How do you do a complete wipe from the iMac?

Yogakun · Nov 19, 2012, 02:42 PM

How do your remove all data from an Imac and restore it to it's original boot OS (Lion). I know there was an option at the startup.

I want the most secure option to remove all my data, because I'm selling it.

Scuba-EMT · Nov 20, 2012, 07:25 PM

Remove all applications except for the Apple apps, and of course remove all of your data, reset Safari, delete all user account except for the Admin. Make a new user account (I called mine "new owner"), reboot the machine and log into the new account that your just made, delete your old user account. Go to Applications, Utilities, Disk Utilities, Click on your Primary HD, Select the Erase Tab, then look in the lower right side of the windows for Erase Free Space. Click the Security Option button first and choose 3-pass, then click the Erase Free Space. DO NOT CLICK THE ERASE BUTTON. Depending on your HD size it will take from 5-10 hours, but your are as safe as you can be that your information is gone, short of replacing the drive.

Siderz · Nov 21, 2012, 04:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yogakun

How do your remove all data from an Imac and restore it to it's original boot OS (Lion). I know there was an option at the startup.

I want the most secure option to remove all my data, because I'm selling it.

Hold Command+R while booting to get into recovery mode.

I can't remember where the restore button is (And I can't find an article about it) but see how that goes.

Don't know what the other guy is talking about...

FuriousGreg · Nov 21, 2012, 10:53 AM

Mac OS X: How to zero all data on a disk

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1820

Then do a fresh install of the OS. All info will be overwritten by 1's & 0's, nothing will remain on the disk to recover.

joe-h2o · Nov 21, 2012, 11:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Siderz

Hold Command+R while booting to get into recovery mode.

I can't remember where the restore button is (And I can't find an article about it) but see how that goes.

Don't know what the other guy is talking about...

He's talking about zeroing the disk, albeit in a complicated way.

ivbaseball06 · Nov 22, 2012, 12:05 AM

1. Use Disk Utility to burn the 'Mac OS X Lion DVD' to a DVD or external drive. If using an external, first erase it ('Erase' tab) and partition it ('Partition' tab) with 1 GUID Partition Table (default, check under 'Options'). Also make sure it's Mac OS Journaled (default, but double-check). Now you can burn the .dmg file onto the external or DVD using the 'Restore' tab.
--If you already have a Lion DVD or flash drive, this is not necessary.

2. System Preferences > Startup Disk > Select External/DVD with disk image > Restart

3. You will now boot from disk image you made. Once the installation opens up, go to the top bar to 'Utilities' and click 'Disk Utility'. Find the hard drive that you want to install OS X on. Go to the 'Erase' tab and erase it. You can zero it out too if you want, though it takes a long time. Go to the 'Partition' tab and partition it (same steps as in #1). Once erased, exit Disk Utility.

4. Follow the OS X instructions to install Lion. When you get to the screen asking what drive to install on, click the internal drive.

5. Your computer will restart after it's done and will boot to the new desktop after you set the language, time, registration, etc.

Hope that helps.

Nov 20, 2012, 07:25 PM	#2
Scuba-EMT macrumors regular Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Solomons Island, MD	Remove all applications except for the Apple apps, and of course remove all of your data, reset Safari, delete all user account except for the Admin. Make a new user account (I called mine "new owner"), reboot the machine and log into the new account that your just made, delete your old user account. Go to Applications, Utilities, Disk Utilities, Click on your Primary HD, Select the Erase Tab, then look in the lower right side of the windows for Erase Free Space. Click the Security Option button first and choose 3-pass, then click the Erase Free Space. DO NOT CLICK THE ERASE BUTTON. Depending on your HD size it will take from 5-10 hours, but your are as safe as you can be that your information is gone, short of replacing the drive. __________________ MacPro (Dual 2.66 GHz, 2x512 GB SSD, 4x4 TB HD, 64GB Ram, Dual 27" ACD), IMac 27" I7, rMPB (2.7 GHz, 16GB, 768GB SSD), IPad AT&T 64GB (4th Gen+), IPhone 5, IPod Touch and Nano.
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Nov 19, 2012, 02:42 PM	#1
Yogakun macrumors member Join Date: Jul 2010	How do you do a complete wipe from the iMac? How do your remove all data from an Imac and restore it to it's original boot OS (Lion). I know there was an option at the startup. I want the most secure option to remove all my data, because I'm selling it. __________________ 21.5" iMac - mid 2011 model; Apple TV 2g; Ipod Shuffle 2g; Ipod Touch 2g; Macbook White 2007 model
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Nov 21, 2012, 10:53 AM	#4
FuriousGreg macrumors member Join Date: Nov 2011	Mac OS X: How to zero all data on a disk http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1820 Then do a fresh install of the OS. All info will be overwritten by 1's & 0's, nothing will remain on the disk to recover.
	0

Nov 22, 2012, 12:05 AM	#6
ivbaseball06 macrumors member Join Date: Nov 2010	1. Use Disk Utility to burn the 'Mac OS X Lion DVD' to a DVD or external drive. If using an external, first erase it ('Erase' tab) and partition it ('Partition' tab) with 1 GUID Partition Table (default, check under 'Options'). Also make sure it's Mac OS Journaled (default, but double-check). Now you can burn the .dmg file onto the external or DVD using the 'Restore' tab. --If you already have a Lion DVD or flash drive, this is not necessary. 2. System Preferences > Startup Disk > Select External/DVD with disk image > Restart 3. You will now boot from disk image you made. Once the installation opens up, go to the top bar to 'Utilities' and click 'Disk Utility'. Find the hard drive that you want to install OS X on. Go to the 'Erase' tab and erase it. You can zero it out too if you want, though it takes a long time. Go to the 'Partition' tab and partition it (same steps as in #1). Once erased, exit Disk Utility. 4. Follow the OS X instructions to install Lion. When you get to the screen asking what drive to install on, click the internal drive. 5. Your computer will restart after it's done and will boot to the new desktop after you set the language, time, registration, etc. Hope that helps.
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