Erase MacBook Pro hard disk. How? "Erase Disk" is grayed out.

Question

Erase MacBook Pro hard disk. How? "Erase Disk" is grayed out.

I want to use Disk Utility to erase my HDD on MacBook Pro. BUT the Erase disk is greyed out. I checked user account and unlocked the padlock for my Admin account. What next please?

MacBook Pro-2.4GhZ- 2GB RAM, Mac OS X (10.6.2), lives with PowerBook 540c, 160 and a Newton 2000

Posted on Jun 3, 2010 10:58 PM

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Answer 1

Best reply

Niel

Level 10

726,887 points

Jan 29, 2011 11:56 AM in response to Michael Vallance

Restart from the Mac OS X 10.6 DVD and use the Disk Utility in the Utilities menu. The active startup disk can't be erased.

(52017)

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Answer 2

Jan 29, 2011 11:56 AM in response to Niel

got it. I used my new copy of Snow leopard and that did not work so found original disks in box (though 10.5) and could erase disk. now erasing and will upgrade to 10.6 later. THANKS

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Answer 3

Jan 29, 2011 11:57 AM in response to Michael Vallance

Remember to press the 'C' key to boot on the Snow Leopard disk (or set the boot disk from Preferences -> Startup disk)...

Also, if you want to install the OS on an external Hard Disk, format it GUI (check the help for instructions).

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Answer 4

Jan 29, 2011 11:57 AM in response to LuckyEmile

Thank you.

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