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I cannot earse my computer for trade in

I'm doing a trade-in with my old MacBook. I read that I need to erase the hard drive and I have followed the steps outlined by the process, and looked up on the internet how to do it also, both ways get me to disk utility and when I select the only disk available the option to "erase" is not given. The button is "greyed out" and cannot be selected. Can I just send the device with out erasing? Can I trust apple to erase? i can't get support to work for on-line chat or email with apple right now.

MacBook Pro 13", macOS 10.13

Posted on May 17, 2019 1:21 PM

Reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on May 17, 2019 2:33 PM

ladycheshire5 wrote:

I'm doing a trade-in with my old MacBook. I read that I need to erase the hard drive and I have followed the steps outlined by the process, and looked up on the internet how to do it also, both ways get me to disk utility and when I select the only disk available the option to "erase" is not given. The button is "greyed out" and cannot be selected. Can I just send the device with out erasing? Can I trust apple to erase? i can't get support to work for on-line chat or email with apple right now.


What steps, what process?


You do not say what exact Mac /model /year /size /retina /touchbar is this

or

what exact macOS you are currently running?



Is the machine bootable?


Did you Boot into Recovery and use the Disk Utility.app there.

Disk Utility>View>Show all Devices—you want erase/format the parent drive.


Recovery http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4718



.

6 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

May 17, 2019 2:33 PM in response to ladycheshire5

ladycheshire5 wrote:

I'm doing a trade-in with my old MacBook. I read that I need to erase the hard drive and I have followed the steps outlined by the process, and looked up on the internet how to do it also, both ways get me to disk utility and when I select the only disk available the option to "erase" is not given. The button is "greyed out" and cannot be selected. Can I just send the device with out erasing? Can I trust apple to erase? i can't get support to work for on-line chat or email with apple right now.


What steps, what process?


You do not say what exact Mac /model /year /size /retina /touchbar is this

or

what exact macOS you are currently running?



Is the machine bootable?


Did you Boot into Recovery and use the Disk Utility.app there.

Disk Utility>View>Show all Devices—you want erase/format the parent drive.


Recovery http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4718



.

May 17, 2019 10:15 PM in response to leroydouglas

I didn’t know I needed to include such details. It should be basic, i have gone thought the steps you outlined in your response. The drive that is avail through disk utility isn’t allowing an erase option. Apple says they tell you how to do this for trade in if your device. They say basically what you have said, I’ve read the same info on the internet and when I am in disk utility the only avail drive under all available is the MacBook HD that looks like it’s connected to with/to my external Toshiba drive but that is not connected. Nothing else is listed and when I select that the “erase” option isn’t accessible. Apple support is so frustrating.

May 18, 2019 8:32 AM in response to ladycheshire5

ladycheshire5 wrote:

I didn’t know I needed to include such details. It should be basic, i have gone thought the steps you outlined in your response. The drive that is avail through disk utility isn’t allowing an erase option. Apple says they tell you how to do this for trade in if your device. They say basically what you have said, I’ve read the same info on the internet and when I am in disk utility the only avail drive under all available is the MacBook HD that looks like it’s connected to with/to my external Toshiba drive but that is not connected. Nothing else is listed and when I select that the “erase” option isn’t accessible. Apple support is so frustrating.


Details are important—only because much of what happens here is reading between the lines—I apologize if this insults your sensibilities.


I am still unclear if the mac is bootable?


If it is not, it tells me the Drive may have failed—if that is the case it is a strong possiblity you will not be able to mount the drive to do anything at all.


You can remove the drive if it is a continued concern.

or

trust the good graces of Apple that the drive will be handled with a high ethical standard in the recycling.

May 19, 2019 10:30 AM in response to babowa

I purchased in 2011 or 2012. It’s a 13” MacBook. I’m currently at work and do not have my device with me. If there’s more needed I’ll have to add more later. I do not remember if there was an install CD. If I there’s supposed to be one, and I no longer have it is there anything that can be done? Maybe I should go into an apple store?

I cannot earse my computer for trade in

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