I currently have my late father in-law's Power PC G4 Desktop with OS 10.4.11. I backed up the files on an external hard drive and deleted them on the iMac.. I don't know if there is any demand for this item, but the question is if I either sell it or trash it, how do I securely permanently delete all files that cannot be recovered by anyone? Thanks in advance to anyone to those that can help me on this issue.
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Completely deleting files on Power PC G4...
- Thread starter tommozer1
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
Secure erase in disk utility. With the drive connected to your iMac. Three pass fine but you can do most secure if you want.
eshop.macsales.com
How to Use Mac's Disk Utility to Securely Wipe a Drive
There may come a time when you want to completely remove all traces of information on your Mac's drives. It may be because you're selling or donating your
eshop.macsales.com
After 2 hours of using Disc Utility, the following message appears:Secure erase in disk utility. With the drive connected to your iMac. Three pass fine but you can do most secure if you want.
How to Use Mac's Disk Utility to Securely Wipe a Drive
There may come a time when you want to completely remove all traces of information on your Mac's drives. It may be because you're selling or donating your
Your startup disk is almost full.
You need to make more space available on your status disk by deleting files.
Capacity: 55.9 GB
Available: 37.8 GB
Used: 18.1 GB
Number of Files: 362,436
Nothing was deleted...
I can't imagine what process you were using for that message. You're booting off the installer DVD right? You can't wipe a drive that you are booted off of. You have to be booted off the installer or another bootable drive.
Since this is Tiger
- Boot off the installer DVD or another bootable drive.
- Open Disk Utility.
- Select the drive you want to erase.
- Select the Erase tab.
- Click Security Options and select 7 Pass Erase (really anything over 3 Pass is a bit overkill, 35 pass is absurd)
- Click OK
- Click Erase
If this is booted off the installer disk. After you wipe the drive and close Disk utility. You can now install OS X.
If you are comfortable with it, the hard drive in this model PowerMac can be easily removed with just a few screws. Instructions for this are available on ifixit.com. If you don't want to deal with PowerPC troubleshooting, you can pull the hard drive from the PowerMac and wipe it using an IDE to USB adapter and disk utility on any modern computer. This will preserve the computer so that someone else can still use it later (once they reinstall OSX.)
Alternatively, you'll need to find or burn a bootable disk so that you can wipe the hard drive while it's still installed.
AGPTEK® SATA/PATA/IDE Drive to USB 2.0 Adapter Converter Cable for Hard Drive Disk HDD 2.5" 3.5", Compatible with USB 1.1/2.0/3.0, with External AC Power Adapter Included
This USB 2.0 to IDE / SATA drive adapter implements a bridge between a USB port and one SATA, ATA or ATAPI based mass storage device port.
www.amazon.com
Alternatively, you'll need to find or burn a bootable disk so that you can wipe the hard drive while it's still installed.