Specific scenario: Selling Mac with Fusion drive

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Level 1

16 points

Specific scenario: Selling Mac with Fusion drive

Hardware:

Self Built "Fusion" drive (256GB SSD, 2TB HDD)

MacMini (2012)

So the first thing I did was boot into Recovery Mode and use Disk Utility to erase the main volume. The problem is that I don't remember if I had File Vault enabled. This was my main computer, so there is a lot of personal information on the drive that want securely erased.

I have since gone back and reinstalled the OS with a new fake user and enabled File Vault. I then went back to Recovery and erased the Fusion drive (deleted the Volume), and reinstalled MacOS.

My question: is this sufficient to securely erase any existing data on the drive? I have concerns about recoverable data still in existence on the HDD.

Posted on Dec 15, 2021 8:24 PM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

Tesserax

Level 10

151,803 points

Dec 15, 2021 10:37 PM in response to the_case

If you are selling this Mac with FileVault enabled, and don't provide the new owner with the password, they will not be able to access anything on this drive ... basically rendering the device useless to them.

Apple provides a series of steps you should perform for getting a Mac ready for sale. I suggest you review them. If they are not sufficient enough for your concerns, then you may be better off replacing this drive with another one. And, if required, destroy this drive to prevent any means to recover any data from it.

Ref: What to do before you sell, give away, or trade in your Mac - Apple Support

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Answer 2

the_case Author

Level 1

16 points

Dec 16, 2021 6:16 PM in response to Tesserax

Let's go back and review the order of events:

Recovery mode: Deleted volume, formatted partition
not sure if FileVaulted
got concerned
reinstalled OS
created temp user, enabled FileVault
Recovery mode: Deleted volume, formatted partition, Reinstalled OS
We now have a factory OS, untouched.
Still not sure if HDD has recoverable data

And now you say in your second reply that #8 should not be a concern. Thank you.

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Answer 3

Tesserax

Level 10

151,803 points

Dec 15, 2021 11:16 PM in response to the_case

All I can say is that I did the best I could to understand what you provided. Yes, I did understand that you erased the drive in Recovery Mode and reinstalled macOS. That alone should have adequately erased any data that remains.

However, you went on to say that you re-enabled FileVault, and why I responded with what I provided. If someone has a better answer, I'm sure they will chime in.

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