Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Security Options....

W

WindWaker

macrumors regular
Original poster
Oct 13, 2011
182
0
USA
Hi everyone,

I'm trying to restore my MBA to factory settings, so I went to disk utility (through Recovery HD), to try and do a full wipe. I did that, but after I decided I wanted to do a full wipe, so I reinstalled Lion. When I went back, I couldn't access the security options button (I couldn't before as well, I believe...), to do a 100% clean wipe. Does anybody know how I can access that tab (I'm on a mid-2012 Air)?
 
You were slightly vague with the security options and what the actual issue is. Did you mean that you could get to the security and privacy but you weren't able to make any changes? If that is what you mean, did you click on the lock icon in the bottom left corner of the window which will prompt you to put your password in and then you will be able to make the changes. Once you are finished you will want to hit the lock again. Assuming that is what you meant. If not I guess I just wasted time and made a fool of myself.
 
sorry, I should have been more specific. What I want to do is boot into Recovery HD on my mac (holding option while turning it on), go into Disk Utility, hit the erase tab, and try to access the security options which completely erase all files on my hard drive. For some reason, the security options button isn't possible to access.
 
WindWaker said:
sorry, I should have been more specific. What I want to do is boot into Recovery HD on my mac (holding option while turning it on), go into Disk Utility, hit the erase tab, and try to access the security options which completely erase all files on my hard drive. For some reason, the security options button isn't possible to access.
Click to expand...

make yourself a Recovery Disk on a usb stick (a 2gb is sufficient) - then startup with the stick inserted and holding down the Option key.
you will then be able to select to startup from it and perform the task you are talking about.

you can read about it and download the Recovery Disk Assistant (1mb file) here:

http://support.apple.com/kb/DL1433
 
Thanks for responding! I got an 8 GB flash drive and installed the recovery, restarted my computer, and headed to the Recovery HD of the flash drive. I went to the drive in disk utility, selected Macintosh HD as the format, turned up the Security Options, but it wouldn't erase. It said the Disk couldn't be unmounted... any ideas?
 
WindWaker said:
Thanks for responding! I got an 8 GB flash drive and installed the recovery, restarted my computer, and headed to the Recovery HD of the flash drive. I went to the drive in disk utility, selected Macintosh HD as the format, turned up the Security Options, but it wouldn't erase. It said the Disk couldn't be unmounted... any ideas?
Click to expand...

that's odd - are you sure you selected the correct disk at the startup window?
on mine, the external Recovery appears orange, whereas the internal Recovery has the same icon as the actual Macintosh HD
 
Yeah that's the one I'm selecting-- the orange one.

----------

Also, one thing that I suppose is worth pointing out, if, in the side bar on Disk Utility, I select the SanDisk flash drive I'm using, the Security Options tab is available for selecting. However, if I select Macintosh HD, I can't select that tab or the Erase Available Space tab that I want too.
 
WindWaker said:
Yeah that's the one I'm selecting-- the orange one.

----------

Also, one thing that I suppose is worth pointing out, if, in the side bar on Disk Utility, I select the SanDisk flash drive I'm using, the Security Options tab is available for selecting. However, if I select Macintosh HD, I can't select that tab or the Erase Available Space tab that I want too.
Click to expand...

hmmm - very odd.
not sure what to say next - I'll try mine shortly and get back to you.
(I'll be running the procedure tomorrow to do a clean install of Mountain Lion)
 
I called up Apple support on the issue, and they said that with MBA's and SSD's, security options are no longer needed as erasing is plenty good enough. Thanks for all your help though!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back