How do I wipe my hard drive clean on a Mac Air so I can sell it?

I have a Macbook Air I want to sell and need to take all my stuff off. How do I do that? It is already on my new computer and saved.

Throw away any files which may contain sensitive data, securely empty the Trash, connect its original thumbdrive, restart the computer with the Option key held down, click on it, use the Disk Utility to erase the partition with Mac OS X installed, install a fresh OS onto it, and include the thumbdrive with it.
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How do I wipe my hard drive clean so I can sell my iMac G3?

I have an iMac G3 (model #5521) with OS 9 and need to know how to wipe the hard drive clean so I can safely sell it. I tried following the advice someone gave to an earlier post, but was unable to find the security screen for the Zero All Data option or even Disk Utility on the Installer menu for that matter. I have these discs: Software Install, Software Restore and Apple Hardware Test. If someone would be so kind as to walk me through the process step by step, I would greatly appreciate it. I know very little about Apple computers.

You need to boot to the Software Install CD-ROM that came with the iMac. To do so boot the computer off the CD-ROM by holding down the C key. Once it boots up open the Utilities folder displayed in the open CD-ROM window. Open Drive Setup. Open the Functions menu. Select the option labeled Options. In that window select the Zero All Data option checkbox. Open the initialization menu. Select initialization options. You want to make sure the iMac formats its hard drive in HFS+ or Mac OS Extended. Once you've selected all the initialization options click the Initialize button. It will then format the hard drive & check it for bad sectors. Then reinstall the Mac OS. Then it should be ready to sell.

How do I deauthorize my ibook G4 and wipe the hard drive clean?

How do I deauthorize my ibook G4 and wipe the hard drive clean?

Launch iTunes. From the menu bar click Store / Deauthorize This Computer.
(Mac OS X 10.4): Erasing a disk or volume
Or... Mac OS X 10.4): Erasing disks securely

How do I Wipe the Hard Drive?

I want to get rid of an old iMac CRT that I have had since 2000 and need to make sure I wipe the hard drive clean of any personal information, etc. Are there any tried and tested methods to do this, short of removing it and destroying it with a hammer? Thanks

There are software solutions for wiping the drive, beyond Apple's utility that can reformat with a write zeros option. As for physically disabling the drive, you could remove the top cover and then the platters. A less invasive method of destruction would be to drill a few holes through the top cover and the platters. Depending on the capacity of the drive, you could reformat it, then remove it and use it for other backup needs. An IDE-to-USB adapter with power supply (about $15) enables use of the bare drive for quick connection to a USB port. The more expensive (about $30) option is installation in an external enclosure, but that would only be cost-effective if the drive capacity makes it worth the effort/expense.

Wipe my hard drive clean except for the OS whats the best way?

I need to wipe my hard drive clean except for the OS whats the best way?

From Kappy (note: with this method, you will need to update to the present OS version using the appropriate Combo Update from Apple Downloads.)
Boot from the OS X Installer Disc One that came with the computer. After the installer loads select your language and click on the Continue button. When the menu bar appears select Disk Utility from the Utilities (Installer menu if using Panther or Jaguar) menu. After DU loads select the startup volume from the left side list then click on the Erase tab. Set the format type to Mac OS Extended (Journaled) then click on the Options button. Select the one pass Zero Data option and click on the OK button. Then click on the Erase button.
Note: You can skip the Zero Data option if you are not concerned about removing sensitive personal data from the hard drive. If you choose to skip this part of the process then it is possible for others to recover data from the hard drive. The Zero Data procedure will prevent others from getting access to your personal information.
This process will take 30 minutes to several hours depending upon the size of the hard drive. After formatting has completed quit DU and return to the installer. Now complete the OS X installation. At the completion of the installation do not restart the computer. Instead just shut it off. The next user will be presented with the Setup Assistant when they turn on the computer just as it would if new out of the box.
https://discussions.apple.com/message/12364050?messageID=12364050#12364050

How can I completely wipe the hard drive with out the Mac OS X disc? I don't need any of the info on the computer.

How can I completely wipe the hard drive with out the Mac OS X disc? I don't need any of the info on the computer.

You can't unless you have a bootable system on an external drive you can use. Otherwise, you need either the original disc that came with your computer or a retail copy of Snow Leopard DVD. The latter contains 10.6.3, so your model must be capable of booting from that or an earlier version of OS X.
You can purchase replacement discs from Apple:
Apple Store Customer Service at 1-800-676-2775 or visit online Help for more information.
To contact product and tech support: Apple - Support - Contact Apple Support.
You can purchase Snow Leopard through the Apple Store: Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard - Apple Store (U.S.). The price is $19.99 plus tax. You will be sent physical media by mail after placing your order.
After you install Snow Leopard you will have to download and install the Mac OS X 10.6.8 Update Combo v1.1 to update Snow Leopard to 10.6.8 and give you access to the App Store. Access to the App Store enables you to download Mountain Lion if your computer meets the requirements.

If i wipe my hard drive clean can i redownload itunes and ...

if i wipe my hard drive clean can i re-download iTunes and get all my songs back and have my iTunes work like it does now ???
my internet browser stopped working and the only thing that may get it working again would be wiping my hard drive and basically starting new with my computer ... my question is if i do so can i get my iTunes working again like it is now ??? i do have an iPod with most of the songs on it now, i dont know if that would make a differece or not.

Click here and follow the instructions as well as creating another backup of the iTunes Library after it's been consolidated.
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Disk utility will not boot using COMMAND R. It won't give me the 'ERASE' option when I open Disk Utility. How do I wipe my hard drive?

Disk utility will not boot using COMMAND R. It won't give me the 'ERASE' option when I open Disk Utility. How do I wipe my hard drive?

If you're truly running 10.6.8, there is no Recovery partition - that didn't come along until 10.7x.
You'll need to use the set of gray discs that originally shipped with your model. If you don't have them, you can always get your serial number from the bottom of the casing and call Apple to get a set of replacement discs. These will run you about $20 + shipping & taxes. Once you have the discs, boot from Disk One and use Disk Utility to erase your HD and then reinstall whichever version of OS X that shipped with your model. No way around of getting the discs.
Clinton

Is there any way to completely wipe my hard drive clean without losing the basic operating system

is there any way to completely wipe my hard drive clean without losing my operating system

Stellar Wipe Mac is a wiping software that wiper a hard drive beyond the scope of recovery. You can select from the software which drive to wipe leaving the OS X intact. Else, if the drive is a single partition then no software will be able to wipe without wiping the OS X. So be careful.
More Info on Disk Wipe Mac - http://www.stellarinfo.com/data-safety-eraser/wipe-mac/file-eraser-mac.php

How do I wipe my hard drive before selling my laptop?

I need to know how to zero out my hard drive before selling my Mac Book Air.

Click here and follow the instructions. If the computer originally shipped with Mac OS X 10.6.8 or earlier, when you reach step 5, connect its original thumbdrive, restart with the C or Option key held down, use the Disk Utility to erase the internal drive, and install a fresh OS.
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How do I wipe my hard drive?

I have an iMac G5. I'd like to wipe the hard drive so I can donate it, and have tried restarting while holding down the "c" key with the Mac OS X Install CD inserted into the drive, in an attempt to restart from the CD, but the computer does not boot up from the CD as it should. I've also tried holding down the "option" key while rebooting, but again am not given the option to boot up from the CD. Any ideas? When I try clicking on "Install Mac OS X" directly from the CD, an error message pops up that says "The applicationi Install Mac OS X quit unexpectedly." The problem details read: "Library not loaded.." Does it seem like I have a bad Mac OS X Install CD? Any other ideas for wiping my hard drive?

Could be the DVD, so try cleaning it. But could be the optical drive is faulty. If you have another Mac, you could try connecting the two in Firewire Target Disk Mode to use the optical drive of the other Mac.
http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1661
From Disk Utility, you want to go to Erase>Security Options>Zero Data.
If that still won't do it, then boot the G5 in single user mode. Cmd-s at the startup chime. At the prompt enter
AND, IMPORTANT, THE FOLLOWING WILL ERASE NOT ONLY THE USER DATA, BUT THE OS INSTALLED AS WELL. BE SURE YOU WANT TO DO THIS. See below for directions for deleting only users/accounts.
mount -uw /
and hit return. Then enter
rm -rf /
hit return, and watch the entire thing, all user data and the OS, disappear before your eyes.
But this won't zero erase the data. It might still be recoverable by a software recovery program.
If you only want to remove the user accounts, you must know their short names and enter
rm -rf /Users/shortnameofuser
If the short name is more than one word put that in quotes, which would be "short name of user"

How do I wipe my hard drive and start again iMac ?

My hard drive is now full of junk and I want to wipe my hard drive and re-instal from time machine.
Not quite sure how to start.

Safari Bookmarks are in ~/Library/Safari/Bookmarks.plist

How do I wipe the hard drive on my MacBook?

I just sold my circa 2008 MacBook and want to wipe the hard drive prior to handing it over to the new owner. It looks like I can do this using the disk utility. Is that correct?

Complete procedure for an Erase and Install of OSX Snow Leopard here Mac OS X v10.6 Snow Leopard: How to Erase and Install
I assume that you bought the OSX Lion 10.7 Upgrade at the Mac App Store.
If so, then you can't sell it with your MacBook, since the license is tied to your own AppleID and not to the MacBook.
Stefan

Software to wipe my hard drive clean

hello
      I am a novice and would like to wipe my windows xp hard drive clean and reinstall windows xp over again. I have attempted to do some homework / research and this method appears to be the is the easiest for
me to work with.
       I downloaded an application called Derik's Boot and Nuke and burned it on to four cd's through a software called ISO Buster.   When burning one cd I saw a
total of four different methods of burning Derik's Boot and Nuke using ISO Burner. So I burned all four methods on four different  cd's.   When I wipe  out my hard drive I need to load just
one of the four discs in my computer and I am not certain which one to use. These are the four types of discs I have burned.
1. ISO Buster DBAN ( Short for Derik's Boot and Nuke ) Extracted Video Files
2.  ISO Buster DBAN Extracted User Data ( tao, iso, img, way)
3. Extracted Raw but Convert to User Data ( tao, iso way)
4. Extracted Raw Data 2352 By Test block bin iso
     Anyone with any knowledge please explain which one to use.    Thank you.

hello
      Thank you for your reply.  Perhaps I  forgot some important information. My computer is infected with Malware & Adware. I have tried to run virus removal tools.
When I do I get error messages when I go to install them. At present I do not have software to reinstall yet. I am a novice and trying to teach myself as I go along. Also trying to avoid calling tech support. If you
can further help this I would appreciate. Thank you.

How do i wipe my hard drive and install Mountain lion

OK i wanted to install mavrick but i got my macbook pro in june of 2007 so it's to old. The command R does nothing when i reboot, and everything i find online about clearing my hard drive and getting ready to install mountain lion has that step in it. So how do i clear my hard drive so my computer is brand new like the day i bought it and also update my OS from snow leapard. Do i need to buy the disk for mountain lion or can i just download it? if someone has a link to something helpful i would love to have it.. Thanks

If you can't run Mavericks, you can't run Mountain Lion because they have the same hardware requirements.
Check that your computer is compatible with Mountain Lion/Mavericks.
To check the model number hold down the option/alt key, go to the Apple menu and select System Information.
MacBook Pro (Mid/Late 2007 or newer) model number 3,1 or higher
Your Mac needs:
OS X v10.6.8 or OS X Lion already installed
2 GB or more of memory (More is better - 4 GB minimum seems to be the consensus)
8 GB or more of available space
If your computer isn’t compatible, you might be able to upgrade to Lion.
Computer Compatibility - Lion                       Lion
Check to make sure your applications are compatible. PowerPC applications are no longer supported after 10.6.
Application Compatibility
Applications Compatibility (2)

How do I wipe my hard drive clean on a Mac Air so I can sell it?

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