Wiping hard drive clean

I'm preparing to sell my iBook G3 and would like to find out how to clean everything on my hard drive, or at least have the computer the way it was when I received it from the factory.
Any suggestions????

Here's a good way to do it:
Insert and boot from your OS X.
Then go to the DiscUtility options and do a format of the drive. There are options that will re-writezeros all over the old data, so NO ONE can recover any of your data. But it takes a while, and probably is not necessary. But, hey, it is a good way to make sure no one is able to steal any personal info from you.
Then just re-install the OS X software using the installer.
Bam back to factory condition

Similar Messages

Do I need to deauthorize a computer if I have wiped the hard drive clean before I sell it?

I am going to sell my computer. I forgot to deauthorize it in itunes. I have already wiped my hard drive clean. Do I need to still deauthorize this computer and how can it be done?

Once the drive has been wiped, the only way to deauthorize is to Deauthorize All from any computer with iTunes installed.
If the intent was to deauthorize the comptuer, that needed to be done prior to wiping the computer.

Wiping you hard drive clean!

I have a 4 year old macbook pro with mountain lion on it. I wish to reset my hard drive and i read that in order to wipe you hard drive clean you need to put the installation cd that came with the laptop. So my question is, will i lose mountain lion in the process and have my macbook pro set back to Leopard??

Yes but you can reinstall it from the Mac App Store for free after you wipe the drive reinstall Leopard and Snow Leopard, or just use the Snow Leopard disc to first reinstall Snow Leopard (Leaving Leopard out of the mix) then uipdate that from Software Update to 10.6.8 and then go to the MAS and redownload Mt Lion.

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.
(39480)

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

Had to have my hard drive "cleaned." Now everything I try and do is a mess. All my data on my iPhone was deleted. I'm trying to figure out how to find it. I can't update my apps. Always asks for my PW, but tells me it's wrong....HELP!

I recently had to have my computer hard drive "cleaned." While this was going on, I broke my SG3, and now own an SG4.
I also changed servers for the internet. When I tried to plug in my SG4, after not being on iTunes for some time, all my data was erased.
No every time I try and do ANYTHING, it asks for my PW.....which is ALWAYS WRONG.....though I've reset it over and over and over.
I want my data back (contacts, pics, etc.). But I can't even maneuver around iTunes any more.
How in the **** do I get someone from iTunes to give me assisstance for the myriad of problems for which I am encountering. This is a CLUSTERF.....
HELP!

There is no such thing as an "SG3" or "SG4". Did you possibly mean a 3GS and iPhone4?
It has always been very basic to ensure that a backup exists of your media and other important files. Computers fail, hard drives crashes... things happen. Do you not have a backup? The iPhone, like all iDevices is NOT a backup of your media, but rather a mirror of the content in the iTunes library on your computer.
If your contacts, pics, etc are not on your computer, no backups of the iPhone exist, and they are not on the phone, they are gone.
No one can magically make them re-appear.

Can i install an operating system on a mac with a wiped hard drive?

I recently got a used mac tower from a supplier, and it has a wiped hard drive, the supplier did not reinstall the mac operating system, so I need to know if I may need to pay to have it installed for me or get a CD and license key like windows?

Start with Snow Leopard.
Snow Leopard Purchase
Check that your computer is compatible with Mountain Lion/Mavericks/Yosemite.
To check the model number hold down the option/alt key, go to the Apple menu and select System Information.
iMac (Mid 2007 or newer) model number 7,1 or higher
MacBook (Late 2008 Aluminum, or Early 2009 or newer) model number 5,1 or higher
MacBook Pro (Mid/Late 2007 or newer) model number 3,1 or higher
MacBook Air (Late 2008 or newer) model number 2,1 or higher
Mac mini (Early 2009 or newer) model number 3,1 or higher
Mac Pro (Early 2008 or newer) model number 3,1 or higher
Xserve (Early 2009) 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

Computer is balky random freezes across apps. Two hard drive cleans later (their scan reveals no hard drive problems) photo shop won't work at all, magic touch mouse inoperable and their diagnoses is corrupted data? Anybody heard of this?

Computer is balky random freezes across apps. Two hard drive cleans later (their scan reveals no hard drive problems) photo shop won't work at all, magic touch mouse inoperable and their diagnoses is corrupted data? Anybody heard of this?

Well, yes, data does get corrupted sometimes.
The trick is finding what data.
By 'cleaned' are you therefor meaning that the drive has been erased and the system re-installed?
Because that's the quickest way to deal with such a situation.
Back up the system first of course,
Add back 3rd party apps one at a time in case one of them is causing the problem.

Wipe hard drive clean as part of maintenance?

A friend recommended that I completely wipe my hard drive clean and reinstall the OS and all programs from scratch as a way to maintain a smooth running machine. My MacBook Pro is 2007 and gets used pretty hard. I regularly move files to an external HD in order to keep space free for operation. It sometimes gets sluggish but i assume that's a symptom of running too many heavy programs at once (I sometimes run Windows on VM Ware while using Photoshop and/or Illustrator with the usual iTunes and a web browser).
Is this a necessary or advisable form of maintenance?
thanks in advance for advice!

No. That is not maintenance. This is maintenance:
Kappy's Personal Suggestions for OS X Maintenance
For disk repairs use Disk Utility. For situations DU cannot handle the best third-party utilities are: Disk Warrior; DW only fixes problems with the disk directory, but most disk problems are caused by directory corruption; Disk Warrior 4.x is now Intel Mac compatible. TechTool Pro provides additional repair options including file repair and recovery, system diagnostics, and disk defragmentation. TechTool Pro 4.5.1 or higher are Intel Mac compatible; Drive Genius is similar to TechTool Pro in terms of the various repair services provided. Versions 1.5.1 or later are Intel Mac compatible.
OS X performs certain maintenance functions that are scheduled to occur on a daily, weekly, or monthly period. The maintenance scripts run in the early AM only if the computer is turned on 24/7 (no sleep.) If this isn't the case, then an excellent solution is to download and install a shareware utility such as Macaroni, JAW PseudoAnacron, or Anacron that will automate the maintenance activity regardless of whether the computer is turned off or asleep. Dependence upon third-party utilities to run the periodic maintenance scripts had been significantly reduced in Tiger and Leopard. These utilities have limited or no functionality with Snow Leopard and should not be installed.
OS X automatically defrags files less than 20 MBs in size, so unless you have a disk full of very large files there's little need for defragmenting the hard drive. As for virus protection there are few if any such animals affecting OS X. You can protect the computer easily using the freeware Open Source virus protection software ClamXAV. Personally I would avoid most commercial anti-virus software because of their potential for causing problems.
I would also recommend downloading the shareware utility TinkerTool System that you can use for periodic maintenance such as removing old logfiles and archives, clearing caches, etc. Other utilities are also available such as Onyx, Leopard Cache Cleaner, CockTail, and Xupport, for example.
For emergency repairs install the freeware utility Applejack (not compatible with Snow Leopard.) If you cannot start up in OS X, you may be able to start in single-user mode from which you can run Applejack to do a whole set of repair and maintenance routines from the commandline. Note that AppleJack 1.5 is required for Leopard. AppleJack is not compatible with Snow Leopard.
When you install any new system software or updates be sure to repair the hard drive and permissions beforehand. I also recommend booting into safe mode before doing system software updates.
Get an external Firewire drive at least equal in size to the internal hard drive and make (and maintain) a bootable clone/backup. You can make a bootable clone using the Restore option of Disk Utility. You can also make and maintain clones with good backup software. My personal recommendations are (order is not significant):
1. Retrospect Desktop (Commercial - not yet universal binary)
2. Synchronize! Pro X (Commercial)
3. Synk (Backup, Standard, or Pro)
4. Deja Vu (Shareware)
5. Carbon Copy Cloner (Donationware)
6. SuperDuper! (Commercial)
7. Intego Personal Backup (Commercial)
8. Data Backup (Commercial)
9. SilverKeeper 2.0 (Freeware)
10. MimMac (Commercial)
11. Tri-Backup (Commercial)
Visit The XLab FAQs and read the FAQs on maintenance, optimization, virus protection, and backup and restore.
Additional suggestions will be found in Mac Maintenance Quick Assist.
Referenced software can be found at www.versiontracker.com and www.macupdate.com.
Find a friend who actually knows what he/she is talking about.

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

Recover data from wiped hard drive?

Hi everyone.
I’ve searched through the discussions unable to make any concrete conclusions to resolve my dilemma so I hope someone here can help me out if possible.
My Macbook Pro 13 inch (late-2011) running Mavericks had its hard drive recently wiped by an Apple technician after I took it in following problems.
I stupidly didn’t back up any files onto an external hard drive or in TimeMachine when my hard drive was working before. However, from reading these discussions it appears other people with wiped hard drives have been able to recover data with some success. I’d like to know if this is at all possible in my situation?
To put my dilemma into some context, only days ago my Macbook began to freeze up. Eventually I had to force shut down with the power button as the computer became unresponsive.
Afterwards, when I turned on the computer the OS would not load past the grey screen with the apple logo. I attempted to perform a boot in Safe Mode but encountered the same problem. Then the computer would only shut down at this point each time I tried to turn the computer on again. Naturally I took it to my local Apple store and had a ‘Genius’ check it out.
After attempting to load the OS, I stupidly agreed with the Apple technician that the hard drive should be wiped (being less educated then about hard drives than I am now). I’ve been kicking myself ever since then thinking at the time a broken/corrupted hard drive meant that the data was already lost and that it was safe to wipe the hard drive in order to perform an ‘Internet Recovery’.
The Internet Recovery for Mavericks however failed and the Apple technician offered to replace the Hard Drive for a small ransom.
I’ve since tried to turn the Mac on at home and the grey screen still appears this time with a flashing folder with a question mark.
I know I have to go and buy a new hard drive and replace the existing one. But I still would like to know, is the data on the old hard drive able to be recovered or are my files lost forever since the Apple technician ‘wiped’ my hard drive?
I’m willing to download the software and get the hard drive in order to retrieve any data if it is at all possible.
Thank you for any help.
Hayden

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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.

I had my hard drive cleaned and cannot install cs6 master collection from disk. I am getting error message failed to initialize. please download adobe advisor support. I have a pc and am using windows 8

I had my hard drive cleaned and cannot install cs6 master collection from disk. I am getting error message failed to initialize. please download adobe advisor support. I am using a pc and have windows 8. Please help.

start at the top and work your way down applying applicable fixes until your problem is resolved.
if cc (win): https://helpx.adobe.com/creative-cloud/kb/creative-cloud-desktop-application-failed.html
if, your error is:
"Installer failed to initialize. File not found." or "Installer failed to initialize. This could be due to missing files."
first, rename OOBE Folder to OOBE.old.
to find OOBE:
64 bit win OS: Program Files x86\Common Files\Adobe\OOBE
32 bit win OS: Program Files \Common Files\Adobe\OOBE
mac os: HD>library>application support>adobe>caps
mac os: USER>library>application support>adobe>OOB
if that fails or isn't the exact error you see, uninstall, clean (http://www.adobe.com/support/contact/cscleanertool.html) and reinstall.
if you're using a dvd to install:
copy the disc contents to a desktop directory and install from that directory.
if you're using a mac:
1. Try to Create a new user account in Mac with Administrator Priviledges.
2. Login to the New user, Navigate to Mac HD> Application> Utilities> Adobe Installer folder, Locate products like Adobe Reader, Adobe Flash, Adobe Air and un-install them
3. Navigate to User Library> Application Support> Adobe and move Adobe to Trash.
4. Navigate to Mac HD> Library> Application Support> Adobe and move Adobe to Trash.
5. Start the installation again.
if everything applicable above fails, check your installation logs:
http://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop-elements/kb/troubleshoot-install-using-logs-elements.html

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 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

Wiping hard drive clean

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