My hard drive no longer works. How can I erase it?

I have a 2007 Macbook Pro 15 inch. When I turn it on, eventually I get the message that the hard drive can't be found. I've replaced the computer with a new model, and I want to dispose of it. But I know I need to clear all the personal information off it. How can I do it? Can I boot it up by connecting it to my new Macbook pro?

Buy an enclosure for the hard drive from OWC - USB enclosures can be had for as little as $20. Once you have the drive in the enclosure, plug it in and boot up normally from your new internal drive. Use Disk Utility to securely erase the 'old' drive (if it can be erased) using the secure erase method.
Good luck,
Clinton

Similar Messages

  • My computers hard drive has stoped working, how can I retrieve my Itunes library from my computer?

    My computers hard drive has stoped working. How can I retrieve my itunes library? My back ups were on this hard drive as well.
    When I brought my computer to be fixed they said they would retrieve photos and music and documents but loose my programs. That being said I am not sure if I will recover my music from itunes because it may fall under the program category. I support itunes by purchasing from itunes, but now i am in a position where i may loose years of purchassing music and it has me feeling a little bit sick to be honest...the stress this is causing is really big. DÙoes anyone have any experience with this type of problem?
    Help is appreciated, thank you.

    If the data is recoverable from the drive then they should have recovered the entire iTunes folder which includes the library database. Restore this into the <User's Music> folder of a replacement system, install iTunes, and it should be as before.
    See also  Recover your iTunes library from your iPod or iOS device. Even if you don't have one there should be some useful links...
    tt2

  • I purchased the multi-user iworks and recently had to replace my white imac's hard drive but didn't pay to fix the CD drive.  My iworks does not have a serial number on the box and now that my CD drive isn't working how can I reinstall this software?

    I purchased the multi-user iworks (yes back when it was new, 2009 or 2010 and recently had to replace my white imac's hard drive (but didn't pay to fix the CD drive).  My iworks does not have a serial number on the box and now that my CD drive isn't working how can I reinstall this software?

    Buy or borrow an external USB optical drive.
    See the confirmation email or covering letter to obtain the serial number. If you have lost it, contact the supplier.

  • Why has iTunes seperated a album which I have copied over from my external hard drive into iTunes? How can you pull all the songs back together into one album again?

    Why has iTunes seperated a album into indevidual songs, which I have copied over from my external hard drive into iTunes? How can you pull all the songs back together into one album again?

    Steve MacGuire a.k.a. turingtest2 - iTunes & iPod Hints & Tips - Grouping Tracks Into Albums - http://www.samsoft.org.uk/iTunes/grouping.asp (older post on Apple Discussions http://discussions.apple.com/message/9910895)
    Quick answer:  Select all the tracks on the album, File > get info, and either give them all a single "album artist", or check the "compilation" flag (as in https://discussions.apple.com/message/17670085).
    If these are from multiple-CD sets you may also need to enter the appropriate information in the disc number fields.  If they are not a multiple CD set you still need to make sure the disc number fields are set correctly or all empty.

  • My optical drive isn´t working, how can I fix it?

    My optical drive isn´t working, how can I fix it?
    iMac 21.5" Mid 2010

    Reset the NVRAM/PRAM and Reset the SMC, then try again.

  • My 2007 20inch Imac keeps freezing/crashing and the mouse is moving while its frozen? is the hard drive going out? how can I fix it?

    my 2007 20inch Imac keeps freezing/crashing and the mouse is moving while its frozen? is the hard drive going out? how can I fix it?
    Whats the problem? how can I fix it?

    komivi wrote:
    my 2007 20inch Imac keeps freezing/crashing and the mouse is moving while its frozen?
    How large is your HD?  How much space do you have left?
    is the hard drive going out? how can I fix it?
    Failing Hard Drive Sounds
    How to Tell When Your Hard Drive is Going to Fail
    Be prepared for hard-drive failure 

  • La Cie Porsche Design External Hard Drive no longer working with Time Machine since update to Yosemite.

    My La Cie Porsche Design External Hard Drive USB 3.0 is no longer working with Time Machine.  Is Yosemite the cause?  How do I fix?

    Can you see the drive in Disk Utility? If so, try selecting it and using the Mount button in the top menu. You can also run repair disk and repair permissions.

  • External Hard Drive No Longer Working After Being Removed From Mac

    The following issue is happening to two other mac users that i know and its quite frustrating.
    So if an external hard drive is not ejected properly from a mac, it then cannot be recognised by any other Mac’s. This issue is not isolated to just one external hard drive.
    Then if i plug the external hard drive/s into my 8 year old Dell (PC) it works fine.
    Further to this when i check the hidden files on the PC it looks as though Old Apple imbeds the external HD with a bunch of useless hidden files, once these are all deleted it miraculously works  again on the Mac’s.
    Too bad if you only have a Mac Because if the Mac disk utility can read the External HD it says that the disk has crashed and needs to be replaced.
    Nice one Apple...
    So now for my questions.
    Why does mac add hidden files to an external hard drive when not ejected properly that prevents it from operating again on a Mac ?!!!!
    How do i prevent apple from adding these hidden files?

    Can you see the drive in Disk Utility? If so, try selecting it and using the Mount button in the top menu. You can also run repair disk and repair permissions.

  • Formatted hard drive and changed computer, how can I sync with iTunes?

    Yes, I formatted my hard drive and got a new computer, without thinking that it would cause any problems. Now I have installed iTunes and want to sync my iPhone, but it wants to erase my current music files. What do I do?
    P.s. If there are any ppl who have contact with developers, a little proposition... perhaps develop a shared computer version of iTunes (for work-home commuting, internet cafes ect.) where a person can log-in manipulate and download onto their iPod/Phone ect. without this problem of being fixed to one computer (which to be honest is rather unrealistic? no?)

    found life saveing program called media widget well worth the $29 if you have alot of stuff on tour ipod

  • External hard drives no longer working in Mavericks - HELP!  I need my data...

    Hello
    I recently upgraded to Mavericks (10.9.2) and this morning I was trying to find some files so connected my external hard drive (back-up 1).  Light went on...nobody home.  The drive didn't register as it had done last week.  In my hurried state I plugged in external hard drive 2 (back-up 2) and the same thing happened.
    Not phased by this I took my hard drives to work and tried them in my PC and also a friend's mac (not upgraded).
    Annoyingly I cannot access anything, in fact they don't even register existence even though they are whirring with the lights on.
    Please help! I need my data

    Hello AstroTravel,
    Thank you for the details of the issue you are experiencing with your external hard drive.  I found an article with steps you can take when an external device is not being recognized.
    I recommend following the steps in the section titled "Top troubleshooting tips" in the following article:
    USB and FireWire Quick Assist
    http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1151
    Thank you for using Apple Support Communities.
    Best,
    Sheila M.

  • HT1473 I recently had to replace my hard drive and lost my iTunes library. Now I cannot transfer the library from my iPod to iTunes on the new hard drive (same computer). How can I complete the transfer?

    I recently had to replace my hard drive and lost my iTunes library.  When I try to transfer the content from my iPod to iTunes on the new hard drive (same computer), it would only let me transfer iTunes store purchases. How can I complete the transfer of all the content on the iPod back onto the computer?

    Recover media from iPod
    See this post for options on moving your iPod data back to your computer.
    tt2

  • Why does my external hard drive no longer work

    I have a toshiba 1tb external hard drive on which I back up my Toshiba lap top. This morning when I tried to do this both USB ports on the laptop died. Thats a very short explanation for what has taken some time to establish. To get them working again I have to reboot the laptop & then I can use my wireless mouse & keyboard etc. Attach the harddrive again everything dies.
    Now the point that got me to this board is that I gave my hard drive to a colleague to copy some files (which he did) but he runs a mac! Has his mac killed my hard drive & done something that somehow means when it plugs into my laptop it kills the USB drives on that too?

    Bob you might just be right. He might have killed the cable though. I've managed to find a similar connection & I now seem to have access. Is that a natural breeding rainbow or one of those bloated stockies?

  • My Macbook Pro hard drive got locked.  How can I unlock it?

    My Macbook Pro hard drive got locked.  I have replaced the drive with a new drive.  I put the old drive in an external case.  How can I unlock the old drive to get my pictures off and put on the new drive.  I can see the drive but I cannot get to the iPhoto files because it is locked.  Is there an easy fix?

    How did the drive get locked? That doesn't JUST happen for no reason. The only way to unlock it is to put it back in to the Mac it came out of and UN-LOCK it.

  • The hue/saturation adjustment in my photoshop CS3 no longer works. how can I fix?

    the hue/saturation adjustment in my photoshopCS3 no longer works. How can I fix?

    Are your images RGB/8?
    Is "Preview" checkmarked in the HSB dialog?
    If so, then hold down the Alt key and when the Cancel button changes to Reset, click on it to clear it and set it to defaults.

  • My Seagate Expansion 500GB external hard drive no longer works with my Mac

    Hi
    i have had a seagate expansion hard drive for the last year ish and it has worked as a time machine without any problem. when i first got it i had to format it to windows but that was simple and worked well. recently i unplugged it for a few weeks and have recently plugged it back in. now it won't register as my timemachine or show in finder.
    I went into disk utilities and clicked 'repair' then click 'verify and these are the two errors i recieved.
    Verify and Repair volume “Jon & Sarah Time Machine”
    Checking Journaled HFS Plus volume.
    Checking Extents Overflow file.
    Checking Catalog file.
    Invalid index key
    Rebuilding Catalog B-tree.
    The volume Jon & Sarah Time Machine could not be repaired.
    Error: Filesystem verify or repair failed.
    Verifying volume “Jon & Sarah Time Machine”
    Checking Journaled HFS Plus volume.
    Checking Extents Overflow file.
    Checking Catalog file.
    Invalid index key
    The volume Jon & Sarah Time Machine needs to be repaired.
    Error: Filesystem verify or repair failed.
    I am hoping that someone has had the same issue and is able to help me with this problem.
    all my back ups are on the hard drive so i really don't want to have to format it as i don't know what i will lose.
    I have checked for updates for my Mac and it says there are none.
    cheers
    Jon

    You need something stronger, such as DiskWarrior, to repair the HD.

Maybe you are looking for

  • Batch Management report Issue.

    Hi Friends, I have a question on batch management report, for detailed information please see the steps below Step 1 : I have material X and Y created with class u2018XYZu2019, and characteristic value temperature 10 u2013 100 c Step 2 : I have done

  • Error in Email Link

    I'm creating a new PDF fillable form from a Word document.  There are references to two email addresses in the letter. When I create the pdf from Word, one of the email addresses is coming out correctly (mailto:[email protected]), but the other addre

  • MB_CUR_MAX Settings in Solaris 10

    Hi All - MB_CURR_MAX sets to 3 in my Solaris 10 though it is not a multi-byte machine. The Locale settings are set to en_GB.ISO8859-1. I do not know if this setting will cause some system calls, functions to behave differently. How is this set? I che

  • MASS DELETION OF MATERIAL

    Hello Guys, I have around 5- 6 thousand materials and i need to set up a deletion flag. Is there anybody can tell me how can i set mass deletion of material. Points awaiting and answers are highly appreciated. Thanks Iqbal

  • Attached .EML files

    Would like to see a way that we can open .eml files so that I can retrieve my Voicemails sent to my exchange account. When I receive voicemails from my office they come to my email account as a attachment. The problem is the email comes to me with a