jh2732
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Q: I want to reformat my hard drive and delete all files.  How do I do this?

I have a 2006 iMac with a 2GHz Intel Core Duo.  It currently is running OSX 10.6.8 Snow Leopard.  I want to erase the hard drive of all my programs and documents and give it to a family member.  I have to Snow Leopard disk.  How do I do this? 

iMac 20" intel, Mac OS X (10.5.6)

Posted on Aug 1, 2012 7:59 AM

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jh2732

Q: I want to reformat my hard drive and delete all files.  How do I do this?

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  • by Lord Of The Weirdos,

    Lord Of The Weirdos Lord Of The Weirdos Aug 1, 2012 8:11 AM in response to jh2732
    Level 1 (75 points)
    Aug 1, 2012 8:11 AM in response to jh2732

    Boot from the Snow Leopard disc.  Run disk utilities and repartition drive. Then exit and re-install. Mthe drive will be blank and fresh.

  • by Carolyn Samit,

    Carolyn Samit Carolyn Samit Aug 1, 2012 8:19 AM in response to jh2732
    Level 10 (124,346 points)
    Apple Music
    Aug 1, 2012 8:19 AM in response to jh2732

    Follow the instructions here >  Mac OS X v10.6 Snow Leopard: How to Erase and Install

  • by whitewater2,

    whitewater2 whitewater2 Aug 1, 2012 8:19 AM in response to jh2732
    Level 3 (665 points)
    Aug 1, 2012 8:19 AM in response to jh2732



    • - Boot from the  Snow Leopard OS X installer by holding “Option” at boot and selecting the external boot installer drive
    • - Choose “Disk Utility” from the Mac OS X Utilities screen
    • - Select the destination hard drive from the left side and click on the “Erase” tab, set the format as “Mac OS Extended (Journaled)” and click “Erase”
    • - Exit out of Disk Utility, and back at the Mac OS X Utilities screen, select “Install Mac OS X”
    • - Select the destination hard drive and install as usual

    Choosing a clean install will force the destination drive to lose all existing data. Only do this if you have a backup made and you are comfortable with formatting the Mac hard drive