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Scrub MacBook before returning ...
- Thread starter sammy2066
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Boot off of your OS disk that came with your MacBook, open disk utility from the Apple Menu (upper menu) and securely erase data. 7 or 14 pass depending on how much time you have .
I'm returning a Macbook too (refurb whitebook, got it replaced with a refurb blackbook) and doing a zero-level format (1 pass). Is this not sufficient?
Boot off of your OS disk that came with your MacBook, open disk utility from the Apple Menu (upper menu) and securely erase data. 7 or 14 pass depending on how much time you have .
That "should" be all you need to do. The multi-pass is just a recommendation if you are worried about someone doing forensics to get data back from your system. Chances of someone doing this, and being successful (especially after loading an OS) are slim, but you never know!
That "should" be all you need to do. The multi-pass is just a recommendation if you are worried about someone doing forensics to get data back from your system. Chances of someone doing this, and being successful (especially after loading an OS) are slim, but you never know!
Thanks for the quick answer. I think I'll be ok.
That's a good way of looking at it.
Very mild-mannered of you. Single pass is fine. How much stuff did you have on it? I just had web, address book, mail stuff on it. It was all scrubbed before I returned mine.
That's a good way of looking at it.
Single pass is fine. How much stuff did you have on it? I just had web, address book, mail stuff on it. It was all scrubbed before I returned mine.
Well, I deleted my keychain, reset Safari, deleted my downloads. I barely had it for a week. I just admired it most of the time, rather than do any real work on it.
On a separate note, I have the option of getting a replacement, but we all know the screen is going to be equally bad, if not worse than the one I returned. I might pick up a MBP over thanksgiving break, I just need to convince my dad.
Boot off of your OS disk that came with your MacBook, open disk utility from the Apple Menu (upper menu) and securely erase data. 7 or 14 pass depending on how much time you have .
If you do the 35-pass erase option, prepare to return it in 2 or 3 days.
7-pass erase is enough by Department of Defense standards. Even more secure if you have FileVault turned on and use 7-pass erase (don't turn FileVault on just before erasing it though as it takes a while to set up FileVault).
Unless you have highly classified U.S Military secrets on it, the 1 pass is fully sufficient...
I recommended a 7 to 14 pass erase depending on the time he had. Not sure why you replied to me with your comment regarding the 35 pass erase.
I recommended a 7 to 14 pass erase depending on the time he had. Not sure why you replied to me with your comment regarding the 35 pass erase.
I don't think 14 is an option anymore. I think Disk Utility only allows 7 and 35. Maybe I'm wrong? Just did it two days ago to clear off a black MacBook. Didn't notice the 14 pass option.
Oh okay, thanks for the clarification / correction.
Don't have my MacBook in front of me now, so I guess I am not 100% sure of the options either. I haven't used Disk Utility for that in a few months to be honest.