Wiping the drive

Baz (Éire)

I need to wipe my old machine before I dump it. I have tried to wipe it without a CD but it won't allow it because it needs the HD to run! Merrion Sq Mac Shop want to charge 90 quid an HOUR ex-VAT to look at it.
What do Mac users do in this situation? Is there a CD that can be run to wipe it like there is for PC? I am sure I wouldn't be able to flog it so I'm just dumping it.

Here's the machine in question running 8.6
http://snipurl.com/i0xi

Any pointers appreciated!

Thomas_S_Hunterson

You could have at teh Ultimate Boot CD (http://www.ultimatebootcd.com) or Dariks (sp?) Boot and Nuke (http://dban.sourceforge.net/). Both will wipe the drive for free.

Because they are boot discs, they are operating system independent. (they might not be compatible with the mac hardware though)

The other option, and probably the most secure and fun is to take out the drive and lay into it with a hammer.

Oriel

Just smash it up? Anybody who reads anything from it after that deserves it.
Fun too!

rymus

Oriel wrote:

Just smash it up? Anybody who reads anything from it after that deserves it.
Fun too!

I'd second that. Cheap as chips and very therapeutic. Take out the platters of the drive and use them as frisbee's.

Oriel

rymus wrote:

Take out the platters of the drive and use them as frisbee's.

Even better!
And then, when you're done playing, post each one to a ramdon address in the world.
See if the bastards can get your bank account details now.

triple h

Oriel wrote:

Just smash it up? Anybody who reads anything from it after that deserves it.
Fun too!

Not only is that a great answer ( and funny too), but to me it looks like the most logical step.

Gordon

You never know, someone may want it. I nearly sold my old iMac to a collector until he realised that it wasn't white. I told him I'd paint it white but he wouldn't listen strangely enough.

Otherwise I'd take it apart and have fun with it!

440Hz

Gordon wrote:

You never know, someone may want it. I nearly sold my old iMac to a collector until he realised that it wasn't white.

hehe! Is it cos I is black?

Oriel wrote:

Just smash it up?

rymus wrote:

Cheap as chips and very therapeutic.

One way to deal with frustration I guess :rolleyes:

patto_chan

Sure the destructive methods mentioned above would be fun but what if he wants to sell it on?
Boot off an OS Install CD, use Disk Utility to 'Erase' the disk i.e. reformat, using some secure erase options. In latest OS X there are secure erase options such as to 'Zero Out Data' or a '7-Pass Erase' or even a '35-Pass Erase' but they can take a long, long time.
Might be better to play frisbee with the platters.:rolleyes:

babypink

nothing beats smashing it up......go on.....give it a shot.......i think you'll have fun!

go on..

you will won't ya??..

a5y

Personally I recommend using some power tools to open it up, gut the contents and make the casing into an ashtray or possibly even a container for holding USB memory sticks.

Alternatively, you could attach the hard disk to the inside of smashed timber forklift pallete, wait until halloween and let it get torched on a bonfire.

Or go the whole hog and give it a viking funeral?

Admitably the second and third suggestions aren't ecofriendly, but they are far more fun than paying €90 for a guy in a shop to just stare at something you want broken.

440Hz

a5y wrote:

Or go the whole hog and give it a viking funeral?

Sounds like fun!

personally, Id go for defenestration!!

a5y

440Hz wrote:

Sounds like fun!

personally, Id go for defenestration!!

Defenestration = Windows + Crash.

Never would expect to read that on a mac forum... LOL

440Hz

But sure Windows ALWAYS crash... that's why we are intelligent enough to buy Macs