OS X 10.3.9 Erase Free Space - Need Help!

[ClaudiaO.]

Can anyone tell me how to erase free space on OS X 10.3.9?

Under Disk Utilities > Erase, there isn't an option for "Erase Free Space" like there is on OS X 10.4 and higher...why?

And if that's not an option, how can I erase files that were already erased from the trash NOT securely?

Any help would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

 

[Yeti*]

Can anyone tell me how to erase free space on OS X 10.3.9?

Under Disk Utilities > Erase, there isn't an option for "Erase Free Space" like there is on OS X 10.4 and higher...why?

And if that's not an option, how can I erase files that were already erased from the trash NOT securely?

Any help would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

Hi Claudia, just having the same problem myself. I found two solutions, which one you use would depend on what you have more of- time or money

1. Go to http://www.mireth.com/shredit.html and get Shredit X for USD 24.95.

or....

2. This is what I am doing at the moment:

The idea is to completely fill up your hard drive first, then Secure Empty Trash everything you don't want.

Find a large file on your computer (I am using my iTunes music file) and keep duplicating that file (Duplicate command under File in menu bar at top of screen) over and over if need be until your hard disk is full. This will also over-write any previously deleted files.

Now use the Secure Emty Trash command to delete everything you don't want on the hard drive, including all the freshly duplicated files.

Hope that helps.

 

[bigboy99]

I suggest that you back up critical data first. When the HD gets over 90% full, especially with large files such as audio or pictures the OS stability goes down very quickly. Basically, the swap file (virtual memory) cannot function and very strange things start to happen.