I can't format my hard drive! Please help!

I had a lot of problems with my Mac mini - related to CD burning, CD reading, ejecting discs, hard drive partitioning, Mac OS X Leopard installation... so I can't tell I am surprised with my new problem, which is...
I need to completely *erase my internal hard drive* on my Mac mini. So I opened Disk Utility, selected hard drive and went to Erase tab - I did everything as instructed by the app - but the "Erase..." button is not active! It's *not going to allow me to erase my hard drive*.
Please does anyone know why? I need to reformat the hard drive and I just don't know how.
Thanks, I hope this problem will be solved soon.

Welcome to Apple Discussions!
You can't reformat the drive you booted from, so in order to reformat the internal hard drive, you need to boot from the install disc that came with your mini (or a full retail MacOS install disk). That will provide you with an option to perform a full Erase and Install, performing the reformat and reinstallation in one go, or to open Disk Utility (in the Utilities menu) to perform a partitioning and reformat independently of a reinstall of MacOS.

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To delete files from your external HDD, attach it to your MBP and drag the unwanted files to trash and then empty trash.
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Jayden:
Here are some directions for formatting and partitioning a HDD:
Partitioning a Hard Disk Drive
Boot from the install CD holding down the "C" key.
Select language
Go to the Utilities menu and launch Disk Utility.
Select your HDD (manufacturer ID) in left side bar.
Select Partition tab in main panel.
Select # of partition in pulldown menu above Volume diagram.
Select 1 partition at a time and resize. (you can type size in the size field in main pane).
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 each volume, in turn, under Manufacturer ID.
Select on Security Options button.
Select Zero all data. (This process will map out bad blocks on your HDD. However, it could take several hours. If you want a quicker method, don't go to Security Options and just click the Erase button.)
Quit Disk Utility.
Dr. Smoke's FAQ Backup and Recovery has some hints on partitioning.
Please don't hesitate to post back with further questions or comments.
Good luck.
cornelius
Message was edited by: cornelius

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Evening,
I've just bought a Macbook and am just getting to grips with it. This is my first question on this forum...the first of many no doubt.
Problem I've got is that I can copy file's from an external hard drive on to the MAC but I can't go back the other way and copy file's from the MAC on to the external hard drive - it says 'New Folder cannot be modified'.
When I go into 'Ownership and Permission' of the external hard drive it says I can read only.
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Macbook Mac OS X (10.4.8)
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How confident are you that MacFuse/ntfs-3g is a reliable option for ordinary humans? It is at version 0.2.2, not long out of beta, the FAQ mentions slow write performance and other rough edges (possibly fixed in the current version), and this is a comment by the author as of 1/11/07:
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Guys I am using Mac with OS X 10.6.5. How can I format hard drive without the installation disk?
I don't have a installation disk can I buy one? where?

Call Apple Sales at 1-800-692-7753 to order 10.6.
Posts concerning 10.6 should be made in 10.6 usage forum.
You posted in the 10.3 and down forum which is very old OSX software.
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Hello,
I want to purchase Snow Leopard (upgrade version) but I was planning on doing a format when installing it.
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cocoazenith wrote:
I want to purchase Snow Leopard (upgrade version) but I was planning on doing a format when installing it.
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To get the white 10.6.3 disk, call Apple via the phone, it's not sold online anymore, or search Amazon.com or amc related websites for the disk.
Most commonly used backup methods
How to erase and install Snow Leopard 10.6
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Hello, i just recently bought a western digital my essential 500gb.
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Do this:
Extended Hard Drive Preparation
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How can i format my hard drive

how do i format the hard drive

Format hard drive on what? I note from your profile you have a Dell Dimension 4600 Windows XP without any Apple hardware listed! It is just possible that you are asking your question on the wrong site.

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"computer always freezes at 56%"
Time to replace your Hard Drive. BACK UP NOW!!!
This will be the 3rd HD in a new HP HDX 18 for me (6 months old).
Open up the HD bay and take a look at the model of the HD.
If it is a SEAGATE MOMENTUS 7200.4 they are known to fail in as little as 1 month from install, and do not last more than 6 months.
Google the brand and you will see that most people are reccomending that you remove the SEAGATE product ASAP (data recovery is next to impossible) and replace it with something else.
I had just finished setting up the PC as I wanted it, OS, programs / Bios, software upgrades, then without warning the 2nd HD went.
I lost EVERYTHING in my C drive, was just preparing to do a full BU and Mirror Image after deleting both from my D and External Drive.
HP is replacing one piece of crap with another, I will be shopping for a different brand for the C drive after the laptop comes back from repair.
There seems to be no end to this BS with SEAGATE drives.
DO A FULL BU NOW!!!
> Was your question answered? Mark it as an Accepted Solution!
> See a great post? Click on the white star and give it a Kudos!

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Actually, it will run without the fan assembly in place, which is a bad thing, IMHO.
Semantics, eh?
I should have said "NO, it shouldn't be run without the fans."
(It's all fine, and I appreciate being kept honest.)
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I can't format my hard drive! Please help!

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