How to delete everything from PowerBook G4 15

Although not as easy with a G4 PowerBook as for some Mac laptops, the option to physically REMOVE the hard drive remains as the most secure way to protect your data.

We cannot post links to outside DIY sites but if you web-search for "powerbook g4 takeapart," you will find illustrated guides.

if you have the original optical disks the shipped with the computer, great! If not, finding proper system install/restore optical disks that can securely erase is very difficult, and many sold of the internet are scams: burned disks that don't work.

As nice as they were (I still have a 17") the PB G4 series is virtually useless today because a new user can no longer get software that runs on it. Other than to a collector, there is virtually no retained value in it. That lowers concern of damaging something while accessing the drive if you simply plan to recycle it.

"while in Recovery Mode."

...and Recovery mode was introduced later.

With a PowerBook G4, an appropriate bootable system disc is needed in the optical drive (press the C key). This can be an original disc set for this very machine (not model-specific discs for another Mac), or a later retail version.

Target disk mode (requires another FireWire-enabled Mac) may be a useful option in certain circumstances.

First of all, which exact PowerBook G4 model do you have?

https://everymac.com/systems/apple/powerbook_g4/index-powerbook-g4.html

The specifications show the pre-installed and maximum Mac operating systems for each model.

The latest G4 models can run up to Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard. No PowerPC computer can use a higher Mac operating system. This also means that some recovery and formatting methods used by and for Intel-based and Apple silicon Mac models are not of interest in this case.

Do you have access to original system discs (CD/DVD) for your computer?

Format the drive, using APFS.....

It is not possible to format the G4 using APFS.

APFS requires macOS 10.13 or higher and the G4 topped out at Mac OS X 10.5.8 Leopard or lower.

The G4 will need to be formatted in HFS+ (Mac OS Extended)

What version of Mac OS is it running? If you can, boot into an installer for OS 9 or OS X (CD, DVD, or a USB) and erase the drive using the included disk utilities.

"how to delete evering off my old PowerBook G4 15"

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Deleting Everything off YOUR Old Mac:

IMPORTANT: Create a Time Machine Backup of your Mac prior to this election/reconfiguration. That way, you can have something to restore it to, should you so desire. Elsewise, it'd be gone, if NEVER backed up.

So, what's the scenario?

A. Do you want to rid of all your Files, but keep the install?

If so, create a new Administrator, and then log into it. From there, trash your administrator you are currently using.

A. Are you looking to pass this on?:

If so, reset it to factory settings, but uninstall every thing, in pairing it from you accounts, and so on. See here: What to do Before you Sell, Give Away, or Trade in your iPhone or iPad - Apple Support

C. Do Just want to Rid of it All...

Format the drive, using APFS, while in Recovery Mode.

1. Boot: in Recovery Mode
2. Enter: your password (if prompted)
3. Go to: Disk Utility
4. Select: the drive (in the left pane)
5. Click: "Erase" button
6. Confirm

Or is is something else?

Stonks-guy wrote:

What version of Mac OS is it running? If you can, boot into an installer for OS 9 or OS X (CD, DVD, or a USB) and erase the drive using the included disk utilities.

Did you notice that the original poster resolved the issue three weeks ago???

"The latest G4 models can run up to Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard"

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Then you're not going to get APFS as an option, as mentioned by Bob Timmons.