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Erasing a HD..which is proper way??

AJ Muni

AJ Muni

macrumors 65816
Original poster
Aug 4, 2005
1,153
24
Miami
Im really close, well just about done on selling my powerbook and I want to erase my HD so I can give it to the buyer by "factory settings", especially by erasing all my keychain passwords. thanx!
 
Insert the first restore CD that came with it, shut down the computer. Turn it back on and hold down the C button.

You can take it from there. Choose to erase and restore, and youre good to go.
 
I've never tried it, but what about using Disk Utility? Choosing 35-Pass Erase should do a good job.

Picture 2.png
 
EricNau said:
I've never tried it, but what about using Disk Utility? Choosing 35-Pass Erase should do a good job.
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Just beware: This might take a while... 7 pass (or really just a clean zero out) should be enough for us normally to lightly paranoid... ;)
 
Mitthrawnuruodo said:
Just beware: This might take a while... ;)
Click to expand...

Yeah.. zero-out would probably be enough unless you REALLY want to get rid of that goat pr0n or those secret Iraqi WMD documents.
 
unless the new owner is a suicidal homicidal paedophile in denial who wants to recover everything on your HDD though any means he can, a 7-pass erase should be enough. :p

7-pass should make it very difficult to recover anything. The new owner would have to actually try really hard to recover stuff. Unless I worked for a government agency or something like that, i wouldn't bother with a 30-pass write. Its just too big a waste of my time.
 
EricNau said:
I've never tried it, but what about using Disk Utility? Choosing 35-Pass Erase should do a good job.
Click to expand...
Does disk utility do this x-pass erase only on your user directory. I figure it cannot erase the stuff that belongs to OSX and complete its job, but how about applications, other user accounts and free hard disk space that has previously erased stuff on it?
 
theBB said:
Does disk utility do this x-pass erase only on your user directory. I figure it cannot erase the stuff that belongs to OSX and complete its job, but how about applications, other user accounts and free hard disk space that has previously erased stuff on it?
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I thought about that, and like I said, I've never tried it. I would assume if you try and select your HDD (not the one labeled 'Macintosh HD', but the level above that), it would either give you an error, or it would erase successfully.

I'll let someone else try. ;)
 
theBB said:
Does disk utility do this x-pass erase only on your user directory. I figure it cannot erase the stuff that belongs to OSX and complete its job, but how about applications, other user accounts and free hard disk space that has previously erased stuff on it?
Click to expand...

Remember, in order to do this you're not running anything from the HD, you should boot from your OS X Install Disc 1 and run the Disc Utility from there.
That way you will be able to complete a proper erase (of however many passes you like) of your hard drive.

I'd say "Zero-out data" should be sufficient, but if you really are worried then go for the "7-pass".

Enjoy.
 
thanks guys...im currently typing from my new mbp..this whining is kinda annoying though..
 
I would recommend doing the 7-pass since you're not going to be using the machine while it's erasing the HD. Writing zeroes to the hard drive is not as secure as you are led to believe
 
Just to the 35-Pass erase and get it over with :) Just run it and leave it for a day or so until it finishes. Even with the security offerred by a 7-Pass erase, your mind will be more at ease, especially if you're like me and would keep asking myself 'what if?'
 
what if you want to run 7-pass over previously deleted volume

Decided to join the forum after browsing this instructive thread. Here is my situation that I could use some helpful insight on:

Last night I had to do a hard reboot on my 15 MacBook Pro when it hung on the screensaver. When I rebooted it took 10 minutes + to log me back in. After booting from the install disc to run disk utility, I discovered a vast number of errors on the drive - dozens of the following (Invalid Key Length, Invalid Node Structure, Invalid Record Count, etc.).

Apple support at first believed this to be a software issue so I spoke with a product specialist and did a clean format of the drive. I chose "zero out" and then did another format and reinstall of the OS. I gave the drive the same name as the first install ("detroit")

That did not help with the speed issue - computer hung on install of OS where I was filling out ownership data etc.

After calling again, I was advised they would replace the hard drive. So, even though I did not put any new data on the drive after the reinstall, I want to run a 7-pass for a higher security.

It took 38 minutes to zero out the drive, so can I assume it will take 7 times as long to run a 7-pass (266 min?)

Thanks for any insight on this issue I am a novice when it comes to such things.
 
Resurrection! It's better than being yelled at by some smartass to tell me to search, which I did instead.

So, you suggest I put in the restore disk, erase and install, AND zero-out (or 7-pass or 35-pass), or just the zero-out?

Thank you and sorry. :eek:
 
I'm asking if I need to put in the restore disk AND zero-out/7-pass/35-pass, or simply just the latter.
 
iMacZealot said:
I'm asking if I need to put in the restore disk AND zero-out/7-pass/35-pass, or simply just the latter.
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Sorry. Yes, boot from the restore cd and run disk utility to select your erase options. You cannot run the disk utility and erase option at the system level. Booting to the restore cd allows you to erase the entire disk which your system is on.
 
I haven't done a erase free space before and I just need to know exactly what it does. I'm under the impression that it's going to erase all files, folders, etc., but leave all the applications. Is that right? Thanks.
 
Calabo said:
I haven't done a erase free space before and I just need to know exactly what it does. I'm under the impression that it's going to erase all files, folders, etc., but leave all the applications. Is that right? Thanks.
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Nah...you're thinking of Archive and install, I think (which replaces the system of your Mac but leaves applications and your user's home folder with all your data/files alone).

Erase free space only writes over deleted files. From Apple Support:

When you delete files by emptying the Trash, Mac OS X deletes the information used to access the files but doesn't actually delete the files. Although the disk space used by deleted files is marked as free space, deleted files remain intact until new date is written over them. Because of this, deleted files can be recovered.

You can use Disk Utility to erase the "free" space used by deleted files by having zeros written over the space once, seven times, or 35 times. If you have a lot of free space on your disk, overwriting the free space several times can take a long time.

Erasing free disk space does not erase the other files on your disk.
Click to expand...

PS! Love the filename of that support article: duh1010.html! :D
 
Mitthrawnuruodo said:
Nah...you're thinking of Archive and install, I think (which replaces the system of your Mac but leaves applications and your user's home folder with all your data/files alone).

Erase free space only writes over deleted files. From Apple Support:



PS! Love the filename of that support article: duh1010.html! :D
Click to expand...

Ok well then how can I erase all files, folders, and the like... I wanna wipe my computer clean basically.
 
Calabo said:
Ok well then how can I erase all files, folders, and the like... I wanna wipe my computer clean basically.
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Assuming you have current and adequate backup of all the things (apps, files, etc.) you cannot afford loosing on some other disk/place an Erase and Install should do the trick... ;)

Some good advice before you start: Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard: Information to collect before an Erase and Install

Erase and Install

This option completely erases the destination volume, then installs a new copy of Mac OS X. You should always back up important files on the target volume before using this type of installation.

This is the fastest way to install Mac OS X, but it may take some time to set up your computer after installation. You will have to configure all of your computer settings, install your third-party and iLife applications, and restore your personal files from the backup you made.

Why use this option?

* If you've already backed up your computer, this might be a good choice if you are trying to resolve an existing issue and an Archive and Install installation didn't help.
* This option takes up the least amount of space when the installation is completed.
* This is a good option if you no longer need the information on the computer, and you have another computer that you would like to easily transfer stuff from ("migrate").

Volume format choices
Once you've selected this option, you can choose from two types of volume formats:

* Mac OS Extended (Journaled)—This is the default option and should be used unless you have a specific reason not to.
* UNIX File System—Only choose this option if you specifically need it.

Does an Erase and Install change partition configurations?
No, it uses the current settings. It also doesn't configure advanced RAID settings or perform a secure erase. If you want to do any of these things, use Disk Utility before installing; you can access Disk Utility while started from the Install disc.
Click to expand...

Mac OS X 10.4, 10.5: About installation options
 
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