Easiest way to clear your data off a Mac when selling?

[adr1974]

Besides wiping the drive and doing a clean install, is there a recommended way of clearing one's data off of a drive when selling? (sorry in advance if this is a really basic question!)

I've never really messed around with multiple accounts, but what about setting up an additional admin account and then deleting my own account (which is also an admin account)?

Would there be any reason why the buyer prefer/not prefer this method?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Cromulent]

The easiest way is to wipe the drive and do a clean install. Seriously, every other way risks leaving things lying around.

 

[sushi]

Boot from install DVD.

Select Disc Utilities.

Erase your HD with 1, 7 or 35 passes depending on the sensitivity of your data.

Then do a clean install.

 

[McGiord]

If you haven't used the "Secure Empty Trash" when deleting your stuff, those files are still in the HDD, and they could be recovered via 3rd party software.

So the better way to wipe everything is to do as Cromulent suggested above.

What I can add is suggesting you to Use Disk Utility and select the Erase tab and then click on the Security Options button at the bottom of the window.
Then selec Zero Out Data if you want a quick secure way to wipe the drive.
Or any of the following ones, they show some brief explanations.

When you format a drive it only changes the "index" of your HDD, partition,volume.
________
vapir air one vaporizer

 

[adr1974]

Thanks all -- appreciate the quick and helpful responses.

 

[supercooled]

Be forewarned; the 35 pass on 1TB of space will take 4 days. I kid you not.

 

[scottydawg]

I'm sure a really big magnet would do the trick

 

[Father Jack]

Boot from install DVD.

Select Disc Utilities.

Erase your HD with 1, 7 or 35 passes depending on the sensitivity of your data.

Then do a clean install.

I always use the 7 pass, although obviously the 35 pass is more secure but it sure does take forever ..

 

[fluidedge]

1 pass took me long enough!

I couldn't imagine who would *need* 35 passes - you;d have to have nuclear warhead blueprints on your HD to warrant that - in which case you'd shred, burn and bury the HDD if you didn't need it any more! Or just melt down the whole drive!

7 pass is said to be the US dept of defense standard - if it's good enough for them i'm sure it's good enough for me and my oh so important keynote presentations and holiday photos

 

[Eric Piercey]

I use 8023 pass. Anyone wanna buy a freshly wiped G4 Titanium? It should be ready early 2011.

 

[Kosh66]

Be forewarned; the 35 pass on 1TB of space will take 4 days. I kid you not.

Don't tell me you actually did 35 passes on a 1TB drive!

You must have been paranoid. I think 1 or 2 passes would suffice, unless of course your the FBI or CIA...

 

[deathshrub]

I would not even sell the person the hard drive, I would buy a new one and do a fresh install of the OS on it. Overkill? Probably, but you would not have to worry about that person having a trace of any of your files.

Otherwise, I'd use DBAN.