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Erase and reinstall tiger on ibook G4

Hi,
I just bought a new macbook and am planning to sell my ibook G4.
I asked the one to one trainer about erasing everything on the drive and reinstalling the Tiger OS. He suggested I just do a clean install with the tiger discs and I wanted to do some erasing first. Basically what I did so far is to go to Disc Utility and run the "erase free space" 7 times. When I returned I discovered there are still docs in the HD.
So what is the next step to prepare the machine to erase everything before selling? Is this all I have to do to rid the computer of any trace of personal info. ? Also, once the drive is reinstalled will it be prompting me to sign in again as me and then I can check if everything is new?

Thanks

1bookG4, Mac OS X (10.4.11)

Posted on Nov 16, 2009 1:56 PM

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Posted on Nov 16, 2009 2:06 PM

Erasing free space simply erases the space on your hard drive that isn't used. You want to erase the space that is used. Do this:

Prepare Your Mac for Sale

Boot from the Tiger Installer Disc One. After the installer loads select your language and click on the Continue button. When the menu bar appears select Disk Utility from the Utilities (Installer menu if using Panther or Jaguar) menu. After DU loads select the startup volume from the left side list then click on the Erase tab. Set the format type to Mac OS Extended (Journaled) then click on the Options button. Select the one pass Zero Data option and click on the OK button. Then click on the Erase button.

Note: You can skip the Zero Data option if you are not concerned about removing sensitive personal data from the hard drive. If you choose to skip this part of the process then it is possible for others to recover data from the hard drive. The Zero Data procedure will prevent others from getting access to your personal information.

This process will take 30 minutes to several hours depending upon the size of the hard drive. After formatting has completed quit DU and return to the installer. Now complete the OS X installation. At the completion of the installation do not restart the computer. Instead just shut it off. The next user will be presented with the Setup Assistant when they turn on the computer just as it would if new out of the box.
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Question marked as Best reply

Nov 16, 2009 2:06 PM in response to shantisoul

Erasing free space simply erases the space on your hard drive that isn't used. You want to erase the space that is used. Do this:

Prepare Your Mac for Sale

Boot from the Tiger Installer Disc One. After the installer loads select your language and click on the Continue button. When the menu bar appears select Disk Utility from the Utilities (Installer menu if using Panther or Jaguar) menu. After DU loads select the startup volume from the left side list then click on the Erase tab. Set the format type to Mac OS Extended (Journaled) then click on the Options button. Select the one pass Zero Data option and click on the OK button. Then click on the Erase button.

Note: You can skip the Zero Data option if you are not concerned about removing sensitive personal data from the hard drive. If you choose to skip this part of the process then it is possible for others to recover data from the hard drive. The Zero Data procedure will prevent others from getting access to your personal information.

This process will take 30 minutes to several hours depending upon the size of the hard drive. After formatting has completed quit DU and return to the installer. Now complete the OS X installation. At the completion of the installation do not restart the computer. Instead just shut it off. The next user will be presented with the Setup Assistant when they turn on the computer just as it would if new out of the box.

Nov 16, 2009 2:29 PM in response to shantisoul

Basically what I did so far is to go to Disc Utility and run the "erase free space" 7 times. When I returned I discovered there are still docs in the HD.


Yes, you need to erase the whole disk, not just the free space...

1. Insert the Mac OS X Install disc that came with your computer, then restart the computer while holding the C key.
2. When your computer finishes starting up from the disc, choose Disk Utility from the Installer menu. (In Mac OS X 10.4 or later, you must select your language first.)
*Important: Do not click Continue in the first screen of the Installer. If you do, you must restart from the disc again to access Disk Utility.*
3. Click the Erase tab.
4. Click the disclosure triangle to the left of the hard drive icon to display the names of your hard disk volumes and partitions.
5. Select your Mac OS X volume.
6. Highlight the drive, select Partition Tab, then Format type... MacOS Extended Journalled, select the Security Options button, choose Zero Out Data, Erase... after completion hopefully you'll be able to install.

after highlighting the drive, click on the Partition tab, Options button will be down below...

User uploaded file

HOWTO running Mac OS X Setup Assistant again...
http://superpixel.ch/articles/running-setup-assistant-again/

Nov 16, 2009 6:16 PM in response to BDAqua

Hi Bd Aqua,
I think I way be in trouble here. I followed the directions to erase the HD and all went well. Then when I went to quit the installer it dawned on me the the Tiger disc is actually an upgrade cd. The ibook came with Panther on it and a Tiger install disc which I installed on my own since I ordered an Apple refurbished product at the time. In any event I won't go any further until I here from you because it seems I may have to install the Panther discs first.

Thanks. I'll wait to here and keep the computer on with the Tiger disc inside just in case this could be a problem.

Nov 16, 2009 6:47 PM in response to BDAqua

Hi,
Yes, I have all the discs. I just ejected the tiger upgrade cd and am installing disc one of Panther. Then do I install the Panther discs 2 and 3 and after that the Tiger one?? Do I need any kind of firmware update or anything before the Tiger?? Also, I have Ilife 5, when do I install that?

Thanks a mil.

Thanks for your quick reply.

Message was edited by: omshanti

Nov 16, 2009 6:43 PM in response to shantisoul

Five ways to eject a stuck CD or DVD from the optical drive

Ejecting the stuck disc can usually be done in one of the following ways:

1. Restart the computer and after the chime press and hold down the left mouse button until the disc ejects.

2. Press the Eject button on your keyboard.

3. Click on the Eject button in the menubar.

4. Press COMMAND-E.

5. If none of the above work try this:
Open the Terminal application in your Utilities folder. At the prompt enter or paste the following:
/usr/bin/drutil eject.

If this fails then try this:
Boot the computer into single-user mode. At the prompt enter the same command as used above. To restart the computer enter "reboot" at the prompt without quotes.


Then Boot from your Panther installer disc. Install Panther. After the computer restarts and you get OS X running boot from the Tiger Upgrade Disc and install Tiger.

If the Panther installer requests the second disc it will eject the first automatically. Just follow instructions.

Nov 16, 2009 6:52 PM in response to Kappy

Thanks to all of you,
You guys are so great! I managed to get the disc out and am running the Panther now. I'll follow with the other Panther discs I guess and then Tiger. Do I need a firmware update of any sort? Also, as you may know I erased the drive before all this . How do I check that it was definitely erased? Kind of redundant at the point I guess.

Mucho Gracias Amigo

Erase and reinstall tiger on ibook G4

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