CSterling
Level 1 (0 points)

Q: need emac restore dvd or way to partially erase hard drive?

Want to erase my emac, then restore the OS, however don't have the OS software or restore DVDs or CDs (computer bought was friend's husband [he's dead now] and she couldn't find any of the disks for me).  Then wanted to give computer to local charity.

 

Is there a way to only partially erase the hard drive, without erasing the OS, and applications that either came with the computer or I've added but would like to have on the computer when I give it away?

eMac, Mac OS X (10.4.11), PPC

Posted on Sep 10, 2013 7:05 PM

by roam,Solvedanswer
roam roam
Level 6 (13,576 points)
A:

It sounds like you are erasing freespace (35 pass 7 pass, which leaves alone existing files), instead erasing the disk.

 

To erase the disk of everything on your hard drive:

 

Insert the Install Disk 1 into the drive and then select Restart; when you hear the chime hold down C key until the apple logo appears.

This will take you to the installation software, but you do not want to install.

Select your language, then go up to the top menu bar  where it says Utilities and navigate to the Disk Utility application.

Select your hard drive on the left, and click the Erase button.

Select the format as: Mac OS Extended (Journelled)

Have the name Macintosh HD

Click Erase again but on the one lower down after you have made the above selections.

 

This will erase all contents. All data will be lost.

 

Once completed quit the Installer, and restart.

 

Once again, when you hear the chime hold down C key until the apple logo appears.

Proceed to reinstall your Operating System. It will be as if new with no previous data from you existing.

Posted on Sep 24, 2013 5:11 AM

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CSterling

Q: need emac restore dvd or way to partially erase hard drive?

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  • Helpful answers

  • by BDAqua,

    BDAqua BDAqua Sep 10, 2013 8:10 PM in response to CSterling
    Level 10 (123,890 points)
    Sep 10, 2013 8:10 PM in response to CSterling

    Hi, your stuck a bit without install Discs, which Apple may or may not have for cheap, call them with the serial# handy...

     

    How to find the serial number of your Apple hardware product...

     

    http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1349

     

    Open System Preferences>Accounts, unlock the lock, click on the little plus icon, make a new admin account, log out & into the new account.

     

    Remove the original account without saving it, then in Diak Utility, Secure erase Free Space.

  • by MichelPM,

    MichelPM MichelPM Sep 11, 2013 9:38 PM in response to CSterling
    Level 6 (14,279 points)
    iPad
    Sep 11, 2013 9:38 PM in response to CSterling

    You need to contact Apple in order to get OS X 10.4 Tiger or OS X 10.5 Leopard from Apple assuming they still have copies.

    Call Apple Store Customer Service at 1-800-676-2775

    These discs will be replacement OS install discs.

    You will need to give the rep your Mac model and serial number and you'll, also, need a credit card as there is a nominal fee of around $18 for processing and shipping of the disc.

    Good Luck!

  • by CSterling,

    CSterling CSterling Sep 18, 2013 12:59 PM in response to BDAqua
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 18, 2013 12:59 PM in response to BDAqua

    Luckily, I found the DVD to restore the system (confirmed it with Apple Support).  Apple no longer sells replacement restore disks for the eMac.

     

    I did forget to mention that on this eMac, the prior owner had everything passcoded.  When his family sold it to me after the owner died, they had to have the local Mac store fix it so that the passcode was bypassed by hitting Enter/Return keys.  The prior owner also had an Admin Account, too.  Per your instructions, I did create my own Admin Account but I was unable to delete/remove his account (the minus key was greyed when I highlighted his Account.  I did try going under the Password Tab and hit enter, hoping I could bypass his code there but unable to override.).  However, since I did everything under his Admin Account to begin with, (never having created my own Admin account), I'm assuming that I won't be able to erase the hard drive after all? Is this a correct assumption?

     

    It took way longer than it said.  (I had selected the most secure way of erasing the drive (35x) which supposedly would take 15 hrs.)  Over 24 hrs later it was still going but the status bar appeared frozen at less than halfway completed so I hit cancel.  Is there any other alternative way I can rid the drives of my info?  thanks for your help.

  • by BDAqua,

    BDAqua BDAqua Sep 18, 2013 11:11 PM in response to CSterling
    Level 10 (123,890 points)
    Sep 18, 2013 11:11 PM in response to CSterling

    No ned for the 35  pass, one pass is plenty, & may mark out bad sectors.

  • by CSterling,

    CSterling CSterling Sep 20, 2013 11:25 AM in response to BDAqua
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 20, 2013 11:25 AM in response to BDAqua

    After going back into the Disk Utility after I had canceled the Erase attempt, my Admin Account was listed first, instead of 2nd, and I was able to highlight the other Admin Account and select the Minus sign and delete.  I thought this was a good sign so I restarted the Erase with the medium 7 pass. 

     

    (Did notice though that the dock was there (in different spot) and also under Applications all of the apps were there?!)  I'm thinking this isn't good, yes? 

     

    And after the 2nd pass at erasing at the bottom right of window says has 62.8 GB available and 11.6 GB in use (on right the number of folders has decreased slightly to 79k from 82K.  Is this right? 

     

    Thought the whole point of erasing and then reinstalling was because there wouldn't be anything on the computer after erasing "everything"?

     

    Under Disk Utility, after having selected the Hard Drive, in the window to the right -- the Erase Free Space button is available to select, however, the Security Options Button is greyed out, so I'm unable to select an option (whatever that means) before clicking on Erase.

     

    All applications appear to be intact on the hard drive.  So this wasn't successful.  Any suggestions?  Maybe I just need to forget about erasing and giving the computer away?  Am I doing something wrong?  thanks for your help.

  • by BDAqua,

    BDAqua BDAqua Sep 20, 2013 4:14 PM in response to CSterling
    Level 10 (123,890 points)
    Sep 20, 2013 4:14 PM in response to CSterling

    Most Applications are not in any Users folder, they are at root of the drive in Applications.

    (Did notice though that the dock was there (in different spot) and also under Applications all of the apps were there?!)

    You must not've been logged out of the old admin account before, any new user will have the default Dock.

     

    7 Pass isn't needed really.

  • by CSterling,

    CSterling CSterling Sep 21, 2013 5:15 PM in response to BDAqua
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 21, 2013 5:15 PM in response to BDAqua

    After I deleted the old users account, I retried erasing but everything seems to be on the computer, nothing has been erased.  So, If I see all of the applications (not talking about my Admin account) then the system hasn' erased any files?  So this was a futile exercise? 

  • by BDAqua,

    BDAqua BDAqua Sep 21, 2013 5:42 PM in response to CSterling
    Level 10 (123,890 points)
    Sep 21, 2013 5:42 PM in response to CSterling

    Any Documents & personal stuff should be gone, that resides in individual users folders, what Appliccations are you worried about? Or what files in particular?

     

    A completely erased disc & fresh install will have several Applications on it.

  • by CSterling,

    CSterling CSterling Sep 23, 2013 5:12 PM in response to BDAqua
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 23, 2013 5:12 PM in response to BDAqua

    I thought that after erasing a disk there would be literally nothing on it.  So, I was surprised to see all of the applications still on the hard drive. (Safari, AppleWriter, Address Book, Key Chain,Adobe, etc.)  None of my documents are in AppleWriter or on the DeskTop - but I'd deleted those.  Under System Preferences, nothing remains of my IP address, etc.

     

    I just wondered if any of my personal info like ssn, credit cards, etc could be located.  Also, had creative documents under AppleWriter which I had deleted but wanted to be sure couldn't be somehow reconstructed?

     

    I've not "reinstalled" anything.

  • by roam,Solvedanswer

    roam roam Sep 24, 2013 5:11 AM in response to CSterling
    Level 6 (13,576 points)
    Sep 24, 2013 5:11 AM in response to CSterling

    It sounds like you are erasing freespace (35 pass 7 pass, which leaves alone existing files), instead erasing the disk.

     

    To erase the disk of everything on your hard drive:

     

    Insert the Install Disk 1 into the drive and then select Restart; when you hear the chime hold down C key until the apple logo appears.

    This will take you to the installation software, but you do not want to install.

    Select your language, then go up to the top menu bar  where it says Utilities and navigate to the Disk Utility application.

    Select your hard drive on the left, and click the Erase button.

    Select the format as: Mac OS Extended (Journelled)

    Have the name Macintosh HD

    Click Erase again but on the one lower down after you have made the above selections.

     

    This will erase all contents. All data will be lost.

     

    Once completed quit the Installer, and restart.

     

    Once again, when you hear the chime hold down C key until the apple logo appears.

    Proceed to reinstall your Operating System. It will be as if new with no previous data from you existing.

  • by CSterling,

    CSterling CSterling Sep 24, 2013 5:09 PM in response to roam
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 24, 2013 5:09 PM in response to roam

    WORKED.  THANK YOU!  HAD NO IDEA NEEDED THE DISK. 

  • by CSterling,

    CSterling CSterling Sep 25, 2013 1:52 PM in response to roam
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 25, 2013 1:52 PM in response to roam

    Since you solved this eMac problem, can I erase an old MAC (Power Mac G4, OS 9.2.2) in the same way?

     

    Am only owner, have both disks - System Restore & Software Install.

     

    Tried starting from System Restore disk by holding down the C key when computer reboots, after hear chime and before anything comes up but it freezes. 

     

    So tried to do it after computer had started, opened CD (it's the correct one as under Apple Software Restore screen comes up with options to Retore, saving original, Restore in Place and Erase "Macintosh HD" before restoring. 

     

    Selected Erase below next to Volume Format which is defaulted at "Same as selected configuration"  which is: in Configuration Window there's only one option "Power Mac 64 HD.img. 

     

    Underneath at Destination Disk Eject Disk is greyed out so only option is to Switch Disk. 

     

    Below that it only gives option to Quit, Restore is greyed out. 

     

    (Next to the Quit/Restore buttons, there's explanation window, which says:  the disk "Macintosh HD" is the startup disk and cannot be restored.  Please click Switch Disk/Switch Device to select another disk.) 

     

    I can't remember how to start it with Extensions Manager turned off, and don't know if that would help.

     

    Was just planning to recycle the parts but had wanted to try to erase the drive if possible.  thanks!

  • by BDAqua,

    BDAqua BDAqua Sep 25, 2013 2:19 PM in response to CSterling
    Level 10 (123,890 points)
    Sep 25, 2013 2:19 PM in response to CSterling

    (Next to the Quit/Restore buttons, there's explanation window, which says:  the disk "Macintosh HD" is the startup disk and cannot be restored.

    Seems it didn't really start from the Install Disc, or thinks it disn't for some reasn!???

     

    Have you done a PRAM reset, CMD+Option+p+r...

     

    http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1379

     

    In fact, do 3 in a row, takes a bit of time.

  • by roam,

    roam roam Sep 25, 2013 5:49 PM in response to BDAqua
    Level 6 (13,576 points)
    Sep 25, 2013 5:49 PM in response to BDAqua

    Thnaks BD, that's a good suggestion.