My Dad bought a Mac desk top machine (it's the one that's all built into the back of the monitor) and after a year trying to get the hang of
it he's giving up and it's going on Ebay.
Before we auction it off what's the easiest way to remove all his personal data and return it to as near to factory as possible. He still has
everything that came with it.
The local shop he bought it from said something about a Tiger disk, but he doesn't have one with that written on it.
I obviously know nothing about Mac's 
I think by "Tiger disc" he means the equivalent of the original Windows installation disk. One of the levels of the Mac operating system was
called Tiger, so if you copy off the data (using a USB-connected external drive or something) you should be able to install the OS from scratch
again.
N.B. that this comes from a Non-Mac expert... just tryign to help you along the way
Cheers,
Simon
Tiger is the old operating system and has now been replaced with Leopard
As for cleaning the disk I'm not sure, macs seem to share links with all other programs .....
Try logging onto http://www.apple.com/uk/support/
click support and search how to or faq's
hope this helps
Mac user here.
Back up all the data you want onto a external drive/cd or whatever.
Then, find the CDs that came with the PC. I got 2 discs. The first had Tiger on it, insert it and open the disc. You should have an option to fresh
install. That will do the trick.
Tiger is the version of OS X that was around before Leopard. It is a shame your dad can't get used to it. I find it hugely more productive the
Windows based PC's and with Leopard it will also run Windows through Boot Camp.
This means I can use OS X 99% of the time. When i have an essential windows only program (Games normally) I reboot into windows and just run windows
and wait for this, I have never crashed Windows on a mac running boot camp! (I understand that I don't use it as much so there is the whole
probability factor, but I used it for CAD based work quite extensively last year!)
Anyway, I ramble.
Macs have a very clever 'wiping' facility built in.
1. Double click the Macintosh HD Icon
2. Select 'Applications'
3. Open 'Utilities' Folder
4. Double click on 'Disc Utility'
5. Select the HD
6. Select 'Erase' tab
7. Open 'Security Option'
8. Choose 1, 7 or 35 pass erase and click 'OK'
9. Hit the 'erase' button on the bottom right side of window
10. Sit back and wait for it to do it's magic (it will write over the disc with zero's 1, 7 or 35 times
PS - the 7 time erase is fine (takes about 10-20 hours depending on HD size). 35 is only for the seriously paranoid!
quote:
Originally posted by scootz
Macs have a very clever 'wiping' facility built in.
1. Double click the Macintosh HD Icon
2. Select 'Applications'
3. Open 'Utilities' Folder
4. Double click on 'Disc Utility'
5. Select the HD
6. Select 'Erase' tab
7. Open 'Security Option'
8. Choose 1, 7 or 35 pass erase and click 'OK'
9. Hit the 'erase' button on the bottom right side of window
10. Sit back and wait for it to do it's magic (it will write over the disc with zero's 1, 7 or 35 times
PS - the 7 time erase is fine (takes about 10-20 hours depending on HD size). 35 is only for the seriously paranoid!
Absolutely no problem at all... once it's finished doing it's 'wiping' it prepares the disc for re-install of the OS X system.
PS - and yes... it does allow you to wipe the lot on the HD.
You can either wipe the complete HD, or you can choose to 'secure free space'. The latter leaves all operating systems untouched.
Thanks chaps, I'll give that a go.
What model of imac is it - can you put it on here? or put up a link when it goes on ebay please.
Find the system install disk it is probably grey with small white writing put it in the drive restsr holding 'C; key down and it should boot from
the CD. You will get system installer but in the utilities menu above you will find disk utility. As above erase disk then proceed with install of
clean system then the machne will b in ut of the box condition including the software tat comes with it.
Good machine keep it even f you run boot camp and install windows
Caber
5 minutes in the microwave should sort it 
quote:
Originally posted by caber
Find the system install disk it is probably grey with small white writing put it in the drive restsr holding 'C; key down and it should boot from the CD. You will get system installer but in the utilities menu above you will find disk utility. As above erase disk then proceed with install of clean system then the machne will b in ut of the box condition including the software tat comes with it.
Good machine keep it even f you run boot camp and install windows
Caber