Wipe FileVault 2 Drive

I'm trying to completely wipe and reinstall Mountain Lion on an employee's laptop who has left. Disk utility won't let me wipe the drive unless I give it the decryption password. Is there a way to completely erase the volume to reinstall the OS?

It should be possible to delete/reformat the partition via command line in the recovery OS.
Use instead of disk3 in the example below your disk, should be disk0 in a single disk config.
I assume you have either a system which can boot via network from apple or you have the possibility to boot via an USB drive (with MLion) on it.
How to generate a MLion USB stick: http://www.macrumors.com/2012/07/25/create-a-bootable-mountain-lion-usb-key-inst aller/
diskutil eraseDisk
Usage: diskutil eraseDisk format name [[APM]Format|[MBR]Format|[GPT]Format]
MountPoint|DiskIdentifier|DeviceNode
Completely erase an existing whole disk. All volumes on this disk will be
destroyed. Ownership of the affected disk is required.
Format is the specific filesystem name you want to erase it as (HFS+, etc.).
Name is the (new) volume name (subject to filesystem naming restrictions),
or can be specified as %noformat% to skip initialization (newfs).dis
You cannot erase the boot disk.
Example: diskutil eraseDisk JHFS+ UntitledUFS disk3

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After having yet another problem with my MacBook Pro and having to wipe the drive, I am now unable to sync my iPhones etc without erasing all the music on them. Is there a way around this? I have no other library!

After having yet another problem with my MacBook Pro and having to wipe the drive, I am now unable to sync my iPhones etc without erasing all the music on them. Is there a way around this? I have no other library!
iTunes is a mess! It couldn't find it's own libraries and I was forced to create a new one. Now I don't know where my music is or if any's missing.

columbus new boy wrote:
How crap is that?
It's not crap at all.
It's not that simple. For example, I've 3500 songs on my MacBook but don't want them all on my phone, so I have to manually select each song again???
There has to be a solution.
Why not simply make a playlist with the songs you want on the iPhone?
and maintain a current backup of your computer.

I'm using Tiger 10.4.11, I had to wipe my drive an reload my whole operating system recently, now my Itunes does not work, it says It's version 4, what the heck is version 4, where can I get a compatible version that works, and accesses the store like I

I'm using Tiger 10.4.11 and had to wipe my drive and reload my system from the install discs yesterday,
Now I'm running Itunes version 4! It won't let me access the store, I've tried everything on the help pages,
EVERYTHING, I need a older version of Itunes, but not as old as version 4, which, no, it will not upgrade
automatically for me, it says no upgrade available. Why does Mac not support older versions of
its operating systems, why do they make it so hard to find help for those system users other than
the money of course, but have you seen the stock lately? They got enough money.

Yup, your question and Diane's answer helped me also. Tho' I had had problems before getting into the iTunes store I always managed to find a way. Today they had me blocked cold with the "Update to 10" advert no matter what I did. Other questioners are being told, incorrectly as it turns out, that they have to update their OS to accomodate iTunes 10 and upgrade to iTunes 10. I did the download which did not take up much more room on my crowded old hard drive and now I'm back in business.

Had to wipe my drive so I could do a clean install of snow leopard Now I look every where on how to move bookmarks, address book and I cal settings. I have them back up on a external drive with Time machine but can not move, copy or restore my old sett d

Had to wipe my drive so I could do a clean install of snow leopard. Now I have look every where on how to move bookmarks, address book and I cal settings. I have them back up on a external drive with Time machine but can not move, copy or restore my old settings. The instructions I have found or no help or needs more clarafication on what to do.

Use migration assistant to move your files. http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4889

Wipe Hard Drive clean install of Window Server

What is the best way to wipe Hard Drive? Save a partition for later use and use remaining partition to install Sever OS, save to external drive(to use later) and wipe completely(cleanest install, I believe), complete wipe completely not worrying about
saving anything, or suggestions?
NOTE; The machine has never been turned on, still in the box. Hardware goes above and beyond Min. Requirements for software.
Which is the best way to install Windows Server 2012 R2 Essentials Evaluation download - ISO image? Azure?
How to install Windows Server 2012 R2 Essentials from ISO image- Download and burn to DVD, Save to USB or to actual machine?
How to install Windows Server 2012 R2 Essentials from Azure? (Don't have Azure account)
I need to have it completed ASAP so I can install Accounting/PM database software. Need it operational Monday if all possible. Any help will be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Woodrow

There are a lot of embedded questions here, I'll try to hit them all:
1) If you're reinstalling on the same partition, you do not need to be too crazy in how it gets formatted. There's no performance gain to using BCWipe or anything. When you format, you're just erasing the table of contents, then overwriting the
actual data later on anyway. Just keep it simple.
2) If you want to save the data, just copy it somewhere else before you delete anything. If you're not concerned about the data, don't worry about it, just go back to answer #1.
3) You can download the Evaluation OS from the MS website. You cannot turn an eval copy into a full install without reinstalling, so are you sure that is what you want? You'll end up test building, then when you like it, you'll have to do it
all over again.
4) ISO to DVD or USB: Doesn't matter how you end up installing it. Today's machines can usually support any install media. Some ways are faster, but you're only talking about saving minutes. What does it really matter?
- Chris Ream -
**Remember, if you find a post that is helpful, or is the answer, please mark it appropriately.**

Wipe Hard Drive/Fried Logic Board

How do I wipe Hard Drive clean when G4 Powerbook will not start up due to fried logic board? I can wait 3 weeks, and One to One will tell me at Apple...lol...

Or you can get this low-cost adapter:
http://eshop.macsales.com/item/Newer%20Technology/U2NV2SPATA/
and not need a case. I can't begin to tell how many times this gadget has made an other wise tough job easy. Works with PATA 3.5", PATA 2.5", and SATA drives.

Need to wipe hard drive to restore to previous date from time machine back up. Unclear how to do this. Please advise or provide link to this procedure on website. Thanks.

Need to wipe hard drive to restore to previous date from time machine back up. Unclear how to do this. Please advise or provide link to this procedure on website. Thanks.

See Pondini's TM FAQs for starters.

How can I wipe a drive on an old iMac that won't stay on long enough to complete the task?

How can I wipe a drive on an old iMac that won't stay on long enough to complete the task?

Do you have access to another Mac? If so contact the two via a Firewire cable, boot your problem Mac into Target Disk Mode, Transferring files between two computers using FireWire,, and try to use Disk Utiltiy from the second Mac to reformat and erase your hard drive.

How to wipe hard drive bc selling computer and want all passwords/personal info gone? etc

how to wipe hard drive bc selling computer and want all passwords/personal info gone?

You need to boot the computer from another source, e.g. a CD or an external drive. Then run Disk Utility, select the drive you want cleaned up, and run Erase. Note the security options: "write zeroes" will erase the drive completely.

Dead screen - how to wipe the drive before recycling?

The display on my MBR 15" (circa 2007) is dead. The local genius bar thinks it's in the inverter. Flashing the PRAM does not help. I'd like to wipe the drive before I try to recycle it. While I can boot the machine fine, and then push the display to a second VGA screen, I can't seem to boot from the install disk and view it on the second screen so that I can use the Disk Util to wipe the disk. I'm looking for help in overcoming the boot display or how to successfully wipe the drive.
Am I pretty much down to target disk mode and obtaining a firewire cable to see the drive from another Mac?
Thanks

Albert Patzke wrote:
Only sure fire 100% way to ensure hard drive wipe is to remove the hard drive from the computer and beat h*ll out of it with a hammer. *Break into so many pieces that all the kings horses and all the kings men can't put that hard drive together again.*
Humpty Dumpty Solution!

Purchase Adobe Acrobat XI, had to wipe hard drive clean & start over, need to reload it. Can u Help ?

Purchase Adobe Acrobat XI, had to wipe hard drive clean & start over, need to reload it..Can u Help ?

Hi greg v.p44270855,
We would love to help. What part are you having trouble with? For starters, please make sure that you're logged in as an administrator, and temporarily disable any antivirus software. If you don't have the Acrobat installer, you can download Acrobat from http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat.html.
If you're running into a particular problem with the installation, please provide some specifics about the problem (error messages, operating system and version, and so so).
Best,
Sara

How to wipe hard drive and keep OS?

Hi everyone...
I have a Powerbook G4 12" that was loaned to me. I'd like to wipe the harddrive to "out of the box" condition and keep OS X. I do NOT have the original disks that came with the laptop.
Since I'm a noob to Mac, what's the best way to format and/or wipe the drive of all the previous users junk and start over without bricking the laptop (since I don't have the original cd's)??
Thanks in advance for any advice/suggestions!!
Jim

Jim:
Welcome to Apple Discussions.
Follow the procedure outlined in Niel's article Making the Setup Assistant Reappear.
cornelius

Can I save my current bookmarks in firefox, wipe my drive and reinstall latest firefox version and then import my firefox bookmarks from the older version?

Can I save my current bookmarks in firefox, wipe my drive and reinstall latest firefox version and then import my firefox bookmarks from the older version?
Details are in question: Am using MAC OS 10.9.4 on MacBook Pro.

See:
*https://support.mozilla.org/kb/Backing+up+your+information
*http://kb.mozillazine.org/Profile_backup
*http://kb.mozillazine.org/Backing_up_and_restoring_bookmarks_-_Firefox
*https://support.mozilla.org/kb/restore-bookmarks-from-backup-or-move-them
You can use this button to go to the currently used Firefox profile folder:
*Help > Troubleshooting Information > Profile Directory: Show Folder (Linux: Open Directory; Mac: Show in Finder)
*http://kb.mozillazine.org/Profile_folder_-_Firefox

I have an issue with Acrobat, after a few uses, the program will not load, the only way to fix it is to completely uninstall the CS suite wipe the drive and reinstall the software, then after a few uses it stops working, how do i fix this?

after a few uses, the program will not load, the only way to fix it is to completely uninstall the CS suite wipe the drive and reinstall the software, then after a few uses it stops working, how do i fix this?

Not sure of an answer to your basic question, but it may be that you can run a repair (on Windows --> Control Panel>Programs & Features and run the repair on Acrobat). If that fixes the issue, at least temporarily, at least you will not be reinstalling everything -- a real pain.
Next, open Acrobat and go to the Help to run the updates and be sure you are current. On some OSs, the updates are critical.

How wipe hard drive clean without a disk and reinstall OS?

Running a 15" Mid 2010, OS 10.8.3; after migrating Profile to new MacBook want to wipe hard drive clean & reinstall Mountain Lion 10.8.3 in order to give to daughter as a "new" computer. All I can find in archived discussions is how to do it w/ a disk.

Yes I would.
The iLife Apps, "i" Photo, Movie and Garageband (And "i" DVD and WEB if you Mac came with Snow Leopard originally), are not included with the Operating system. They are separate applications that you need to either download from the Mac App Store, from your Purchases area once you have logged into the MAS with the Apple ID you used to register that Mac with, or from the second System Reinstall Disc, the Applications disc, that came with your Mac if it originally came with Snow Leopard.
So I read you are running a Mid 2010 MBP. In that case you would need to use the second Original System Disc to reinstall the iLife Applications.
That may be a problem for you as the iLife apps that came with that system are 3 years old and may not want to install on Mt Lion 10.8.3.
If you run into problems installing them from that second system disc you may have to start off by first reinstalling Snow Leopard and then the iLife Apps and Then Upgrade to Mt Lion. Making sure after installing Snow Leopard and the iLife Apps you update everything through Software Update before you do the Mt Lion upgrade.
Sorry about the hassle but blame Apple for that.
Hopefully you have the Original system discs but if you don't then you can order a replacement set from Apple for a small charge.
Good Luck & Best Wishes.

Wipe FileVault 2 Drive

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