GogsyT
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Q: Erasing G4 Power Mac without keyboard, mouse or DVD drive

I have a 2001 Graphite Power Mac G4 Model no M5183 (AV-type I think) that I am looking to wipe before recycling it. The mouse has gone, keyboard possibly too and the DVD drive isn't working.

 

However, I have the Panther installation disks and can get the G4 to see it on an external DVD drive. I can also see the G4 and access it via my MacBook Pro running 10.9.4

 

It is a long-standing task that I periodically return to so can't quite recall in detail what I have tried. I believe I tried wiping it from the MacBook but I couldn't as they are incompatible drive formats (or words to that effect).

 

So, is it possible to wipe the drive? In a similar thread someone suggested just removing the HD, which I could do, but then I would just have a redundant HD sitting about. Or is there a third-party piece of software I can run to try and erase the hard drive?

 

I sense there should be a way, but perhaps there isn't.

 

Any help is appreciated.

MacBook Pro (13-inch Mid 2010), OS X Mavericks (10.9.4)

Posted on Jul 22, 2014 5:38 AM

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Q: Erasing G4 Power Mac without keyboard, mouse or DVD drive

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  • by BDAqua,

    BDAqua BDAqua Jul 26, 2014 9:49 AM in response to GogsyT
    Level 10 (123,880 points)
    Jul 26, 2014 9:49 AM in response to GogsyT

    Just asking, is there a big floating Firewire symbol on the G4 when you try this?

  • by GogsyT,

    GogsyT GogsyT Jul 26, 2014 10:24 AM in response to Limnos
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    Jul 26, 2014 10:24 AM in response to Limnos

    Thanks Limnos. I did try that via the Info box, both from within the G4 environment and in TDM mode (MBP environment). Just checked again in TDM mode and had to check the "ignore ownership on this volume" button again.

     

    Your comment about the disk being physically locked is interesting. This hard drive replaced the original one many years ago and was installed by a third party (not Apple). I have been able to write to it as a user as I had no trouble working with it for many years. Could it have been installed like that I wonder? I am currently currently going round in circles.

     

    Here are the info windows. The first one I can't change the custom settings to read and write. The other one seems ok in that regard.

    Screen Shot 2014-07-26 at 18.20.39.pngScreen Shot 2014-07-26 at 18.19.35.png

  • by GogsyT,

    GogsyT GogsyT Jul 26, 2014 10:51 AM in response to BDAqua
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jul 26, 2014 10:51 AM in response to BDAqua

    Hi BDAqua, yes there is.

  • by BDAqua,

    BDAqua BDAqua Jul 26, 2014 1:27 PM in response to BDAqua
    Level 10 (123,880 points)
    Jul 26, 2014 1:27 PM in response to BDAqua

    Are those Get Infos while the G4 is in T mode?

     

    I'd expect the rights to be like this either way though!

    GetInfo1058wholeDrive.gif

  • by GogsyT,

    GogsyT GogsyT Jul 27, 2014 1:17 PM in response to BDAqua
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jul 27, 2014 1:17 PM in response to BDAqua

    Yes those screen grabs were from the MBP while the G4 was in TDM. It feels like I'm missing something...

  • by BDAqua,

    BDAqua BDAqua Jul 27, 2014 1:37 PM in response to GogsyT
    Level 10 (123,880 points)
    Jul 27, 2014 1:37 PM in response to GogsyT

    And the G4 boots with those reported permissions? If the G4 boots, does Get info from it report the same thing?

  • by GogsyT,

    GogsyT GogsyT Aug 4, 2014 9:18 AM in response to BDAqua
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 4, 2014 9:18 AM in response to BDAqua

    Thanks for your question. Yes, I was getting similar reports, although not identical as I could write to both. I changed permissions but these didn't seem to stick.

  • by GogsyT,

    GogsyT GogsyT Aug 4, 2014 9:33 AM in response to GogsyT
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 4, 2014 9:33 AM in response to GogsyT

    Thanks everyone for your input, which has been greatly appreciated. I have learned a great deal that will stand me in good stead.

     

    After a few days away I came back to the situation and found that the G4 was no longer properly booting, couldn't be seen by the MPB and no signal went to the monitor. The last thing I tried to do was change the read-write permissions but kept going round in circles (change within the G4 environment then on reboot in TDM find these weren't retained).

     

    I also had the loan of a universal drive adapter cable but unfortunately it didn't fit the hard drive (maxtor diamondmax plus 9 as I learned).

     

    As I need the space, in the end I have decided to remove the drive and deal with it in isolation at another time, using the suggested methods. The rest of the G4 I have donated to recycling.

  • by BDAqua,

    BDAqua BDAqua Aug 4, 2014 11:53 AM in response to GogsyT
    Level 10 (123,880 points)
    Aug 4, 2014 11:53 AM in response to GogsyT

    OK, thanks for the report & good luck!

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