Disk Utility To Erase Hard Drive

I've been trying to use Disk Utility to zero out an external hard drive before selling it. The problem is that all of the zero out options take an incredibly long time. I was experimenting with the different zero pass options within the security options section. I selected don't erase data and started it. The estimated time was 30 hours. I then tried the 35-Pass Erase. The estimated time was 500 something hours. Is this normal? The drive I want to erase is an 80GB Lacie drive connected via USB to an iMac G4 15 inch.

iMac LCD (iLamp), 800mhz.
http://www.everymac.com/systems/apple/imac/stats/imac800fp.html

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Using Disk Utility to erase Hard Drive

Hi All
I just bought a new external hard drive and am using Disk Utility to erase and format it. I did not know for sure if erasing the hard drive was the right thing to do. Anyway I set up the Volume as follows from the mac help instructions:
1.format OS extended journaled
2.Install OS9 disk driver.
3.("Zero all data" and "8 Way Random Write Format"). So it has been running for about 3 hours now and is only 1/8 of the way writing 0's to disk.
My question is should I continue on and just let it finish up? At the rate it is going It might be done by sometime tomorrow.
Or can I stop the erasing process without hurting the hard drive.
Then start disk utility erasing the hard drive without this Zero all data.
Thanks much

Just to confirm your impression, S. Frigolett: yes, everything should be fine now.
Zeroing a drive is advisable if you have reason to believe there may be bad data storage blocks on it; zeroing identifies those blocks and prevents them from being used (because using them would result in lost or corrupt data). A simple erase doesn't do that, but on a new drive straight from the factory there is no reason to think it's necessary.
The 8 way random write option is for people who have extremely sensitive data to erase from a drive that may pass into other hands, and who want to be sure that no one short of the NSA will have any chance of recovering any of that data. A new, empty drive has nothing on it that even the NSA could recover, so there's no reason to erase it that thoroughly.

Disk Utility and 320GB hard drive

I just installed a WD Scorpio 320GB hard drive in my first-generation MacBook. Everything works fine in normal use.
When I go to Disk Utility, however -- using the new internal HD as my startup disk -- the "Repair Disk" button is grayed out. The other three buttons are ok. "Verify Disk" shows no errors, and I can successfully run "Repair Disk" when I start up from a Leopard DVD. The "S.M.A.R.T." status check for the disk is OK.
My question: Is the grayed out button a matter of Disk Utility not being designed (yet) for 320GB disks on a MacBook? -- and I shouldn't worry? Or is the grayed out button a sign that something is wrong that I should be alert to?

You cannot repair the drive that booted the computer so assuming you didn't boot your computer with the installation DVD, this is normal.

Running Disk Utility off External Hard drive

To run "repair disk" in disk utility on my internal hard drive I'm supposed to insert my Install DVD, restart my mac and run disk utility - however running this program off the disk is much slower than running it off my 800firewire external hard drive. I've tried a few different ways of going about this:
1) Partitioning my hard drive in two (both HFS+) with more than enough room for the DVD, I've tried both making a Disk Image of the Install DVD and dragging it into the source field in the "restore" tab and dragged my Install partition into the destination field, after that was complete, I restarted my computer while holding the "alt" key I wasn't even offered the option to boot to my external hard drive
2) I've also tried after partitioning the external drive, in the restore tab just dragging the Install DVD (not the disk image) from the left of the disk utility window into the "source field" and again the partition into the destination field, and when restarting both with the "alt" key and by going to system preferences -> start up disk and choosing my external drive to boot from, I was still unable to boot off my drive.
Please let me know if anyone has any suggestions! This would be such a big help for me since I'm constantly helping people with diagnostic issues with their macs and this would save me so much time. Thanks in advance
George

I'm not sure why you can't make a bootable copy of the installer DVD using Disk Utility but as Niel suggests, it is much better to install the OS on a partition on the external drive using the DVD & then use that instead of a 'clone' of the DVD as a boot source to run utilities. There are several reasons for this:
1. You can update the installed version of the OS on the external to take advantage of any improvements, including to Disk Utility, that may be released in the future.
2. The version of Snow Leopard that runs from the DVD is a special one that among other things is optimized for read-only media. For instance, it doesn't write log files to the startup disk since it doesn't expect that to be possible.
3. You can include other utilities on the external & easily customize it to your liking. For instance, configure it for automatic login to an admin user account, drop Disk Utility into that account's login items & it will automatically launch at the end of the boot process. You can do the same with shell scripts or Applescript applications for just about as much automation as your scripting skills & imagination can dream up.
However, one thing to keep in mind: since a HD is not read-only but a DVD is, you can never be as certain that your external is as reliable as the DVD, since it is possible for something to change or corrupt files on the HD but short of physical damage the DVD is immutable.

Disk Utility not finding Hard Drives after Updates

Howdy;
Updated my B&W G3 to 10.4.4 and itunes 6.0.2. After update and restart, ran Disk Utility (DU), which seem to just get into a loop "Gathering disk data". Force quit DU and tried running from Tiger DVD, but similar story.
I have done a little research and there has been many problems with DU linked to itunes 6.0.2 update, but not quite the same (no B&W G3 w/10.4.4 and different DU hang point).
I followed: http://discussions.apple.com/message.jspa?messageID=1505537#1505537
and even tried moving iTunes to desktop; trashing several iTunes.pkg files; restarting, all to no avail.
Any additional suggestions out there?
Dual 2.5 G5; Mac min; B&W G3 Mac OS X (10.4.4)

I doubt that any jumpers are needed, since this is the only (master) drive in the system. WD's site has pretty good info on this. Verify for yourself however.
Also, from their site:
How to partition and format an internal slave drive or an external drive in a Mac OS X (all versions).
Answer
In Mac OS X, you can use the built in Disk Utility to partition and initialize the drive so it will appear on the desktop.
1. Open the main drive (the drive that contains the operating system).
2. Open the Applications folder.
3. Open the Utilities folder.
4. Select Disk Utility.
5. The drives are displayed on the left side of the window. Click on the drive that you wish to partition (the top drive listing for the hard drive that you want to work with).
6. Once the drive is selected click on Partition.
7. Click on the Options button to select the partitioning scheme.
8. Click on Apple Partitioning Scheme or Apple Partitioning Map and then click on the OK button.
9. You will see several options for setting up the drive. Once you have selected the number of partitions, the format type you want, and a volume label, click the Partition button.
10. Following the completion of this process, the drive will appear on the desktop.
Joe

Disk utility reports smaller hard drive size than actual

I have been using a 3tb external drive (Formatted mac osx journaled) without any problems on my mac mini. Suddenly, it no longer allows me to write to the drive and more often it does not even recognize the drive when it is in the caddy. The caddy supports USB3 and is fairly new. The hard drive is a 7200rpm seagate.
When looking at the drive in disk utility, it states that the drive is 2.2 TB while the size is 3TB.
Does anyone have similar problems? Any recommendations?
Currently on OS X version 10.8.5.
Thanks!
When I insert the drive in the caddy I get the error message that it is not readable. Disk utility reports it as 2.2tb. The drive is a 3TB Seagate.

Hi Eric,
Can't really hook it up directly to a mac mini as the mini is pretty sealed. I did connect it to a PC as I wanted to run SpinRite on it and SpinRite gave me an error message that the Drive Size reported was less than the actual physical drive size.
SpinRite recommended not to perform any actions on the drive due to this discrepancy.
Not sure where to go at this point.
I could try to re-format the 3TB with OS X Journal and see if I get the 3tb back...

Blinking folder with question mark, and disk utility doesnt recognise hard drive, please help!!!

So today i was using my macbook pro and for some reason my CD/DVD drive was causing noise when i put a DVD inside it, and for some reason it did not recognise my DVD. I force ejected it using the restart and clicking, but after that my computer showed a blinking folder and question mark during start up. I restarted my computer to Recovery HD, but instead it took me to internet Recovery HD (i have mountain lion), and so i went to disk utility to repair my disk, but in the left it did not recognise my hard drive. Please help! Im not that experienced in computing!

Sounds like some sort of power issue and now your drive is not working.
You'll have to take this to Apple for repair.
You should read this if you don't have recent backups of your data off the machine.
My computer is not working, is my personal data lost?

Disk Utility Not Recognizing Hard Drive - PLEASE HELP!!

So, I just bought this Power Mac G4 from a friend to run my Digidesign hardware. I turned it on this afternoon to install the Apple software for the wireless mighty mouse. When I turned the computer on, the second hard drive was not present in Finder, and I could not locate it in Disk Utility.
I have two hard drives present in the computer ... the 120gb main hard drive and this 2nd internal 80gb hard drive. I'm not very "tech savvy" with the comptuer outside of running protools ...
Does anyone know what the problem could be? Or is it likely that the hard drive just fried??
Thanks,
Justin

When two hard drives are attached to the same data ribbon cable, connected to the same IDE controller, one drive must be configured as "master," and the other drive configured as "slave." This is accomplished by placing a plastic jumper (sometimes two jumpers) across a specific pair (or pairs) of pins on the back end of the drive. If the manufacturer didn't apply a label to the drive with jumper designations, the user manual or manufacturer's web site will have the info needed for that specific hard drive. The drive connected at the end of the ribbon cable should be configured as master, and the drive connected to the middle connector as slave. If the 80 GB drive isn't mounting, it's probably configured the same as the 120 GB, so check both drives.

Disk utility? possible hard drive failure?

My Mac suddenly has acted up, very slow to load or launch anything. The spinning wheel forever and no chance to Force Quit. Some applications don't even launch at all.
I ran the disk utility, and it gave an error message plus a message that the volume needed repair though the repair button was not open to click on.
Any ideas? Could these be warning signs that my hard drive is about to go?

You cannot repair the boot volume with Disk Utility when booted from it. Boot with your install disk, select your language, and, when the menu bar pops up, select Utilities->Disk Utility and repair the boot volume. If that fails, then report back with the results.

Disk utility reports failing hard drive with error code STF/8/3:2 ATA BUS 0

My imac G5 (running Tiger) suddenly decided not to boot past the grey apple screen with the spinning wheel. I ran the disk utility and received error code STF/8/3:2 ATA BUS 0 MASTER on the mass storage test. I tried to run repair and only received a message "fatal hard drive error etc... back up, recover asap... I could not access the disk so I connected my new MacBook Pro by firewire in target disk mode. My HD shows up however, "nothing" shows up under when my "user" file. All I care about saving is my iphoto library. Everything else is trivial. Can someone Please help me? Is there any way I will be able to save this file?
Message was edited by: Elizabeth Burson

Welcome to Discussions - you can try DiskWarrior and see if it can retrieve some of your data. You can also take it in to Apple with an external fire wire drive you have purchased elsewhere (cheaper) and see if they can transfer the data. You can then install the external into your computer.

Bring up the disk utility with new hard drive

My hard drive died, completely dead! I have a Macbook Pro 15" i core 5 and I just installed a new drive. I have my macbook backed up to a WD My Book Live. Is there a command option that i can use to tell my macbook to load from a back up? I also have a Snow Leopard CD i bought recently but it won't boot from that. It looks like it does, it shows on the start up screen when i press the option key but i selected it, nothing really happened. I just heard it spinning for a little bit.
Can anybody help????
Thanks.

If you created a Time Machine backup from Mac OS X 10.8 or newer, connect the drive containing it and restart the computer with the Option key held down.
If you created a bootable clone of any Mac OS X version, connect the drive containing it and restart the computer with the Option key held down.
If you can't boot the computer from the backup, you'll need to use a Mac OS X install DVD or Apple's Internet Recovery system(on eligible Macs, press the Option, Command, and R keys at startup) to restore it, and if needed, install an OS.
(114129)

Failed start up - 100% need erase hard drive?

I have been taken through safe start up (shift key) and reboot(?)/disk utility start up (alt key) over the phone with Apple staff.
On second attempt, safe start still didn't work.
On first attempt, disk utility said I needed to erase the hard drive and re-install (I have a time machine back up).
On second attempt, disk utility said my hard drive was fine. I tried restarting after this , but the original problem re-occured : an endless loading circle, never leaving the gray screen and loading symbol on start up.
I am happy to take it in to a genius bar , but don't need to if I 100% need to delete and re-install, as I can do this.
Have I missed something to check? Do i need a genuis bar?
Thanks!

Startup - Gray, Blue or White screen at boot, w/spinner/progress bar
Startup - Gray Screen
Startup Issues - Resolve
Startup Issues - Resolve (2)

Im attempting to start up from OSX 10.4.9 back up disc on my Macbook 13inch but it starts up and am able get to utilities then disk utility but my internal drive doesnt show in options on left can anyone help ?

Hi all my trusty macbook 13 inch 5 years old has let me down get a box with question mark in it when i switch on , so apple support tells me to try ans start by back up OSX 10.4.9 disk the built in drive doesnt work so i am using an external toshiba drive .
I switch on holding down c key an apple logo comes on and it starts up im able to acess utilities then disk utility but in the options on the left there is only the Backup disc and the external drive showing my internal mackintosh drive wont show so i cant move further any help

If your hard drive isn’t recognized in Disk Utility then your hard drive is probably dead.

Disk utility not erasing used space on external

Info on the 1 TB Lacie External drive reads:
Capacity 999.87GB
Available 999.21 GB
Used 663.6 GB
Why are the 663.6 GB used?
Please read what I've already done:
Deleted all items through finder
Emptied the trash
Securley emptied the trash
Erased the drive in disk utility
Erased free space in disk utility
Secure Erased the drive with the "most secure" US Department of Defense settings in disk utility
Erased and reformatted drive with a different format - MS-DOS (FAT)
Erased drive and formatted back to Mac OS Extended (Journaled)
Tried some steps involving the terminal and lost my mind (if you give me terminal answers please make it copy and pasteable).
Yet still...663.6 GB used.

Fair enough. I'm selling it though. Do these residual system files contain anything that would allow someone to roll the drive back and access my deleted data?

Can I use Disk Utility to erase Apple TV hard drive?

Can I use Disk Utility to erase Apple TV hard drive?

I don't know, but I doubt it can be done using Disk Utility. I suggest you consult the user manual for it or see if there is a Reset option in the onscreen menues. If you don't have a manual, then you will find one at http://support.apple.com/manuals.

Disk Utility To Erase Hard Drive

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