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How to Reset Your MacBook Pro

Does your MacBook take ages to boot up? Is there a problem you can’t seem to get rid of? Do you want to tame the misbehaving machine? Or simply need to replace it and hand it over to someone without the slightest trace of your personal data and photos that you have hoarded over the years? In any case, resetting your MacBook to factory condition will address your concerns. If you’re wondering how to do that, our comprehensive guide will help you reset your MacBook. Follow the steps below to transform your device back into a new-like condition as if it was fresh out of the box.

Backup your Mac hard drive

Doing a factory reset means that all the data on your hard drive will be wiped off. You might have numerous important documents, videos and photos that you’re keeping as memories. To create a backup of all that data via Time Machine, insert your chosen drive, click the Time Machine icon on top of the screen and click on ‘Back up now’.

Time Machine can be used by connecting an external hard drive with at least 500GB storage, to your MacBook and confirming that you want to use this drive for backup purposes. Your backup will start from there and may take several hours depending on the amount of data. Time Machine will automatically format your external hard drive to be Mac compatible so you don’t have to worry about buying drives specifically formatted for macOS.

Unlink your Apple ID

If you are giving your MacBook away, don’t forget to unlink your Apple ID and deauthorise iTunes. To unlink your Apple ID, boot up your MacBook Pro, go to System Preference > iCloud and click on Sign Out. Since the local copies of iCloud data are already saved on the Apple server, you can choose to remove them from your system.

You can also unlink by opening the iCloud website, signing in your Apple ID and selecting Find My Phone. You will see your MacBook Pro enlisted under All Devices. Simply select your device and click on Remove from Account.

Restart in recovery mode

After you’re done creating backups and unlinking your Apple ID, get ready to wipe your MacBook. Click the Apple logo at the top left of the screen and restart to enter the Recovery Mode. Hold down Cmd + Alt + R keys until the Apple logo or an image of a spinning globe appears on your screen. Your MacBook may take a while to enter this mode. Once the Recovery Area has been loaded, you will see a Recovery Mode Utilities window on your screen.

Erase your Mac hard drive

Now that you have reached the macOS Utilities Window. Select Disk Utility at the end of the list and click Continue. The sidebar on the left will show your main hard drive typically titled as Macintosh HD by default. To remove all your personal data off your hard drive, choose the Erase button. Make sure that the format you have selected is macOS Extended and then click the Erase button. Remember that doing so permanently removes all your data, so don’t erase unless you have taken a backup.

Reinstall macOS

Once you are done wiping off your hard drive, click Disk Utility at the top left corner of the screen and choose Quit. Doing so will take you back to the main Recovery Mode screen. Since you have erased all the contents of your device, you can’t really hand it over to someone or sell it without reinstalling macOS. On the Recovery Mode screen, select Reinstall macOS and click Continue. You will now be shown the version of macOS that your device will install which is usually the one that your MacBook came with. Click Continue and you will be taken to the terms and condition screen. Click Agree and select where you want to install the software to begin the installation. Once the installation is complete which may take a while, you will be asked for your Apple ID and password. Choose to quit the setup so that the person you are handing your MacBook over to can enter their own information.

Now that you know how to reset your MacBook Pro, you can hand it over or sell it without worrying about any traces of your personal data. For the latest updates and answers to all your tech problems keep visiting our blog here.

November 22, 2019 0 comment

Guides

Laptop Buying Guide

Laptops give you the power of a desktop computer whilst also letting you work, surf and do a world of things on the go. There was a time when laptops were considered the lesser between the two but today so many laptops are available and some have better specs than traditional desktops, from big brands such as HP, ASUS, Lenovo and Medion.

With so many laptops with a wide range of specs available, it can make things extremely confusing for those of us who don’t know the specifics. So, join us as we break things down and make it easier for when you’re ready to buy your next laptop with our laptop buying guide!

Processor

Processors (also called CPU) are what determine just how fast your laptop will be, they control the speed at which you are able to run the programs that you use. There are two main manufacturers of processors, the first, and market leaders are Intel and the other is AMD.

Intel Core i7 processors are considered the fastest and most powerful available right now and will let you handle all your tasks efficiently and with ease. AMD processors are also powerful and just like Intel’s processors come in different ranges to suit your needs.

So if you’re someone who uses their computer for photo/video editing or gaming then you would require a more powerful processor. However, if you’re after a laptop for basic use for work and internet browsing you may want to save some money and look for a less powerful processor such as an M Series, Pentium, Celeron or Atom.

Storage and RAM

Most of us get lost in the world of laptop language where RAM and storage is concerned, so we couldn’t have a laptop buying guide without a breakdown of RAM and storage!

RAM which stands for Random Access Memory, is the short term memory of your laptop, you cannot delete and try to free up space on the RAM, however more RAM will allow you to do much more on your laptop at once which is great news if you are a multi-tasker!

Hard drive space or storage on your laptop is the amount of space you have for your own files, documents and everything else that you want to store on your computer. If you’re someone who loves to hoard all your pictures, videos and files and needs more space, you may want to look for memory in TB rather than GB, like a 2TB laptop and if not, then something in the region of to 250GB or 500GB will suffice.

Display and Screen Size

The display or screen size on a laptop can range from something as small as 10.1’’ right the way up to 15’’ to 18’’. Many laptops above 17’’ are usually gaming laptops, to make the gaming experience more immersive for players. In addition to the screen size, you also want to look out for the resolution on the display of a laptop, as a higher resolution means more pixels and better picture clarity.

The highest resolution laptops like 3840 x 2160 and 4k displays would be better suited to gamers or even photographers or designers as higher resolutions mean better picture quality on your laptop.

If you want the smallest available, a 10.1 ‘’ laptop like the ASUS Chromebook Flip C100PA may appeal to you more than a larger screened laptop designed for gaming. And if you’re after the most popular screen size of 14’’, then something like the HP EliteBook 840 G2, may suit your needs better.

Operating System

An operating system governs how you will be able to use and navigate around your laptop and so is an important aspect when it comes to buying or choosing a laptop. Windows make the world’s most popular operating systems and their range varies from older versions like Windows 7 to the more recent Windows 10.

The operating system is important as it includes things like updates that help to keep your computer secure. It also includes features that will make using your laptop more enjoyable, depending on your needs and preferences.

Other operating systems include Linux as well as Mac OS X. Many people sometimes learn to use one kind of operating system and tend to stick to it. You may want to choose an operating system you already know, as using an OS that you have the general gist of will ensure that using your new laptop is a smooth experience.

Design & Portability

When it comes to things like portability and convenience of use, design matters. Whether you’re someone who places a lot of importance on the design of a laptop or you don’t mind at all, the design will also affect the functionality of your laptop.

For example, a convertible 2 in 1 laptop will allow for increased portability and versatility when it comes to using the laptop, and a gaming laptop will also more often than not come in a certain style that is more typical to laptops made for gaming purposes.

With everything from touchscreen to gaming laptops to ultrabooks available, all with different screen sizes and colours, it’s worth looking around for what type of design you want on your laptop as you will most likely be using it every day!

Browse through our range of affordable laptops and notebooks here.

We hope you feel better informed and more confident about your next laptop purchase after reading our laptop buying guide. Drop a comment below and tell us which laptop you’re looking to buy next!

June 21, 2017 0 comment