Erase HD on powerbook G4

Hi, I have a PB G4 thats got a screen that's not working only via my macbook and share screen on the network, the PB sits under my TV and I occasionally view films and TV programs via streaming. I would like to erase the HD and load up the minimum amount possible i.e. tiger, itunes, safari and then use the remaining space on the HD for time machine and my macbook.
PB HD = 75gb
Tiger, Safari, & itunes = ?
usage on macbook for backup= 50gb
would this work?
How do I do it, erase, partition etc
Any help appreciated

Bring up disk utility, click the hard drive, on erase tab, volume format should say mac os extended (journaled), should already have a name, if you want to zero out the drive to really erase it, click security options and choose one of the write zero options, then come back and click erase. When done, you should still have the same one partition (assuming that's what you have today), so you just need to install OS X and only those optional components you want.

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How can I securely erase the hard drive for PowerBook G4 running 10.2.3?

I'm about to sell a PowerBook G4 12-inch running 10.2.3 after I erased the hard drive via the the original software install and restore disk. There was no secure erase option like there is in subsquent versions of OSX. Is there a way I can do a 7 (or 35) time erase on this machine? Thanks!

See this Apple note. Secure erase was added in 10.2.3, but in a different place than later releases.

Can't erase hard drive on my PowerBook G4 when using the Installer CD

Hi,
I am trying to erase the hard drive on my old Powerbook G4 so that I can donate it. I followed the instructions by booting up the laptop using the Installer CD. Every time I select my hard drive in the Erase window and click the Erase button, it just checks the volumes and then it dims and nothing else happens.
After multiple failed attempts to erase the HD, I decided to quit the install CD and simply remove the HD altogether. I pressed the "Option" key in order to avoid starting up from the CD, but it is not working. I am unable to return to my original settings. All I see now is an arrow on the right hand side of the blue screen and a circle with an arrow on the left side. Pressing the arrow does not result in anything.
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks!

Thanks for responding.
Yes, I tried everything yesterday. It only allowed me to verify the disk and not do any repairs. This computer has some major issues so I am not surprised. Since it was destined for recycling anyway, I decided not to waste any more time on it, so I removed the hard disk instead and am about to ship it off.

PowerBook G4- how to erase personal data to sell?

I want to sell my daughter's old powerbook G4 and want to erase all her personal data. Also, I can't find the startup disc, can this be done?
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You'll need to find that disk, or phone AppleCare and order a replacement, or use a compatible retail disk.
Throw away any files which may contain sensitive data, securely empty the Trash, insert that disk, restart the computer with the C key held down, use the Disk Utility to erase the partition with Mac OS X installed, install a fresh OS onto it, and include the disk with it.
(105026)

TIGER/POWERBOOK 12" G4 - erase and install problems. please help..

Hello,
I have a powerbook g4 (the last of the powerbook 12"/ 80gb/1.5ghz to be released) with tiger installed.
I have had a a crash x 2 when doing software updates. So I managed to get it going, to then back up to an external drive - to do an erase and install.
Once I went to do the erase and install it failed, so I tried again and it seems to have done the erase. now my actual HD isn't visible as the select detination to install?
So, I can't actually even attempt to install with no destination.
any help would be most appreciated.
thankyou

suzannah-a:
Unfortunately, it seems as if your HDD has failed. Try booting from the install disk, the go to the Utilities menu and launch Disk Utility. If the HDD shows up in the sidebar, you should reformat it. (Directions below). If it does not show up, you need to replace the HDD. Post back for a list of available HDDs and vendors, step by step directions and additional tips.
If your HDD shows up follow these directions to reformat and erase:
Formatting, Partitioning Erasing a Hard Disk Drive
Warning! This procedure will destroy all data on your Hard Disk Drive. Be sure you have an up-to-date, tested backup of at least your Users folder and any third party applications you do not want to re-install before attempting this procedure.
Boot from the install CD holding down the "C" key.
Select language
• Go to the Utilities menu (Tiger) Installer menu (Panther & earlier) and launch Disk Utility.
• Select your HDD (manufacturer ID) in left side bar.
• Select Partition tab in main panel. (You are about to create a single partition volume.)
• Click on Options button
• Select Apple Partition Map (PPC Macs) or GUID Partition Table (Intel Macs)
• Click OK
• Select number of partition in pull-down menu above Volume diagram.
(Note 1: One partition is normally preferable for an internal HDD.)
• Type in name in Name field (usually Macintosh HD)
• Select Volume Format as Mac OS Extended (Journaled)
• Click Partition button at bottom of panel.
• Select Erase tab
• Select the sub-volume (indented) under Manufacturer ID (usually Macintosh HD).
• Check to be sure your Volume Name and Volume Format are correct.
• Click Erase button
• Quit Disk Utility.
If you are able to do the reformat and erase, you can then proceed to restore from your backup, or to install the OS from disk.
Please do post back with an update on how it goes, and with further questions or comments, if any.
cornelius

I have a powerbook g4 and i am having trouble erasing the disk.

I want to dispose of this computer. I go to Utility, Erase, and select the disk, but volume format and name both stay grayed out so I can't continue. Any suggestions?I

Are you possibly using Disk Utility installed on the internal hard disk? If you wish to completely erase a startup disk, you would have to start the computer from another disc/disk. See, for example, the link below:
http://macs.about.com/od/applications/ss/diskutilformat_5.htm
If you do not have access to a suitable system disc, you may want to try an Internet search for an old PowerPC version (dban-2.0.0_powerpc.iso) of a data erasure utility called DBAN instead. Once a bootable CD-R has been created from a downloaded iso file, you could test whether that disc would let you boot the PowerBook G4 (while holding down the C key). Then follow instructions on screen.
Jan

IPhone erases PowerBook email

When I erase email messages from my IPhone it also erases my PowerBook messages.
How can I alleviate this?
kidacar

Use a different type of mail account setup. With IMAP (which, presumably you are using), the mail 'lives' on the server - changes made on one device are reflected on all the devices.

I am planning on recycling an old iMac and Powerbook. However, the display on the iMac is so messed up I can't read anything and the Powerbook is unusable (no power) so what do I do about erasing the hardrives for security?

I've been reading up on how to clean your hard drive so personal information can't be accessed, but if you can't get to your hard drive to clean it up, what are you supposed to do? My town is offering an electronics recycling and I was hoping to drop off my old iMac and Powerbook. I can turn the iMac on, but the display is really bad and almost unreadable. The Powerbook is completely dead. Any suggestions? Thanks.

Since both computers have operational problems, I'd suggest removing the hard drives from them. That way, you'll have possession of the drives and their data. Considering their age, I doubt that the recycling program will attempt to repair these computers for donation to needy parties, but if you thought so, you could buy a $15 adapter that would let you connect the bare drive to a USB port on your functioning computer. Once connected, you could erase the drives and reinstall them. You didn't indicate which iMac you have, but if it's a G3 model, this Macworld article has illustrated directions for hardware upgrades, which would show you how to remove the hard drive. If your iMac is a G3 (400 MHz or faster) with the additional VGA port concealed under the plastic door on the rear of its underside, you could connect a VGA display and attempt setting up video mirroring. Once done, you could wipe the drive, while using the connected display to navigate through the procedure. This would eliminate the need to open the bottom of the housing, to access the hard drive for removal. As for the PowerBook, you could post a topic in its specific Forum (depending on the model) and request directions for hard drive removal. Post back as to your preferred option, if you have any questions regarding it.

Powerbook G4 stopped working it cuts on but no spinning disc symbol..won't run I installed the start up disk and it starts up but disk first aid says there is something wrong can't repair it..what do I do now? Do I erase everything and start over?

The G4 comes on but that is as far as it goes...I installed the startup disc it started and I tried disk first aid but it says it can't be repaired????If I erase everything will this fix the problem as well as make me lose everything?
The firsat aid box says:
" REPAIRING DISK FOR "HARD DRIVE"
checking HFS Plus volume
Checking events Overflowfile
Checking catalog file
Invalid node structure ( this is in RED )
rebuilding catalog B-tree
The volume Hard drive can not be repaired ( in red)
Error: The underlying task reported failure on exit (-9972_) (in red)
REPAIR ATTEMPTED ON 1 VOLUME
0HFS volume repaired ( in green)
1 volume could not be repaired (in red)
[email protected] feel free to send email thanks

Bryan,
Do you have a second hard drive? If you can get the install disk to boot the computer then all is not lost. Install a clean system on a second hard drive to get back in business. If you have any backup copies of your software and files, use them to restore your computer to good working condition.
Then, install some form of data recovery software on your second drive. The recovery software can look at a bit mapped version of your drive and extract data that may be scrambled but usable. Think of the drive as a book. If someone tore out a few pages from the table of contents or index from a book, the main volume would be there but the book would not be repairable. Or, if the table of contents is OK but someone tore out a chapter or two, the other chapters would be there. The book is not complete but all is not lost.
Here is a review to get you up to speed:
http://data-recovery-software-review.toptenreviews.com/mac-recovery-software/
Start by getting your computer working off a clean install on a second drive so the data recovery process will work faster and have a destination for the recovered data.
Jim~
btw, it is better to list your email as follows: sssail3 at aol dot com. That format protects agains trolling for email addresses.

How to install classic in a PowerBook G4 without erasing OS 10.4.8

Please help....I just replaced my PowerBook G4 with a new MacBook and would like to pass the G4 down to my daughter. Most of the games that she uses are in classic from her old Imac. My G4 came with classic but I had to reinstall OSX a while ago and never put classic back in. I can't get it to boot from any OS CD that I have, please advise.
Thanks,
Dad trying to do good for his 7yr old daughter
MacBook Mac OS X (10.4.8)

FKTS, Welcome to the discussion area!
a brody's article "Restoring Mac OS 9 on a bootable Mac" should help you out.

Erase and re-install on my powerbook G4 12 inch

I lost my Mac OS X v10.2 install disc and was wondering how I can obtain a replacement? Of course, once I do so, what is the proper procedure to erase and re-install?

Hello and Welcome to Apple Discussions ...
You can get replacement System Install & Restore CD/DVDs from Apple's Customer Support - in the US, (800) 767-2775 - for a nominal S&H fee. You'll need to have the model and/or serial number of your Mac available.
To see your serial number, from the Apple Menu click: About This Mac Where you see:
Version 10.x.x click there once and the Serial Number will be displayed.
Carolyn

I have an old powerbook. i tried to erase the hard drive and it went wonky and now i cannot even start up from a leopard cd. i get a screen filled with code and the top error message reads: panic (cpu 0 caller: 0x002E1EC4): (message continued)

error message reads:
panic (cpu ) caller 0x00231EC4): Unable to find driver for this platform: "PowerBook 5,6".
Lastest stack backtrace for cpu 0
trying to load in leopard OS cd

no it wont
it's the same screen
after the data above about the platform it reads:
No debugger configure-dumping debug information
MSR-00001030
Latest stack bactrace for cup0:
Backtrace:
0x000954F8 0x00095BF8 0x 00026898 0x002E1EC4 0x002c12A0 0x002c1068 0x002cAD0 0x002C20DC 0x000A9714
Exception stat (sv-0x0052d500)
PC-0x00000000; MSR-0x0000D030; DAR-0x00000000; SISR-0x00000000; LR-0x00000000; R1-00000000; XCP=00000000 (Unknown)
Kernel version:
Darwin Kernel Version 8.11.0; Wed Oct 10 18:26:00 PDT 20007; root: xnu-792.24.17-1/RELEASE_PPC panic: We hanging here....

Is my hard drive erased? How to fix my Powerbook?

I got 2 Powerbook G4's from a company for free but apparently they wipe the HD clean before giving them away. I got a charger for them and then when i turned them on I got a Grey screen with a file in the middle that flashes: Question mark/Mac OS sign/Question Mark/ Mac OS sign...etc. I got a Mac OS 7.6 CD from ebay and i put it in then turned off and on the laptop. It stayed on the same grey screen for a little while then it give me a light blue screen with 2 buttons. on the right a button with a Arrow to the right. and on the left a button with a circular arrow.
after the 2 buttons came i clicked the circular one... mouse turns into a watch and the powerbook is obviously reading the CD again.... after it become a mouse again i clicked the right arrow and nothing happens even though the button "goes in."

No Mac manufactured since about 1997 can run Mac OS 7.6. The earliest Powerbook G4, introduced in January 2001, requires a minimum of Mac OS 9.1 (which is itself obsolete), and the last of the more than two dozen PB G4 models requires at least OS X 10.4.2. To help you figure out which OS X version to buy for your machines, we'll need to know exactly which models they are, beginning with the display sizes and processor speeds. This article should help you begin to identify them:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3065
There should be a label inside the battery compartment of each machine containing some of its specifications. If you can find those labels, post back and tell us exactly what each one says, except for the serial numbers — don't post those.

I erased Classic from my Powerbook, how can I install it back w/out disc?

Hi. this is my first post. I found a bunch of old pics on floppy disc, but when trying to open, it says "need Mac Classic 9 to open." I deleted Classic thinking I'd never use it, but I guess I do need to use Claris, Simpletext and see tons of pics and try to revive them back into the future. Can anyone help? Thanks in Advance. I have discs [ 1-5 ] of a iBook G4 install, scared to install them, but not what I'm using now. I'm on a Powerbook G4 [aluminum] using 10.4.11

kalifornia,
Excellent. OS9 should be available as a custom restore.
Custom restore gives you the choice of several items to restore, iMovie is one of them, XCode might be another, OS9 is also one.
If your query is Mac specific, come here and search for a previous post on the topic. And if you can't find it, ask it.
For many here we like helping, but we hate helping those too lazy to search first.
Here's three links to help with the restore, depending on which OS your PBG4 shipped with:
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=107383
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=300396
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=301408

Airport Card no longer recognized by PowerBook

I always take my PowerBook G4 to class with me for the purpose of taking notes during class. I was connected to the internet there, over the wireless network (on campus) with no problem.
When I got back home, my PowerBook wasn't seeing the wireless network (at home, seperate from the wireless network on campus), but I knew it was working because my iMac is connected to it just fine, along with two other computers in my house. I tried restarting a couple of times, and actually typing the name of the network into the Airport drop-down menu. This all did nothing, as did repairing the disk permissions.
I find it very unlikely that the card is not seated correctly, because first of all, when I brought the PowerBook back from campus (when it was working properly) it was tranported in my TUMI bag, which has a dedicated padded holder for PowerBooks, and then immediately took it out and sat it on my desk next to my iMac only to find the PowerBook no longer seeing the wireless signal.
And at this point, I could still turn Airport on and off, and I restarted the computer a couple of times to see if it would pick up the signal, all the while Airport was still recognized by the system (I could still turn it off and on from the drop-down menu, but no wireless networks were present).
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Now, the computer wouldl not function because it runs into a kernal panic, forcing me to hard shut-down the computer. It happened everytime, sometimes during startup, sometimes not until I got into OS X, but always soon after the OS starts.
I then booted the computer as a "Safe boot" and this seemed to stop the kernal panics, and I shut down the computer and started it again with no panics. There was no longer any recognition of the Airport card, either. Not even through the Airport Setup Assistant. It keeps telling me there is no card installed.
I have tried two seperate cards, as I thought maybe the one went bad, but nothing came of this. I tried zapping the PRAM, booting into Open Firmware to reset to defaults, all leading to nothing. I even went so far as to completely erase the drive and do a clean install of OS X, which now drops my system down to 10.4. NOTHING.
Please, anyone willing to help that would be great, even if you would like to contact me through iChat and we can discuss this over iSight to get to the root of the problem. Screen name is CoreyAtMiamiU.
Sorry about the long post and thanks for taking the time to read it.

This is a user to user discussion area. So it is unpredictable as to when someone with a suggestion will respond to your post. An hour in the middle of a work day isn't a long time.
Since the card is recognized, there isn't anything wrong with that side of the card. If the card isn't receiving a signal, either the RF side of the card has failed, the antenna wire isn't connected properly, or the antenna in the PowerBook has failed.

Erase HD on powerbook G4

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