MacBook Pro :: Wiping Clean All Data?
Mar 12, 2012How do I wipe clean the mac book pro of data so that I can give it away ?
Info:
MacBook (13-inch Aluminum Late 2008), Mac OS X (10.5.8)
How do I wipe clean the mac book pro of data so that I can give it away ?
Info:
MacBook (13-inch Aluminum Late 2008), Mac OS X (10.5.8)
I just bought my first Mac, a used Mac Pro, the 2 x 2.66 Dual Core Xeon version. It is currently running OS X 10.5.6. I would like to wipe the hard drive clean and reinstall OS X. I understand this would get rid of unwanted software, let me change the administrator, and let me set things up how I want.
I tried booting up from the install disc, by starting the computer while holding down the "C" button. It said I can't install the install disk's version of OS X because a newer version is running on the computer. My question I guess is pretty simple: How do you erase a Mac Pro and reinstall the OS?
I am selling my Macbook Pro and need to wipe all my personal data off of it. I gave the guy buying it the option of me cleaning it out and leaving the applications and essentials on it or just putting in my install disk and wiping it all together. I was wondering if there was a simple way to ensure that my data is off of it (I've done tax returns on it, personal photos, etc...) without clearing data he is just going to have to put right back on it (Firefox, Photoshop, etc...)I thought I could create a new admin account and delete my user account but I just want to be sure that is enough and I couldn't find a solid answer searching the forums. This is the first time I've had to create a new post and haven't just found it by searching, I know how much we all hate repetitive threads.
View 7 Replies View RelatedMy Powerbook will be sold so i want to make certain that the new owner will not be able to get his hands on my data files if he tries to use a recovery application. What is the best way to make data i have on my power book to not be recoverable?
View 7 Replies View RelatedI currently have a 750GB HFS+ disk (system) which has about 300GB of data on it. I want to add 2 partitions to it - ideally without having to copy everything off, wiping it, adding the new partition setup and copying everything back.I seem to remember there was a utility that did this - or am I imagining it?Also, the 2 partitions I want to add are PC partitions - so my disk will end up looking something like...
465GB HFS+
200GB NTFS
32GB FAT 32If I can do this, what is the best way to format these partitions in these PC formats?And what is the best way of cloning my current PC partitions (on a different disk) and copying them over to the new PC partitions that I will be adding to my system disk?
I have an '05 mac mini (pre-intel chip) with OS X 10.4 that while trying to transfer a file to an external hard drive gave me a blue screen (that wouldn't go away). After a hard shut down, I get to the apple and spinning wheel but nothing else happens.
My goal is to get to my files on the mini and put them on an external drive (specifically my itunes folder)
Is there some other way to repair this? I have 17 GB left on the main hard drive. Could I partition it and create a new bootable drive without wiping out the data in the original drive?
I recently received an iMac as a "gift"... turns out it has some problems. I am unable to reinstall the default OS (Mountain Lion) because I have yet to be able to partition the HDD correctly. The error I keep getting is: Partition failed with the error: Wiping volume data to prevent future accidental probing failed.At this point, the default Macintosh HD isn't showing, so it must of been erased/deleted.
Info:
iMac
I have a 15 inch 2010 MBP. When I got it, I migrated all my info from my previous MB. About 4-5 months into using it I started having issues w/ Kernel Panics. I did upgrade the HDD and RAM but the Kernel Panics happened before all of that. I took it to the Apple store and they ran some test on the hardware and software and said they couldn't find anything. Their advice was to just do a clean install. I wanted to avoid doing a clean install on all costs. Anyhow, I said what the who last night and backed up important files and did the clean install,
I have to say that the computer feels much more stable now. I was having a lot of little issues w/ Snow Leopard prior to the clean install. Most of that probably comes w/ me playing around w/ settings a bit too much. Also, I'll admit, I do torrent some software. In my opinion, thats what caused the kernel panics. Only time will tell if I continue to get kernel panics even after a clean install, but I think I'm good to go. So, do you guys prefer doing clean installs or just migrating your data? When Lion comes out, will you clean install or migrate to it?
I know there are numerous posts already about whether to 'clean install' or upgrade to Snow Leopard, but I can't seem to find an answer to my question anywhere.
I have two computers that I've already upgraded to Snow Leopard - an iMac that's about a year old (with data on it that has been migrated between macs since Tiger) and a brand new MBP which is unblighted by any migrated data. The MBP seems much faster for the upgrade, but the iMac seems a little slower.
My instinct here is to erase my iMac hard drive and install Snow Leopard from scratch, which would presumably solve the sluggish performance issues.
My question is this: I have all my iMac data backed up on Time Machine. Is performing a clean install and then restoring my mac from Time Machine going to give me exactly the same problems as upgrading did? Or would it be better to selectively move data back to my iMac after a clean install?
If I need to do this the hard way (as I suspect) and selectively bring back my data to leave the junk behind, is there anything I can do before running a clean install to make this more painless?
I had issues with my old hard drive that kept from using time machine, address book syncing with mobile me, shutting down, disk repair, and permissions repair. Next, I did extensive research on each issue and realized the best thing to do was upgrade my hard-drive (from 110 Gigs to 500 Gigs and an additional gig of memory) and start fresh with Snow Leopard I used carbon copy to do a complete bootable copy of my previous hard drive. I do not have any time machine backups. I opted to save time and have a local shop (Onyx here in Atlanta) do the HD install I did not have them do a data move or port. So now I am left with getting all my necessary apps, preferences, and other data (photos, iTunes, etc...) either installed and updated or moved from the old hard-drive.
I've run across a few threads on here that talk about these items but I still have a few questions. Some are basic so please forgive me. Will I have any problems reinstalling the applications (like iWork, MS Office 08, Adobe Acrobat 8, Omni Focus, Omni Notetaker, and/or other paid apps) with the serial numbers used on my previous hard-drive? Is it better to reinstall these apps or move them over? How does one move over apps? Is it best to the migration tool? (I've never used the migration tool)
I don't want to corrupt my permissions or library files as I had done on my previous harddrive. So will using the migration tool to move apps over move over the corrupted or troubled library files associated with particular apps? Are there good threads that speak to these particular issues? Also, are there helpful guides, online bo oks or sites that speak to these issues? I do want to get a clean start but there are some things I dont' want to lose. Things like my bookmarks in Firefox and Safari, my OmniFocus database. Lastly, the technician thought my original 110 gig hard-drive was about physically die due to how slowly it shut down and given the issues I was having. Does anyone have any thoughts on this?
I had a problem with my Macbook pro for some unknown reason my HDD crashed and stopped working, so I had to replace it, with a new one. Fortunately I have a 1TB My Passport Time Machine Backup that contains all my data. I had spent hours to reintsall Snow leopard, update the machine and then upgrade to Lion. The only thing now I need to do is to restore all my data. can I restore my Apps, Music, Video, my sketch up drawings and projects? or am I forced to repurchase my Apps and media?
Info:
MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.7.4), Magic Mouse, Airport express
I just bought the 2TB TC about a month ago. Now that the improved TC is about to be released I'm going to swap out the current one for the newer one.My question is do I have to do anything before I swap them out? Probably just a clean swipe of the data on the current TC, but anything else? How do I erase everything on the current time capsule?
View 1 Replies View RelatedHow do I do a complete wipe of my data and stuff? I'm selling my MB. Sorry for the brief post.
View 1 Replies View RelatedI decided to wipe my MacBook Pro and start from scratch, on account of a hunch that I may have accidentally deleted items I wasn't supposed to, which was making it slightly sluggish. Anyway, the process went fine, however I noticed when I took stuff out of my Time Machine, the HD back then said it had about 200.6gb free space. When I checked the free space I had after the clean sweep, it now only amounts to about 153.5gb. What the heck?! Now, I have added a few podcasts and some minute programs in between to enjoy my fresh start, but...those downloads add up nowhere NEAR such a tremendous loss of disk space. Am I missing hidden files or did the wipe take some extra space for some reason? I performed the 7-over wipe, so I don't know if that has anything to do with it. It didn't seem like it would, I mean...all it does is wipe 7 times, but I am slightly concerned with such a chunk of my space missing.
View 7 Replies View RelatedI am looking to sell my macbook. I need to wipe it all clean of my info, but the cd drive does not work.
View 3 Replies View RelatedMy MacBook was stolen so I thought that remote wiping it was a god idea. I didn't realise I would lose the ability to locate it! It has now connected to a WiFi spot and been wiped, but I would really like to locate it so that I can let the police know.
Info:
MacBook, Mac OS X (10.7.1), find my mac, remote wipe, locate
I'm thinking of selling my 20" IMAc and buying the new 27". Before I sell the old one I will need to wipe off all my personal documents, pictures, etc. Is it just a simple matter of deleting pictures from I-photo for example or does more need to be done. Are there software programs available that will accomplish what I need prior to selling the unit to someone else?
View 5 Replies View RelatedI have an old Power Mac G4 running OSX 10.2.8. I want to wipe it completely - how can I do that? I don't know the password to the computer, which doesn't help matters.
View 2 Replies View RelatedI just bought a new macbook pro and I want to wipe all the files and give my old one away as a gift. However I dont want anyone having a chance to recover any old files. Also, I do NOT have the intallation disk for my old mac...
View 2 Replies View RelatedI was just wondering if any of you knew of a program that can wipe the free space on a hard drive (overwriting with zeroes is all that's necessary, even if it's not that secure.)
View 3 Replies View RelatedI have been told by a mac tech that i need to wipe my hard drive.
After insterting the mac os x installation disc (number 1), the computer asks me to restart...which i do. But the process won't advance after this.
It jams in the "thinking/loading" screen.
10 years of using Mac and I don't even know how to wipe my computer. I sold my computer on ebay and have backed up all of my important apps, docs and such, but I don't really know how to delete my user account. I know there's an option to delete accounts, but it won't let me because I guess i'm the only account on there. anyone know how I can make it so my computer is fresh and clean for the next user?
View 14 Replies View RelatedI'm helping a friend out who's selling a Mac with legit copies of Leopard, iLife, iWork, and CS3 loaded on. We are supplying the disks and original packaging to the buyer as well. We're wondering if there's a way we can install all of that software from the disks, setup the person's user account with the info they provided us and at the very least, set the computer/Leopard to play the "Welcome to OS X" movie again one time. If possible, we'd like it to take the user through the initial setup again too, but I don't see how that could be possible considering you have to have a user account setup to install programs.
View 8 Replies View Relatedthis is my first post as im relatively new to using macs as a whole. Ive been a PC user my whole life but am currently raising funds so that i may buy a new MBP for myself. In doing so i have obtained an older Mac laptop from a family member which im going to try and sell for whatever money i can get. Ive researched the model as much as possible and have this info:
Powerbook G4 (12 in. DVI), 1.33 GHz, 256MB memory, Mac OS X 10.3.9
I want to wipe the Hard drive before i sell it however ive only found information on how to do so with an install disc which i do not have. Because it is relatively old, my family member doesnt know where it is either so using that disc is not really an option at this point. I wanted to find out what my next best option is or if i can use an install disc from any other mac laptop that might be more easily obtainable.
Preferences, playlists, purchased music, etc.
I figured there was a thread just like this already but didn't find it.
I recently had to wipe my entire hard drive. I made a clone of my Windows 7 partition before doing so, but am now unsure about how to restore it. Is it possible to restore without first installing Win 7 from scratch, i.e., is there any chance I could partition the drive using the Boot Camp utility then simply copy the entire file system over?
View 1 Replies View RelatedI'm getting ready to sell my old Powerbook G4 so booted up from the installation CD, and ran Disk Utility to do a 8 Way Random Write pass on the Mac hard drive before I did a clean install (the disc is Mac OS X 10.3.7).
I selected the top option in the drive panel of Disk Utility (the one saying 92.2GB Hitatchi blablabla) rather than the indented disk beneath it.
All went fine doing the overwrite, however it seems to have become stuck on "Creating Partition Map" - it's been like that for half a day now. Any thoughts? Should I have chosen the indented drive underneath the main description?
I have a Mac mini from late 2010 that I am going to try to sell on eBay. Wondering what the most effective way to wipe all the data on it would be. I still have the disks that came with it but I'm wondering if there's something I should do to the hard drive before I use them to restore to factory defaults.
View 1 Replies View Relatedi just got a new macbook pro 13" laptop and am trying to transfer my itunes music as well as some data i have compiled into a single folder from my (2005) Powerbook G4 12" laptop. Please help me out with this i have no idea how to do this and the Apple Store said they will do it for $100 and i just poured every penny i own into this computer and cannot sell me old computer to pay bills until i transfer this data.
View 5 Replies View RelatedI have lost all my data from my harts drive. The laptop is under warranty. I have been told that they have replaced my hard drive but could not get any data off the old one. I have now lost all my data, photos, files, music etc. NO backups, only simply because i did not know how to do them. Is there any way of getting the files back? All my work spreadsheets and accounts were also lost.
Info:
MacBook Pro (13-inch Mid 2012)