macculloch10

Q: disk repair

When I try to erase the free space on my hard drive on my MacBook Air, I get an error message saying, "Secure Erase Free Space Failed with the error:  Couldn't Create Temporary File."  Does anyone know how to fix this error so that I can erase the free space on my hard drive?

MacBook Air, OS X Yosemite (10.10.3)

Posted on Apr 22, 2015 2:44 PM

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Q: disk repair

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  • by Kappy,

    Kappy Kappy Apr 22, 2015 2:49 PM in response to macculloch10
    Level 10 (271,392 points)
    Desktops
    Apr 22, 2015 2:49 PM in response to macculloch10

    Why are you doing this?

  • by Eau Rouge,

    Eau Rouge Eau Rouge Apr 22, 2015 3:06 PM in response to macculloch10
    Level 4 (2,995 points)
    Mac App Store
    Apr 22, 2015 3:06 PM in response to macculloch10

    not necessarily an error.

     

    but you could try getting round it by rebooting into your recovery drive, access disk utility there

    then try the erase

     

    it may work.

  • by macculloch10,

    macculloch10 macculloch10 Apr 22, 2015 4:31 PM in response to Kappy
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 22, 2015 4:31 PM in response to Kappy

    To prevent files that I have erased from being recovered.

  • by Kappy,

    Kappy Kappy Apr 22, 2015 7:18 PM in response to macculloch10
    Level 10 (271,392 points)
    Desktops
    Apr 22, 2015 7:18 PM in response to macculloch10

    Where are these files now? Did you put them in the Trash and Empty the Trash? Did you use Secure Erase at that time? Or, if you didn't is that why you are trying to use Disk Utility to securely erase free space? If this be the case, then try booting to your Recovery HD first:

     

    Boot Using Command+R keys:

     

      1. Restart the computer.

      2. Immediately after the chime press and hold down the

          "COMMAND" and the "R" keys together.

      3. Release the keys when the Utilities Menu appears.

     

    Now, you can select Disk Utility from the list and click on the Continue button. Try the secure erase of free space, again.