I am trying to replace my computing devices (an iMac, a couple of MacBook Pros and a couple of Wintel laptops). Since this is the first time I will be giving my Mac devices to someone else – I really want to know:

1. How to properly backup copy profiles / data from the old machines to the new
2. How to completely clean the old hardware of all personal stuff

I am sure there will be some learning in this process, so this is where I will be documenting all that I learn.

– manzoor

• OS X Lion: Erase and reinstall Mac OS X