Best way to completely erase internal HD in Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger?

Hi all-
I wanted to completely erase my hard drive and reinstall OS 10.4. In going through the process, I chose "erase and install" in the Installer utility, hoping it would do away with the multiple partitions I've made on to my Hard Drive. I also want to totally erase all my applications. After all that, I still have everything. I then tried to do the "Erase free space" or "Write with Zeroes" within Disk Utility and got some error saying it was not possible. So... would someone please tell me the quickest way to erase EVERYTHING (partitions included) ? I'd even be willing to buy some app. that would do it for me.
THANKS!!

Extended Hard Drive Preparation
1. Boot from your OS X Installer Disk. After the installer loads select your language and click on the Continue button. When the menu bar appears select Disk Utility from the Installer menu (Utilities menu for Tiger.)
2. After DU loads select your hard drive (this is the entry with the mfgr.'s ID and size) from the left side list. Note the SMART status of the drive in DU's status area. If it does not say "Verified" then the drive is failing or has failed and will need replacing. SMART info will not be reported on external drives. Otherwise, click on the Partition tab in the DU main window.
3. Click on the Options button, set the partition scheme to APM then click on the OK button. Set the number of partitions from the dropdown menu (use 1 partition unless you wish to make more.) Set the format type to Mac OS Extended (Journaled.) Click on the Partition button and wait until the volume(s) mount on the Desktop.
4. Select the volume you just created (this is the sub-entry under the drive entry) from the left side list. Click on the Erase tab in the DU main window.
5. Set the format type to Mac OS Extended (Journaled.) Click on the Options button, check the button for Zero Data and click on OK to return to the Erase window.
6. Click on the Erase button. The format process will take 30 minutes to an hour or more depending upon the drive size.
Steps 4-6 are optional but should be used on a drive that has never been formatted before, if the format type is not Mac OS Extended, if the partition scheme has been changed, or if a different operating system (not OS X) has been installed on the drive.

Similar Messages

  • Best way to completely erase my SSD disk and make fresh install of MacOSX?

    I want a brand new OSX installatetion. What is the best way to completely erase my SSD (to make it brand new) and reinstall MAC OSX (i can use internet WPA secure Wi-Fi to reinstall MACOSX Lion). On macbook air late 2011.

    That's a good question!  It's a trick question too!
    Here's my thoughts on this...
    It's not as obvious as one might think.  You certainly don't want to do a secure erase (heck, you never need to do a secure erase unless maybe you want to sell the machine).  And even a simple reformat is quationable.
    It's not that these things won't work.  It is just that the flash cells are not going to be reused unless there are no unused flash cells available.  So you end up installing in unused flash cells which is not the same as when it was actually new.
    So I don't know the answer here. 
    Note, I do recall the MacPerformanceGuild has some tool for reconditioning ssd's but I have to find it again and if I recall there was something that bothered me about its description.
    Time for some google searches.
    MPG Article on reconditing ssd's: Reconditioning a solid state drive (SSD)
    I think what was bothering me about that article was the info near the end about writing over the entire ssd.
    Another MPG Article: Restoring solid state drive performance with DiskTester ‘recondition’

  • Best way to completely erase data from Iphone 5s?

    thinking of selling my 5s. I was wondering if there was any way to erase all data to where it's unrecoverable.

    What to do before selling or giving away your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch - Apple Support

  • Best way to completely reformat old machine for resell?

    I've upgraded to a MacPro tower (2.66 GHz) from my circa-1999 Mac Power PC G4 tower and I'm wondering what is the best approach for completely erasing the old machine's hard discs (yes, I installed a second disc!) and reformatting them to Mac OS 10.4.8 for resell to another user.
    I have the original discs from Mac OS Tiger (10.4.3) in the box, but I know there were a few revisions up to 10.4.8. The machine currently has 10.4.8 on it, but I want to completely re-format the drives and re-install a bootable copy of the most recent version on it for whomever I sell the machine to, whether it be a co-worker, someone on eBay or other.
    What's the most pragmatic approach to doing this? Should I just re-load OS 10.4.3 on the machine and let the future owner deal with the updates, or is there a way I can do a fresh install of 10.8 so that they're ready to go "out of the box" once the prompts come up?
    Thanks.

    Király summed up the legalities perfectly for you so i'll skip that part. Assuming you're including everything Király mentioned then I would suggest doing the following:
    1. Boot to the Tiger Install disk and run Disk Utility from under the Utilities menu.
    2. Zero out the data for some protection against someone else recovering your data off the hard drive. If you're mildly paranoid then choose the 7-pass. If you think the FBI is after data on your hard drive, then use 35-pass.
    3. Install Tiger OS X 10.4.3 normally.
    4. Run through the Setup Assistant and create an account called "temp" and make the password "temp". Use obviously false personal information when required. I like to use Santa's address at the North Pole.
    5. Connect it to the internet and install the 10.4.8 combo update. Feel free to install all the updates if you like.
    You can sell it just like this and tell the new owner they can create a new User account and delete the temp account, or you can boot to Single-User Mode and type rm -rf /Users/temp followed by the Return key. This will remove the temp user folder. If you do this, then you'll want to do the following to re-activate Setup Assistant:
    While you're still in Single-User Mode type these and press Return after every line.
    1. mount -uw /
    2. cd /private/var/db/netinfo
    3. mv local.nidb local.old
    4. rm ../.AppleSetupDone
    After pressing Return at the end of the last line, shut down the computer and when the next owner turns it on the Setup Assistant will start, just like they brought it home from the store.
    Remember, if an answer helped you, post back and let us know.    

  • What is the best way to completely uninstall Aperture from a MacBook Pro?

    What is the best way to completely uninstall Aperture from a MacBook Pro.
    I just ordered a new MacBook Pro and I want to remove it from my older MacBook Pro.

    Deleting the application from your /Applications folder is sufficient. There are sample projects in /Library/Application/Aperture you may want to get rid of as well, as they take up a fair bit of space.

  • The best way to replace the internal hard drive

    Hi,
    I have a MacBook with a 160gb hard drive which has been partitioned into two partitions one for OSX (130gb) and the other for Windows 7(30gb) and as you can imagine 30gigs for windows is almost nothing, the OS itself is taking a big percentage of its capacity, so I would like to expand both partitions by having a bigger hard drive installed but I was wondering what would bethe best way to do this so I don’t have to reinstall OSX and Windows 7, I have heard about Super Duper for OSX I don’t know if a similar software exists for Windows, well I don't even know if this is the way to go. So my question would is...
    What would be the best way to replace an internal hard drive and have everything moved including the Operating Systems (OSX Lion and Windows7)?
    Can someone be so kind and tell me the procedure I should follow to accomplish this task? I’m not expecting a step by step tutorial but if you could list the tools needed and a brief procedure it would be greatly appreciated.
    Oh, I’m using Boot Camp for the Windows 7 installation.
    Thanks a lot.

    For a hard drive try Newegg.com http://www.newegg.com/Store/SubCategory.aspx?SubCategory=380&name=Laptop-Hard-Dr ives&Order=PRICE
    Or OWC  http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/hard-drives/2.5-Notebook/
    Here's instructions on replacingthe hard drive http://creativemac.digitalmedianet.com/articles/viewarticle.jsp?id=45088
    To transfer your current hard drive I like the free application Carbon Copy Cloner. It makes a bootable copy of everything on your hard drive http://www.bombich.com/index.html You'll need a cheap SATA external hard drive case. Put the new drive in the case then partition and format the new drive and clone your old drive to the new one. Check that it's set up right by booting up from the external drive. Then replace your old hard drive with the new one.
    Here's a cheap SATA external hard drive case on eBay http://cgi.ebay.com/USB-2-5-SATA-HDD-HARD-DRIVE-EXTERNAL-ENCLOSURE-CASE-BOX-/120 636286623?pt=PCC_Drives_Storage_Internal&hash=item1c167ba69f
    For copying the Windows partition I like WinClone http://download.cnet.com/Winclone/3000-2242_4-172338.html
    After you've installed your Mac OS with Carbon Copy Cloner (or SuperDuper) on the new drive create a new Windows partition with Boot Camp and copy your WinClone copy to it with Winclone.

  • The best way to use 2 iphones with 1 Mac

    Can someone explain whats the best way to use 2 iphones on 1 Mac.
    2 different Calendars, 2 different adressbooks, etc., 1 iTunes Library, 1 Photo Library
    But it would be great to see each others Calendars
    Until now one mobileme Account.
    Thanks in advance
    Jan

    I'm hoonesstly not sure about the second mobile me account. My guess would be that you will need another one though. The only way to see her calendar is to log into her user account. Not a problem if you have her password.

  • What is the best way to connect 2 monitors to a Mac Pro 13 inch (2013)?

    What is the best way to connect 2 monitors to a Mac Pro 13 inch (2013)?

    If you want to connect 2 Displays you must do it one with the Minidisplayport and one by HDMI if you have a Retina 13 Inch. i think the old MBP doenst have HDMi Out

  • What is the best way to transfer home videos from one mac to another?

    What is the best way to transfer home videos from one mac to another?

    hustonsmom wrote:
    the commercial is deceiving to me. i am not the most techy person and i thought that you could share full song playlist which to me meant the songs also. that is all, it wasnt anything you had said but i am really thankful you enlightened me because i would still be racking my brain trying to figure out how to do it.
    You can share songs, but if there is DRM protection on the song, it will not play on the other device unless you also transfer the rights to the other device. You are getting into the problem of music piracy.

  • What is the best way to run .exe files on my mac?

    What is the best way to run .exe files on my mac? I need to run some updates for my john deere gps and the downloads i get can only be run on windows.

    There are several options for running Windows software (*.exe files) on a Mac, depending what your program is, how often you use it, and your personal preferences.
    One way that does not require Windows is an open source effort called WINE.  Check out winehq.org.  You may find that that's all you need for your programs.  There is also a commercial effort that has grown from WINE, and you will find info about it on the site mentioned.  These DO NOT require that you have and install Windows.
    If you want to run sessions devoted only to Windows software, and want programs to run as fast as they do on a PC, the Apple's Bootcamp program is useful.  With it you dedicate a partition on your hard disk to windows, and on startup choose to either boot into OS X or Windows.  Each runs without any connection to the other.  This requires you have a copy of the Windows software as well as the applications you want to run. 
    If you want to be able to easily exchange data between your Windows and Mac programs, and skip back and forth between the two, there are several emulators available that run on Mac OS X and create a Windows environment where many Windows programs can operate along side Mac programs.  Parallels and VMwear are two comercial packages available for purchase and Virtual Box is an open source effort available for free.  Google will find all three for you.
    My only experience is with Virtual Box.  It is slow and a bit clunky, but it is free and meets my needs for the very few "just got to have" windows programs I sometimes use.
    Google is your friend on this and can provide a lot more, and better, information than I can.
    Best of luck,
    Ray

  • Best way to move photos from iPad to Mac?  I have a card reader foriPad and used it on a recent vacation to put pics on iPad.  How can I now move them to Mac?  Preferably without using iPhoto.

    Best way to move photos from iPad to Mac?  I have a card reader for iPad and used it on a recent vacation to put pics on iPad.  How can I now move them to Mac?  Preferably without using iPhoto.

    With iPhoto or with the Image Capture application.

  • What is the best way to record video games on my mac

    what is the best way to record video games on my mac?

    I'm unclear about what you're asking - could you be a little clearer? I know you say that you want to "record video games" but I'm not sure if you're asking if you could, for instance, create a movie of video games as they're being played or what.
    Regards,
    Clinton

  • Hey guys what is the best way to retrieve my password on a mac?? I need to install a new software but it would not let me because i can't remember my password

    hey guys what is the best way to retrieve my password on a mac?? I need to install a new software but it would not let me because i can't remember my password. what a pain ;-((
    Any suggestion would be greatly appreciated

    Resetting or changing a password:
    For Snow Leopard or earlier:  http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1274

  • What's the best way to completely wipe my Mac?

    I'm selling my 17" iMac G5 as I've just replaced it with a shiny new 24" Intel iMac [droool!]. Anyway, I want to know what software or what's the best way to wipe/clear my Mac and start from scratch so the person buying it doesn't have all my rubbish on there - plus can't retrieve any of my private files.
    What have you guys done in the past in situations like this? I know you can do a clean install off the original installations CD's but will this be enough to get ride of all preferene files and folders etc etc?

    Hi
    The easiest way is to put a new installation of your OS onto the Mac.
    Insert your Install disk 1 into to the drive and then Restart, and hold down the C key to take you to the installation windows.
    Select your language, the start up Volume and choose Erase and Install.
    At the point your registration process starts, abandon the registration, quit and eject the disk and switch of the computer.
    This will allow the new user a freshly installed system, whereby they can complete the registration process themselves. Make sure you hand on the disks.
    If you want to be extra thorough, you can, booted from your Install disk use Disk Utility to Zero All Data, before doing the Erase and Install described above, and if you want to be paranoid thorough, you can choose to overwrite the disk with several passes before doing the installation described first. Note this latter process can take from several hours to several days depending on the selection and the size of your internal hard drive.
    regards roam

  • Best way to reformat/erase hard drive

    Situation:
    2007 iMac intel core duo was running Leopard
    Last BU was Nov 30, 2011 on external Time Machine
    Also have Carbonite BU..  last one dated April 2011 ( bought it, but turned it off because it seemed like overkill, especially when one of them was slowing      down bandwidth - or so I thought.)
    Upgraded to Snow Leopard   Dec 1, 2011
    started freezing every 15 - 20 minutes (mouse worked, computer unresponsive)  Hard resets necessary to restart
    Unplugged BU drive, Scanner and laser printer
    Backed up to external hard drive.  I didn't know I should have partitioned my external hd...  so I don't know if it's all scrambled.
    Bought Disk Warrior - it fixed several permissions, did repairs and all ok there..
    Freezing started again next day...
    partitioned hard drive into 2 parts - defunct Snow leopard has the majority of space (thought this freezing would have been be resolved by now)
    reinstalled Tiger to Leopard since Leopard was a CPU drop in CD on Partition#2   Only gave it a little room
    waiting on patch for snow leopard or some answers....  can't wait any longer
    There isn't enough free space on Leopard (#2) to add what I need to add to get up and going
    wanting to erase both partitions and start fresh.
    I also have a MacB Pro that I can put files on.. but here is my dilema..  The Carbonite files are old, but in tact. The external HD (Maxtor 750) MIGHT be scrambled because I didn't know to partition it. 
    All I ever wanted to do was have my calendar and my contacts sync...  This has cost me a fortune in time..
    2 mac computers  (iMac, MBP)
    2 ipad 2s
    2 iphone 4s
    iMad
    What is the best way to reformat the HD? 
    What would you do? 
    Do you think the external BU drive is one big mess with SL and Leopard both on there?  I unplugged it from all computers so it didn't mess anything up..
    At this point, I am so frustrated I don't care if I ever get any files back on the imac..  I do need to see if I can save my years and years of my business Quickbook files from the snow leopard side...if not.  Good lesson learned.  (Actually BAD lesson..)
    thank you,
    Helen

    I would back-up everything on another external HD with a full version of SuperDuper! or Carbon Copy Cloner. I personally prefer SuperDuper!. I have several complete backups done on more than one external HD. These days Extra HD prices are quite cheap compared to loosing all your material and time. Then, if you really want to start fresh, Disk Utility works fine for me every time. I do go into the Options and zero out the drive completely. However, before "wiping out" your drive, I assume that you are fully upgraded in Leopard including all firmware and security updates. I actually go read about any update before I install it to make sure I really need it.
    Over the year I only had one internal HD fail on me but I backed up everything beforehand and my other ones are also backed up. In my opinion there is no such thing as overkill since my time and documents are precious. In the past I made one big mistake not backing up anything and lost between 3 and 5 years of stuff. It will not happen again. Back-up, back-up and back-up.
    I'm currently runing Tiger, Leopard, Snow Leopard and Lion on different drives for different uses and different Macs. Tiger has always seemed to be the most stable for now but I'm slowly adjusting to Snow Leopard and Lion will most likely follow.
    I'm not sure how to solve you "sync" issue since I'm in the process of trying to figure out the same thing trying to backup all content from Entourage 2008 within an old G4 PPC.
    Anyway, there must be a solution somewhere online for you and I hope you find it. It may help me too! ;-)

Maybe you are looking for