Q: Securely wipe old time capsule
I've just bought a latest gen airport extreme, to replace my old 3rd gen time capsule. Plugged in AE and ran through the airport utility to replace it. Must say what a seemless process, typical Apple, great to be able to run like this rather than manual.
So all working fine, but now as my time capsule isn't it used I want to securely wipe it to sell it on. I know there is a little reset button to press, but will this securely get rid of my backups? I'd rather be safe and wipe properly.
Can I still do this now it isn't part of my network? What's the procedure please
Thanks
iMac, OS X El Capitan (10.11)
Posted on Oct 2, 2015 12:23 AM
On your Mac, open up AirPort Utility
Click on the older Time Capsule, then click Edit in the smaller window that appears
Click the Disks tab at the top of the next screen
Click Erase
On the next window that appears.....
Select the Zero Out erase option
Click Erase Disk
This is the fastest secure erase setting, which will replace everything on the drive with zeros. It will take 3-5 hours on average for the operation to complete.
If you want an even more secure erase, choose the 7 Pass option. This will Zero Out the drive 7 times, and as you might expect, it will take 7 times longer for this to complete.
There is a 35 Pass option, but this will take weeks to complete.
Once the erase operation is complete, you can return the Time Capsule to its original factory default settings as follows:
Open AirPort Utility again, click on the Time Capsule, then click Edit in the smaller window that appears
Click the Base Station tab at the uppermost top of the screen, up where you see the Apple icon, and other menus for File, Window, Edit, Help, etc.
Click Restore Default Settings
Click on the image below if you need to enlarge the display.
Posted on Oct 7, 2015 5:19 AM

