Help my cousin, Zoidfarb, prep his iBook for sale - how do I...?

[Zoidberg]

Just got this from my cousin:

I am just getting around to selling my computer since I have had my new one for a while and everything is transfered. How do I clear everything to make it a brand new computer again. You know what I mean right? should I have someone do that for me, like the Apple store, or am I able to do it myself?

I'm trying to tell him how to security erase it by using Disk Utility before going through all the reinstallation process. Is there something online I can point him to -- I'm trying to write it out but I keep forgetting something, I'm sure.

[BigGuynRusty]

Boot from install disc.
Format drive.
Install OS.
Quit the install at the registration screen.

BGnR
Unless you melt the platters of the HD, no amount of "Security Erase" will keep determined folk away from your data.

[Zoidberg]

I know that process, but I was hoping for a play-by-play web page; I told him just what you said before but he wanted to know more specifics ("how do I open the utility?", "how do I select Security Erase?"; all stuff I could walk him through on the phone but a list would be helpful).

Here's a great post (from DM) on the levels of security and etc.

http://forums.dealmac.com/read.php?4,2475369

[blusubaru]

When he starts from the original install cd/dvd it will say that this is an older version of OS, what do you want to do: erase and install, archive and install, etc. He should do the erase and install. Then hold the power button down while it plays the wonderful Welcome to Apple movie after the install is finished (as in, don't re-enter the personal information).

[pRON aHOLIC]

Does he want to also zero the drive out and reinstall the OS?

[edgarbc1]

he should have the OS disks for his current
OS on hand Panther? (unless hes got a bootleg copy)

(forget the original Jaguar install disks)

boot from panther disk.
disk utility
erase
+ adv options as required..

[ArtP]

Don't forget to de-authorize the Mac via iTunes before he sells it.

iTunes is linked to the serial number of the computer so even a pave and nuke reformat doesn't cancel it from being one of his 5 iTunes linked Macs.