Q: Wiping and recycling old Mac Mini

I'm cleaning clutter out of my house, and ran across my old Mac Mini, purchased about 10 years ago. I need to wipe it and get it recycled, but I'm not sure about the wipe part. I no longer have the keyboard or mouse. (I use a Macbook Pro now). Is this something I could get done at the Apple store, and how much might it cost? I don't have a lot of time to mess with it myself, just need to get it done.

Posted on Mar 6, 2014 4:41 PM

I have this question too

All replies

Helpful answers

by osirisj89,

osirisj89 Mar 6, 2014 8:16 PM in response to hdrider_chgo
Level 1 (0 points)

Mar 6, 2014 8:16 PM in response to hdrider_chgo

Apple has their own recycling program and they will wipe the data for you.
http://www.apple.com/recycling/

or

Gazelle.com is a website that will buy your old devices or computers and wipe the data for you as well. Sometimes with older models they do not offer a price for the device. If that is the case with you Mac Mini I would go with Apples recycling program.
Reply options

Link to this post

by hdrider_chgo,

hdrider_chgo Mar 7, 2014 4:36 AM in response to osirisj89
Level 1 (0 points)

Mar 7, 2014 4:36 AM in response to osirisj89

Thank you, I did go to the Apple recycling page linked to above, however under the FAQ, they advise wiping the hard drive before sending it in. That is the main problem, how to get that done.
Reply options

Link to this post

by lllaass,

lllaass Mar 7, 2014 9:29 AM in response to hdrider_chgo
Level 10 (190,869 points)

Apple Watch

Mar 7, 2014 9:29 AM in response to hdrider_chgo

If your MacBook Pro has FireWire, borrow a USB keyboard, a PC keyboard is fine. Connect them via FireWire and boot the Mini into Target mode
http://support.apple.com/kb/ht3924
Thn erase the Mini's drive via the MacBook Pro
They can likely do that at an Apple store too.
Reply options

Link to this post

by lllaass,

lllaass Mar 7, 2014 10:04 AM in response to lllaass
Level 10 (190,869 points)

Apple Watch

Mar 7, 2014 10:04 AM in response to lllaass

Correction to above. Target Disk Mode is:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1661
Reply options

Link to this post

Q: Wiping and recycling old Mac Mini

All replies Helpful answers

by osirisj89,

by hdrider_chgo,

by lllaass,

by lllaass,

All replies

Helpful answers