Computer problem!! need help please!!

[yourstruly_arix]

This is going to sound strange but recently i cound a mac laptop in the trash, yes in the trash. how odd right? I decided to take it home and check it out. Now i consider it mine, but i would like to know how to delete everything on it it, like the previous owners stuff, but it has a password, and i obviously dont know it. I want to delete everything so i can update the whole system because its too slow! If anybody can help i would appreciate it greatly please!! thank you!!

 

[9006]

You'll have to re install Mac OSX, but you'll have to get your hands on a copy first, via torrent or elsewhere. I'd go for the same version you already have, too.

 

[ladyforsaken]

You found a mac laptop in the trash? Damn, you're lucky. I never find stuff like that in the trash.

 

[Oniseke]

A Mac laptop in the trash and not soiled? How odd indeed. I have never fiddled with a Mac-based computer in depth before, but if the process is anything like PCs, it would involve:

- Acquiring another Mac OS installation (via CD or USB) as suggested by 9006, and reinstall over the existing hard drive.
- Alternatively, replace the physical hard drive inside of the laptop and then do the step above. This would also respect the privacy of data unknowingly left behind by the last owner.

The other thing to be wary of, is whether the previous owner has installed any tracking mechanisms (location, keystrokes) on the laptop.

 

[Tiina63]

Where is this rubbish bin where you found the laptop? I wouldn't mind seeing if there is another computer there

 

[VanillaCreme]

You found a mac laptop in the trash? Damn, you're lucky. I never find stuff like that in the trash.

It's a Mac... There's a reason why it was in the trash. But yeah, you'll have to reinstall the OS. Not totally sure about Macs though. If it were me, I'd toss it back in the garbage.

 

[xaero]

You should have left it in the trash

 

[ladyforsaken]

Well couldn't you at least sell it off? Wouldn't it be worth anything?

 

[Lady X]

Hmm.... I'd be a tad concerned to find a working Mac in the trash.

It could have been stolen and dumped for them to come back for later (a common tactic of opportunistic thieves), or it could have some rather dubious content on it that the owner needed to ditch for good, and fast.

I'd be tempted to contact the local police station to see if anyone's reported one stolen.

However, taking it on the benefit of the doubt and considering it all legit, then yes you will need to reinstall the OS completely.

I would be tempted to replace the Hard Drive completely though, just in case its been dumped for having dubious contents. It's never possible to completely remove all contents from a Hard Drive and the last thing you want is to realise there are traces of illegal or upsetting stuff on there.

 

[VanillaCreme]

Well couldn't you at least sell it off? Wouldn't it be worth anything?

Many people - including those at Apple - usually want way too much money for a Mac, especially a used one.

 

[yourstruly_arix]

You'll have to re install Mac OSX, but you'll have to get your hands on a copy first, via torrent or elsewhere. I'd go for the same version you already have, too.

Thanks for the tip! how can i find it on torrent or how? im not a computer techy, so i might need help...

 

[9006]

Thanks for the tip! how can i find it on torrent or how? im not a computer techy, so i might need help...

Well to be honest if your knowledge about this isn't that great then I think the best thing you can do is ask someone who you know to help you our or see if any PC shops can do you a deal on re-installing it for you.

Finding a copy and installing it yourself isn't a great thing to do if you've never done it before.

 

[LeaningIntoTheMuse]

I'd be concerned that there was some illegal materials on it.

If it works, and doesn't have something wrong with it, I'd be concerned that the person who owned it before wasn't on the up and up.

 

[9006]

I'd be concerned that there was some illegal materials on it.

If it works, and doesn't have something wrong with it, I'd be concerned that the person who owned it before wasn't on the up and up.

If it was me I wouldn't be bothered about any of that **** since it would either end up wiped or with a new HDD.

 

[9006]

I've only just realized this is in the wrong section even though I've responded a few times.

 

[Cucuboth]

If you found it in the trash, and there's nothing obviously wrong with it, I'd say chances are it's stolen. Might sound like the goody-too-shoes thing to do, but maybe you should hand it in to a police station (and if nobody claims it, you might end up getting it anyway)

 

[xaero]

You could hand it in to a police station, but you'll probably end up getting beaten and tased for no good reason.

 

[LoneKiller]

Hmm.... I'd be a tad concerned to find a working Mac in the trash.

It could have been stolen and dumped for them to come back for later (a common tactic of opportunistic thieves), or it could have some rather dubious content on it that the owner needed to ditch for good, and fast.

I'd be tempted to contact the local police station to see if anyone's reported one stolen.

However, taking it on the benefit of the doubt and considering it all legit, then yes you will need to reinstall the OS completely.

I would be tempted to replace the Hard Drive completely though, just in case its been dumped for having dubious contents. It's never possible to completely remove all contents from a Hard Drive and the last thing you want is to realise there are traces of illegal or upsetting stuff on there.

Lady X is right. You never know what the hell is on that thing. I can't see anyone in their right mind discarding a laptop computer for the hell of it. There could be child porn on that or anything. The following link is posted for educational purposes only. It would be illegal to do so, so don't try it. Breaking the law is wrong.

http://lifehacker.com/5681710/how-to-break-into-a-mac-and-prevent-it-from-happening-to-you

 

[LeaningIntoTheMuse]

You could hand it in to a police station, but you'll probably end up getting beaten and tased for no good reason.

Why would you assume this? Have you had bad experiences with the police?

Not every police officer is a bad one. Some of them are the good guys, you know...

Either way, I see an alternative to doing this. If it is a working Mac (and the fact you said it's slow makes me wonder if the hardware or hard drive is dying), you can wipe it and just pretend that you got it from a thrift shop or something. Nobody's going to track where you got a computer from, certainly not the police, if you didn't steal it yourself.

This reminds me, though, of a scenario where my friend, who's a Mac enthusiast, was given a Windows laptop for free by a friend of his. He took it to me, since he knows I know all about PCs. A brief scan of it revealed horror stories...I can't count the amount of trojans and rook-kits on there, not to mention the hard drive was 1 sec away from failing completely. I somehow seem to think this is the situation with your Mac.

 

[ladyforsaken]

Not every police officer is a bad one. Some of them are the good guys, you know...

Some are.... but not many, I gather. :\