Reset a Macbook Pro
Has your MacBook, once the pinnacle of functional computing, slowly become a stuttering shadow of its former glory? As the years go by and files are added and programs installed, your MacBook may start acting sluggish, or become downright ornery. There are several solutions you can try, from a simple restart to a full factory reset.
If you need to restart your computer instead of reset it, click on this article.
Contents
Steps
Factory Resets
- This method will completely wipe all stored data from your computer. Use this method only after backing up, or if you're comfortable losing all your data.
- Backup your important data before resetting your MacBook to factory settings. If you're experiencing serious problems with your MacBook such as constant crashing or freezing, persistent sluggish performance, or errors around every corner, wiping and reinstalling may be the quickest way to get up and running again.
- When you reset your MacBook, you will be deleting the data on your computer and reinstalling the operating system. This means you will lose everything that you had saved on your hard drive. Back up everything you want to keep, either by copying select files to an external drive or DVD, or by using the Use-Time-Machine-on-Os-X-Lion program to back up all of your files.
- You will need to reinstall any programs you use after the reset process is complete.
- Reboot the computer and hold down.⌘ Command+R. This will load the Recovery function.
- Select the Recovery HD. This is the portion of the hard drive reserved for the recovery function.
- Select the Disk Utility. Click the Template:MacButton button. When Disk Utility loads, you will be shown a list of your hard disks.
- Select the Macintosh HD disk and click the Erase tab.
- For some users, their primary disk may have been renamed and may not be called Macintosh HD. Select whichever disk is your primary hard disk.
- Select Mac OS Extended (Journaled) from the "format" drop-down menu. This is the format required to install the OS X operating system.
- Click the.Template:MacButton button. The erase process may take a few minutes.
- Close Disk Utility. You will be returned to the Recovery menu.
- Click the wireless icon in the upper-right corner and select your wireless network. You will need a working internet connection in order to download and install OS X.
- Select "Reinstall OS X" and then click the.Template:MacButton button. This will begin the installation process for OS X.
- If you need to install Snow Leopard or earlier, check out this guide
- Begin the installation. Once the installation has started, you will be asked to read and agree to the Terms and Conditions. Once you have accepted them, you will need to specify the hard drive that you want to install OS X to. By default, the drive you just erased should be selected.
- Wait for the installation to finish. This could take between 30-60 minutes, depending on your computer. You may be asked to enter your Apple ID to verify the purchase of OS X if you've upgraded after originally purchasing the computer. Once the installation is complete, your computer will be factory reset, and will act as if you had just taken it out of the box.
- You will need to reinstall your old programs and restore your backed up files to where you want them on your fresh system.
System Settings (PRAM)
- Try this quick fix for boot and display issues. Parameter Random Access Memory (PRAM) — it sounds really technical, but all you need to know is that PRAM is a small amount of memory that your computer uses to store system settings. If you're having problems booting up your computer, or are having odd display glitches, resetting your PRAM might solve your problem.
- Power down your MacBook. Either turn it off through the Apple menu or press and hold the Power button for ten seconds.
- Press and hold Cmd + Opt + P + R.
- Press the Power button while holding the four keys.
- Continue holding .⌘ Cmd+⌥ Opt+P+R until you hear the startup sound twice.
- Check your settings. Resetting your PRAM may clear out some of your system settings, such as which display to use or system volume.
Resetting the Battery (SMC)
- Look at the bottom of your MacBook. Check to see if the computer's battery is removable. MacBook Pros made before 2009 have removable batteries. MacBook Pros with Retina Display and MacBooks made after 2009 don't have removable batteries. If your battery is removable, . If your battery isn't removable, .
Removable Batteries
- Check the symptoms. The Systems Management Controller (SMC) manages the fan and power settings on your MacBook, and resetting it may be the only way to fix certain malfunctions related to your battery. There are several problems that are directly related to the SMC:
- The fans are loud and running at high speed even though the computer isn't hot and it is well-ventilated.
- Indicator lights (battery, backlights, etc.) are not working properly.
- The MacBook doesn’t respond to pressing the Power button.
- The computer shuts itself down or goes to sleep unexpectedly.
- The battery does not charge properly.
- Shut down the computer and disconnect the power cord if it is currently plugged in.
- Remove the battery from the back of the MacBook.
- Press and hold the Power button for 5 seconds, then release the Power button. This will release any stored charge.
- Reinsert the battery and connect the power cable. Press the Power button to turn the computer on.
- Verify that the problem has been resolved. If you are still having issues with your MacBook, you may need to Reset-a-Macbook-Pro. You will lose any data that you have saved on the MacBook.
Unremovable Batteries
- Check the symptoms. The Systems Management Controller (SMC) manages the fan and power settings on your MacBook, and resetting it may be the only way to fix certain malfunctions related to your battery. There are several symptoms that are directly related to the SMC:
- The fans are loud and running at high speed even though the computer isn't hot and it is well-ventilated.
- Indicator lights (battery, backlights, etc.) are not working properly.
- The MacBook doesn’t respond to pressing the Power button.
- The computer shuts itself down or goes to sleep unexpectedly.
- The battery does not charge properly.
- Shut down the computer.
- Plug the power cord into the MacBook and the power source.
- Press the.Left ⇧ Shift+Control+⌥ Option keys and the Power button at the same time.
- Release all of the keys and the Power button at the same time.
- Press the Power button to turn the computer back on.
- Verify that the problem has been resolved. If you are still having issues with your MacBook, you may need to Reset-a-Macbook-Pro. You will lose any data that you have saved on the MacBook.
Basic Restarts
- Some readers may simply want to restart their computer, or close out certain programs, instead of resetting the computer's essential processes.
- Force quit unresponsive programs. Press ⌘ Command+⌥ Option+Escape to force quit an application.
- Problem: The program you are using has frozen.
- Solution: Force-quitting the program can save you from having to restart.
- Put your MacBook into Sleep mode by clicking the Apple menu and selecting Sleep. After it goes to Sleep, press any key to wake it up.
- Problem: You want to keep working on the same files later, but don't want to shut down your computer.
- Solution: Putting your MacBook into Sleep mode will save the battery and allow you to pick up where you left off.
- Restart your MacBook by clicking the Apple menu and selecting Restart.
- Problem: Your MacBook is running slowly.
- Solution: Restarting your MacBook is a common fix for slowdown.
- Force Shut Down a Mac the MacBook and then restart it. You can shut down the Mac through the Apple menu, or if that doesn't work, press and hold the Power button for ten seconds. Press the Power button again to turn it on.
- Problem: Your MacBook is getting hot or running very slowly.
- Solution: Turning the MacBook off for a while will allow the parts to cool, as well as reset the memory which will speed your programs back up.
