How to erase hard drive where nothing is recoverable

I'm looking to sell my MacBook Pro Retina 2012. I want to erase everything off my hard drive and make it to where none of my documents, passwords, etc. can be recovered by the buyer. Is that even possible? What steps can I take or should I just swap the hard drive and install a new one instead?

Thanks!

MacBook Pro with Retina display, macOS Sierra (10.12.1)

Posted on Nov 6, 2016 8:47 PM

22 replies

Stuart423

Level 6

9,264 points

Nov 6, 2016 9:02 PM in response to lowbidlenny

Follow these steps to make everything go away: How to reinstall macOS - Apple Support

John Galt

Level 10

155,288 points

Nov 7, 2016 5:27 AM in response to Barney-15E

You are correct. I also intended to point out that the 7-pass erase is inapplicable to lowbidlenny's Retina MBP anyway.

Nov 8, 2016 3:48 PM in response to lowbidlenny

Ignore.

lowbidlenny Author

Level 1

4 points

Nov 8, 2016 8:56 PM in response to Barney-15E

Exactly the next question I was going to ask. Thank you!

lowbidlenny Author

Level 1

4 points

Dec 20, 2016 7:19 PM in response to lowbidlenny

Disregard

Barney-15E

Level 10

122,126 points

Dec 20, 2016 7:33 PM in response to lowbidlenny

I think it has to do with how it handles the CoreStorage structure.

You should be able to Partition it in Internet Recovery which will erase the drive.

Barney-15E

Level 10

122,126 points

Dec 21, 2016 4:18 AM in response to lowbidlenny

With it encrypted, is anything available on the Erase tab with the volume selected?

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How to erase hard drive where nothing is recoverable