IMac Seagate HD replacement - What do Apple do with the old hard drives?

Hi
A relative has a 2009 iMac and his 1TB Seagate hard drive is covered by the replacement programme. He is concerned what Apple will do with the hard drive when it is returned to them as he does not want any to access his personal items (like docs, photos and emails etc).
He is currently using ML and has everything backed up to an external hd.
He plans to reload Snow Leopard which originally came with his iMac. Using the SL disc, it will give him the option before installing - in Disk Utility to wipe the HD (Gutmann Theory) x 35 times so a very secure wipe. Is this over the top as going to take days to do this to a 1TB drive. Are there any better ways to do this.
We have an Apple store and Apple Premiem Reseller and Support Centre, but the reseller has a faster turnaround for repair. Does anyone know what Apple do with faulty hard drives other than bin them?
Thanks in advance.
Matt

AppleMacCider wrote:
Does anyone know why Apple have removed the 35 x wipe from Lion and Mountain Lion other than it's an overkill.
Gutmann algorithm 35-pass secure erase is not available as an option from the GUI, but is still available from command line aka Terminal.
diskutil secureErase
Usage: diskutil secureErase [freespace] level MountPoint|DiskIdentifier|DeviceNode
Securely erases either a whole disk or a volume's freespace.
Level should be one of the following:
        0 - Single-pass zeros.
        1 - Single-pass random numbers.
        2 - US DoD 7-pass secure erase.
        3 - Gutmann algorithm 35-pass secure erase.
        4 - US DoE 3-pass secure erase.
Ownership of the affected disk is required.
Note: Level 2, 3, or 4 secure erases can take an extremely long time.

Similar Messages

What is the exact name of the cable I need to connect my old hard drive from my macbook pro (it has been taken out of the computer) to my new macbook pro? I need to transfer files from the old hard drive to the new computer.

What is the exact name of the cable I need to connect my old hard drive from my macbook pro, which has been removed from the computer, to my new macbook pro? I need to transfere files from the old hard drive to the new computer.

No eSATA to USB. Just a SATA/IDE to USB adapter. Google SATA/IDE to USB adapter and you will get tons of links to buy them. Most likely your local computer electronics store has them, although they might be more expensive buying locally than online.
I have several. You can get either USB 2, which what I recommend, or USB 3. USB is backward compatible so a USB 3 adapter will work on a USB 2 port and a USB 2 adapter will work on a USB 3 port. Backward compatible in both directions.
I suggest a USB 2 type because there have been some problems with certain USB 3 devices, the USB 3 interface used isn't all that good in those certain devices. USB 3 is still fairly new where as USB 2 has been around for over 10 years.
synghem wrote:
Thank you LowLuster,
At the apple store they said I needed an esata to usb wire. But looking at wires on line has been confusing. Is sata the same as esata? How do I know if I need a usb 3 or usb 2?

I lost my iPhone 5s and purchased a new phone. A few days later I found the first phone. What can I do with the old 5s? How can I upgrade to a 6?

What do I do with the old phone and can I get an upgrade?
Thanks
Pete

You're gonna have to figure out how to call AppleCare & ask to talk to "Account Security". If your english is not good, then find someone to help you. Be prepared to prove ownership & the fact that you purchased this phone from an authorized source in the US. They "may" be able to help you.
Apple does not provide email support.

I need to replace my laptop Hard drive. How do I get my iTunes off the old hard drive to an external so I can put it back on the new hard drive?

I need to replace my laptop Hard drive. How do I get my iTunes off the old hard drive to an external so I can put it back on the new hard drive?

Type move itunes library into the google serach bar.
It has always been very basic to always maintain abackup copy of your computer. Do you not have a backup copy?

I have an imac 20 in. The old hard drive crapped out on me. i put a new harddrive in and am now trying to install linux. But the imac doesnt recognise any keyboards

I have an imac 20 in. The old hard drive crapped out on me. i put a new harddrive in and am now trying to install linux. But the imac doesnt recognise any keyboards

Without a bootable backup/clone or a Time Machine backup of your previous Snow Leopard installation or a saved copy of Lion's install app, you'll have to upgrade your Leopard volume to Snow Leopard (10.6.6+) so you can waste another hour or more DLing the Lion thing again.

Hi,I have recently replaced by hard drive with a ssd. My old hard drive has all my iTunes stuff.i would like to install only iTunes programme on the ssd with all the content on the old hard drive. How do I do it?

Hi,I have recently replaced by hard drive with a ssd. My old hard drive has all my iTunes stuff.i would like to install only iTunes programme on the ssd with all the content on the old hard drive. How do I do it?

Install iTunes.
Once install, hold SHIFT and launch iTunes.
When prompted, point iTunes to the correct location for the iTunesLibrary.itl file which should be in the iTunes folder under <user>/Music on the old drive.

I have upgraded to a new computer. I have installed iTunes from the internet and copied my music from the old hard drive to my new one. What do I need to do to get my new computer to recognize my old playlist?

I have upgraded to a new computer. I have installed iTunes from the internet and copied my music from the old hard drive to my new one. What do I need to do to get my new computer to recognize my old playlist?

See https://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/Backing%20up%20and%20restoring%20bookmarks
and
https://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/Backing%20up%20your%20information?s=new+computer&r=4&as=s#os=win&browser=fx8

I have a mid-2010 27" Quad Core i5 iMac running 10.8.3. Startup disk recognizes the primary hard drive as a startup volume but will not boot from it. Have tried zapping PRAM, ran disk utility. No errors reported Any thoughts?

I have a mid-2010 27" Quad Core i5 iMac running 10.8.3. Startup disk recognizes the primary hard drive as a startup volume but will not boot from it. Have tried zapping PRAM, ran disk utility. No errors reported Any thoughts?

My bad Eric. The startup preference recognizes the primary as a 10.8.3 startup volume but when u select it the system does not boot. I can only boot from my external backup drive

I'm about to transfer the contents of my existing HDD in my (dead PSU) iMac to another computer. I'm just wanting to know if and how I will be able to access my files and documents from the old hard drive once I've made the backup?

I'm about to transfer the contents of my existing HDD in my (dead PSU) iMac to another computer. I'm just wanting to know if and how I will be able to access my files and documents from the old hard drive once I've made the backup?

You are not going to be able to run your old system from the backup on this old computer as the hardware is incompatible.
You need to get a new computer or a refurbished one.

I have an old Apple TV with built in hard drive is it possible to retrive Music and Photo's ?

I recently had a new Hard Drive fitted into my MacBook Pro and could not retrieve files from the old drive, however I do have an old Apple TV (one of the old ones with built in Hard Drive).
Does anyone know if there is a way of retrieving Music and Photo"s from the Old Apple TV onto my MacBook Pro"s new Hard Drive?

To the best of my knowledge I dont think thats possible unless you take the device apart and connect the drive inside to a Mac with a cradle.

My hard disk died with confidential information, what does Apple do with the data?

My question is: does Apple guarantee that the data from a dead hard disk will be destroyed? I'm in Chile and the authorized support stores don't handle that information.
What can I do?
Thanks!

Thanks for your answer.
The problem is that they sent the disk to the US and are expecting to get a new one in a few weeks (yes, I'll be that long without my computer).
Does anyone know what Apple does to dead disks when they get them?

The computer my ipod touch was synced to crashed and i had to get a new hard drive. When I tried to sync it with the new hard drive, it said that is was registered with a different apple id and i would have to erase everything to sync it. help!!!!!!!!!!!!

how do i sync it with the compter without deleting all data?

The first thing you can do is transfer your iTunes purchases from your iPod Touch to your PC. To do this, choose File -> Transfer Purchases in iTunes. You should authorize your new PC before doing this by clicking the Store drop down menu and selecting Authorize this Computer. Then enter in your Apple ID/iTunes Store account credentials.
For all other content that was not purchased from the iTunes store, see this older post from another forum member Zevoneer covering the different software available to assist you with this task.
https://discussions.apple.com/thread/2452022?start=0&tstart=0
Finally, right->click on your iPod Touch under the Devices section in iTunes, and choose Backup. Then after erasing and syncing your iPod, restore from that back up. Or better yet, copy a backup from your old PC to your new one if at all possible. Here is more information on backing up and restoring your iPod . Doing so will restore all of your App data.
http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1414
B-rock

What do I do with a corrupted hard drive?

My 2008 MBP (running 10.7.2) started acting up considerably a few months ago. I've upped the RAM to the max (4GB), removed old files & apps & it's still wonky. Freezes on the wheel alot - during start up, running apps & on shut down. Acts odd in other ways as well. Ran Disk Utility, Verify and the following errors came up:
Volume bitmap needs minor repair for orphaned blocks
Invalid volume free block count
The volume Macintosh HD was found corrupt and needs to be repaired.
Error: This disk needs to be repaired. Start up your computer with another disk (such as your Mac OS X installation disc), and then use Disk Utility to repair this disk.
I no longer have the install discs. My Apple Care expired in March, 2011. Am I looking at a dying computer? Better off trying to get it repaired or going for a new one? Thanks much! -Scott

What is your backup situation?
You can attempt to repair the disk using your Lion Recovery partition. Reboot, holding down cmd-R when the screen goes black, and run Disk Utility from the Utilities menu once it's up. Choose your HD on the left, and click Repair Disk. Hopefully that should help. If not, you may need to replace the drive. But if it's just the drive, which is likely, the rest of the computer should be just fine.
Matt

I have lost Lightroom 5.6 due to a hard drive crash. The old hard drive has been replaced. How can I get LR5 back? I don't have a disc. I still have my LR4 disc and key. I have another adobe key, but don't know if it relates to LR5.

I have lost Lightroom 5 due to a crashed hard drive. I don't have a back up disc, and I dont think I have a key. I have a an adobe key recorded but don't know if it relates to LR5. I have an LR4 disc and key. LR5 is still intact and running on my laptop, but I need to use LR% on my desktop PC. I need an address to try a download so that I can try the key which might fit it. Any ideas how I can transfer the program (with key) from my laptop? Any other ideas?
John Carden <[email protected]>

Just download and install.
you can find by internet search for "download Lightroom", or click here:
https://creative.adobe.com/products/download/lightroom
Note: trial software is same as licensed software, once you license it.. (I hope you still have the license key).

My Mac Computer crashed. The Hard drive had to be replaced. I now want to sync my iPad and iPhone as I did in the past. Now with the new hard drive it said it will wipe my devices. Is there another way to do this?

Is there anyway to save all my songs and put them back onto iTunes from my iPad?

It has always been very basic to always maintain a backup copy of your computer for just such an occasion.
Use your backup copy of your computer to put everything on the new one.

IMac Seagate HD replacement - What do Apple do with the old hard drives?

Similar Messages

Maybe you are looking for