How do I Reset an iMac early 2009 using El Capitan OS back to Factory Settings

Hello,

I've been trying for a couple of days to reset my iMac early 2009 desktop back to factory settings. Everytime I try doing one of the tutorials from Youtube I run across an issue the tutorial doesn't cover. So start over and end up with the same issue just using a different tutorial. All I want to do is wipe, slick, erase the HDD so I can give this thing away to someone who is need of a computer. I still need the OS intact and operational. In Windows we call this resetting wiping the machine. Here are the specs for the machine:

iMac early 2009

OS : El Capitan

Processor 2066Ghz Intel Core 2 Duo

Memory: 4GB 1060 mhz DDR3

Startup Disk : MacIntosh

Graphics Nvidia GeForce 9400 256mb


Posted on Sep 5, 2022 7:01 PM

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Posted on Sep 5, 2022 7:04 PM

Please follow all the steps in What to do before you sell, give away, or trade in your Mac

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Sep 7, 2022 10:30 PM in response to Niel

I've already done all those steps, however when I selected to erase MacIntosh from the Utilities screen I wiped the HD of any OS. So now I'm stuck with no OS. I though the system might revert back to the old leopard but that wasn't the case. It just comes up and tells me to select to an OS from an empty options box.

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How do I Reset an iMac early 2009 using El Capitan OS back to Factory Settings

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