility from the Snow Leopard DVD to wipe the disk first and then install Snow Leopard. Snow Leopard upgrade DVDs will install onto disks that are blank, those that have data but no system, and those that already have 10.5 or 10.6 installed.

Edit: by there way there is no such thing as a Snow Leopard full install disk, they were all upgrade disks.
 
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I want to do a fresh install and loose all data as I'm going to be selling the iMac as i already have a new PC.

I'll have a go at the Disc Utility and see how I get on.

Many thanks.
 
Be aware that you'll need to start from the Snow Leopard to do all of the things that you need to do.

Now, if you have a wireless keyboard then you may find that holding either the C key down, or the ALT key down doesn't do anything. If that's the case then let the computer start normally, insert the Snow Leopard DVD if you haven't done so already and then go to System Preferences from the Apple menu (far left apple symbol).

Once in System Preferences you'll need to select Startup Disk (4th row down, 6th across). Select the Snow Leopard Install DVD (It'll look like a CD/DVD) and then click restart. The Mac should now boot from the Snow Leopard install DVD. At which point you're free to nuke the system.
 
Just reinstalling probably wont erase all your personal data. When you've booted from the install disk, use the Disk Utility to secure erase the HD, then install form the installation disk.

I also think you may get away with using the Snowy disk to instal from scratch. I did on my MBP when I formatted and cleaned up the HD. Try and see as you've nothing to lose really

I'd also opt for a USB keyboard through this process as the wireless one may not work when booting from the CD
 
I have a USB keyboard so OK there. I'll do the Disk Utility erase option to make sure everything is off the machine. I will have the Snowy disc when my mate who replaced the HDD sends it to me! I should have got him to load a clean OS but he put all my old data back on which isn't what I wanted. Hey ho! :)

BIG thanks all.
 
Don't forget to click the security options in disk utility and use at least a 7x write zero wipe on that hard drive. A normal format will be 'easily' undone to see what nice stuff you had on that drive...A 7x wipe and you'll talking specialist recovery companies to retrieve anything...
 
If you use the Snow Leopard disk to reformat then you will not have any of the included iLife apps.
 
neil_g said:
we've always got the i-programs disks when theyve come preinstalled?
Click to expand...

They'll install from the original media provided with the computer, but they won't should you use an upgrade disk, such as the retail 10.6.

The solution to this would be to first install from the original media, and then install snow leopard on top

However if the original media that came with your computer is less than 10.5 you may find that snow leopard will refuse to install, and that a clean install of 10.6 minus the i-apps will be the only option.

Some original media came as a 2 disk set; one for the system, and one for the apps. In this case it may be possible to use the apps disk on a 10.6 install, but to do so you'll first need to create an admin account and then install the apps using that account. This means that the computer won't be in a "new" state. However that shouldn't put a potential buyer off.
 
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Slaphead said:
They'll install from the original media provided with the computer, but they won't should you use an upgrade disk, such as the retail 10.6.

The solution to this would be to first install from the original media, and then install snow leopard on top

However if the original media that came with your computer is less than 10.5 you may find that snow leopard will refuse to install, and that a clean install of 10.6 minus the i-apps will be the only option.

Some original media came as a 2 disk set; one for the system, and one for the apps. In this case it may be possible to use the apps disk on a 10.6 install, but to do so you'll first need to create an admin account and then install the apps using that account. This means that the computer won't be in a "new" state. However that shouldn't put a potential buyer off.
Click to expand...

Or if you want the new state, just login in single user mode remove the plists and account and voila it is all done with a fresh start. That is what I did when I sold my black MacBook installed snow leopard an latest iLife and iWork on it. Also installed all the latest updates and then just reset it.
 
dejongj said:
Or if you want the new state, just login in single user mode remove the plists and account and voila it is all done with a fresh start. That is what I did when I sold my black MacBook installed snow leopard an latest iLife and iWork on it. Also installed all the latest updates and then just reset it.
Click to expand...

You are of course right. However, and with the greatest respect to the OP, somebody who's asking how to reformat a Mac and install a fresh system is unlikely to want to, or know how to fiddle around with the single user mode CLI.

We're not all UNIX geeks ;)
 
Lol fair point :)
 
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