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How to erase a hard drive
on Mac OS X using
ShredIt X Hard Drive Cleaner
Before disposing of a computer or a hard drive, we recommend that you erase all the data you don't want the next user to be able to recover.
Read all of these instructions before continuing.
Using the Hard Drive Cleaner function of ShredIt will erase your data, (i.e. your files), making the computer clean by destroying your data so it can't be recovered.
Before you erase the hard drive, make a backup copy of any data or applications you want to use on another computer before you shred the contents of a disk, since the files cannot be recovered from the disk after it has been shredded.
There are two procedures for doing this, depending on whether or not you're erasing your start up disk.
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How to erase a hard drive if it's your startup disk (the disk with the Operating System on it) - have Mac OS X startup disk CD or floppy disks
A startup disk is the disk on your computer that contains the Operating System. Typically, it is called “Macintosh HD” and may be the only disk on the system.
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Requirements
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- ShredIt for Mac OS X
- Mac OS X startup disk (CD)
This procedure assumes that you have a Mac OS X CD from which to re-install the Operating System and a copy of the ShredIt so that you can re-install it. Ensure you meet these requirements before continuing.
This procedure will leave your computer in a bootable state with only the Mac OS. The next user of the computer will not need to install the Mac OS to use this computer.
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Instructions
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Move all the data, all the applications and the preferences of all the applications you want to keep somewhere else. The easiest way to do this is to copy the entire contents of your entire hard drive to another hard drive.
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Insert the Mac OS Install CD. This refers to a full Mac OS Install CD included with your computer, not to an update-only CD. (Make sure the Caps Lock key is not engaged). Re-install Mac OS using the clean install option.
- Restart the computer from the CD. To do this, hold the “C” key immediately after the startup sound.
- Using the install disk, do an “Erase and Install” to erase the disk and install the Operating System. To do this, follow the Install Wizard that appears after you have booted using the Install Disc. When you get to the “Select Destination” step, select the destination disk and then click the “Options” button. From the Options menu, select “Erase and Install”. Continue with the wizard.
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Install ShredIt. For further information, go to "How to Install ShredIt X"
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Drag your hard disk icon onto the ShredIt icon to shred the free space. For further information, go to “How to shred Free Space”
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How to erase a hard drive
Use this procedure to erase your startup disk if you don't have the Mac OS X startup disk, or to erase a hard drive that doesn't have the operating system on it.
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Requirements
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Move all the data, all the applications and the preferences of all the applications you want to keep somewhere else. The easiest way to do this is to copy the entire contents of your entire hard drive to another hard drive.
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Move all the files on the hard drive EXCEPT THE OPERATING SYSTEM to the trash. Empty the trash.
Make sure you have moved all files that contain your data to the trash. After deleting all the obvious files, (documents, spreadsheets), look for other personal data. Pay particular attention to cache files created while surfing the internet, pictures, video files you've downloaded, data created by financial software.
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If you haven't already done so, install ShredIt. For further information, go to “How to Install ShredIt” .
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Using ShredIt, shred the disk free space on the disk. For further information, go to “How to shred Free Space”
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Run this procedure for each non-startup disk on your OS X Mac.
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Notes
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- For more detailed information about ShredIt X for Mac OS X, refer to the
- Tutorials are available for other versions of ShredIt
- There's an important difference between the technical terms "delete" and "secure delete".
- The technical computer term "delete" refers to the type of computer function where the data is marked as deleted, but not really gone. Functions such as dragging a file to the trash/recycle bin and then emptying it marks the data as deleted so the space can be used again, but the data itself remains on the hard drive and recoverable until it is overwritten by something else. On a hard drive with lots of free space, this could take months or even years.
- On the other hand, the technical term "secure delete" refers to the type of computer function where the data is overwritten by other characters so the data can't be recovered. "Secure Delete" is also referred to as "clean", "wipe", "erase" and "shred". Computer software that performs this type of function is often called a "file shredder" a "data shredder" or "secure delete utility".
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