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Forums » Tech and Talk » OS and Software » All Things Macintosh » How do I do a complete secure Mac reformat?
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« How come my 12" PowerBook's fan is always on?  
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Tony Soprano
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join:2004-02-11
Caldwell, NJ
1 edit		 How do I do a complete secure Mac reformat?

I'm looking for a software or the best way to reformat a Macintosh computer (MAC Mini) to be exact. What software or format is the best method recommended? Thank you.
to forum · permalink · · 2006-05-23 21:11:22 · Reply to this


rjackson
Premium,Mod
join:2002-04-02
Ringgold, GA
clubs:		 Boot from the install DVD (insert the disc, reboot and hold down 'C') and you can do a fresh format/reinstall from there.
to forum · permalink · · 2006-05-23 21:13:23 · Reply to this


Tony Soprano
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join:2004-02-11
Caldwell, NJ		 Thanks! Does it have any secure method to erase your partition features?
to forum · permalink · · 2006-05-23 21:17:34 · Reply to this


jwsmiths4
Part Man, Part Mac
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join:2003-10-25
Savannah, GA		 Yes - In the menu launch disk utility and use that to format your hard drive with any of several secure methods.
--
»web.mac.com/jwsmiths/iWeb
to forum · permalink · · 2006-05-23 21:18:43 · Reply to this


rjackson
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reply to Tony Soprano
Actually, yeah. It's been a while since I've done an install, but apparently you can do a secure erase from Disk Utility (You can access it from the menu at the top) when you're booted from the install disc.

»docs.info.apple.com/article.html···m=303462
to forum · permalink · · 2006-05-23 21:20:26 · Reply to this


leXicon5
Pelosi, SHUT YOUR Fing Pie Hole
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join:2000-12-27
Saint Louis, MO

reply to Tony Soprano
In Disk Utility under Erase tab, you'll see the Security Options...pick your poison. If you pick the 35 pass, go on vacation...it will be finished when you get back.
to forum · permalink · · 2006-05-23 21:35:38 · Reply to this


Tony Soprano
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join:2004-02-11
Caldwell, NJ		 I love you guys. Thanks.
to forum · permalink · · 2006-05-23 21:46:57 · Reply to this


Tony Soprano
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join:2004-02-11
Caldwell, NJ		reply to Tony Soprano
How long does 7-data pass take?
to forum · permalink · · 2006-05-23 21:49:30 · Reply to this


leXicon5
Pelosi, SHUT YOUR Fing Pie Hole
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Saint Louis, MO
said by Tony Soprano See Profile :

How long does 7-data pass take?
Depends on the size of the drive...can't say
to forum · permalink · · 2006-05-23 21:52:07 · Reply to this


Tony Soprano
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join:2004-02-11
Caldwell, NJ		 Oh.
to forum · permalink · · 2006-05-23 22:06:50 · Reply to this


obeythelaw
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join:2003-04-16
Bayonne, NJ		reply to Tony Soprano
I did a 7 pass erase on a 40GB ibook when i put it on ebay. If I remember correctly it was about 2 hours. That was on 40 gigs!
to forum · permalink · · 2006-05-23 22:09:07 · Reply to this


Tony Soprano
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join:2004-02-11
Caldwell, NJ		 Mine is about 65GB full on 80GB so I guess a little over 3 hours.
to forum · permalink · · 2006-05-23 22:20:40 · Reply to this

arghhh40k
Premium
join:2003-03-21
Lacey, WA
clubs:		 It will do the entire drive, not just what has data written to it.
to forum · permalink · · 2006-05-23 23:17:07 · Reply to this


jwsmiths4
Part Man, Part Mac
Premium
join:2003-10-25
Savannah, GA		reply to Tony Soprano
My guess is around 4-5hrs. I just did a "write-zeros" to my old 12" PowerBook and that took a little under 1hr...
--
»web.mac.com/jwsmiths/iWeb
to forum · permalink · · 2006-05-24 00:31:20 · Reply to this


Tony Soprano
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join:2004-02-11
Caldwell, NJ

reply to Tony Soprano
Well, I inserted the Tiger OS X DVD that came with the Mini and it asked me to restart.

Once it booted up, it gave me a choice to do a clean install but never asked me the "pass option" from the DVD. Is this normal? What type of clean format is happening when it is just a clean install?
to forum · permalink · · 2006-05-24 04:31:35 · Reply to this


tmpchaos
Requiescat in pace
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join:2000-04-28
Hoboken, NJ
clubs:		reply to Tony Soprano
That's just to re-install. Go to the top menu; there should be an option to open Disk Utility. That's what you need to use.
to forum · permalink · · 2006-05-24 04:45:58 · Reply to this


Tony Soprano
Premium
join:2004-02-11
Caldwell, NJ

 I just saw that. I should have read it more carefully. Sorry.

I was just in a hurry. Thanks guys. I find the utilities on the top. I just did a hard drive format rather then volume format. I think they are both the same anyways since I didn't have a partition.
to forum · permalink · · 2006-05-24 04:51:25 · Reply to this


jDyno
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join:2001-02-20
Washington, DC
clubs:		reply to Tony Soprano
I did a single pass on a 250gb drive, and it took about 8 hours or so.
--
Squidoo Duo!?
to forum · permalink · · 2006-05-24 10:15:58 · Reply to this


leXicon5
Pelosi, SHUT YOUR Fing Pie Hole
Premium
join:2000-12-27
Saint Louis, MO
said by jDyno See Profile :

I did a single pass on a 250gb drive, and it took about 8 hours or so.
So almost 4 days to do a 35 pass on a 250 gig...?
Like I said, go on vacation...
--
We're ALL illegals people....ask the first real Native Americans. We gave Japan back, we gave Germany back...let's give Texas back! We'll keep Dallas...they have a football team.
to forum · permalink · · 2006-05-24 12:40:14 · Reply to this


Tony Soprano
Premium
join:2004-02-11
Caldwell, NJ

reply to Tony Soprano
Well, I arrived at the point where they ask me to set up the OSX now. Is it safe to turn it off from here and sell the Mini? I think this is where I begin when I first purchased my Mini couple years ago.

I did the 7-pass and it took about 3 hours. I went to sleep and when I woke up it was done.
to forum · permalink · · 2006-05-24 13:07:05 · Reply to this
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« How come my 12" PowerBook's fan is always on?  
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