How to format iBook G4 without OS disk

Question

Level 1

4 points

How to format iBook G4 without OS disk

Hi all,

I have an old iBook G4 that I want to take into an Apple Store for recycling. Before I do that, I wanted to wipe all data from the hard drive, so I tried to go into Disk Utility to erase the hard drive - unfortunately everything on the erase tab is greyed out when I select the hard drive (except "Erase Free Space"). A quick search of these forums suggests I might need the OS disk to do this (which I must have thrown away years ago). Is there any other way of formatting the hard drive?

Thanks.

iBook, Mac OS X (10.5.8)

Posted on Dec 27, 2016 3:15 PM

Reply

Answer 1

Jan Hedlund

Level 7

24,235 points

Dec 27, 2016 5:16 PM in response to astepnik

One way could be to download an older PowerPC version of a utility called DBAN (at least earlier available at sourceforge.net/projects/dban/files/dban/dban-2.0.0/). Use a Mac or a PC to create (burn) a bootable CD from the iso. Then you could try to boot the G4 iBook from the CD (hold down the C key during startup). The CD contains a wiping utility.

Reply

Answer 2

macjack

Level 10

111,242 points

Dec 27, 2016 5:29 PM in response to astepnik

If you have another Mac you can use firewire Target Disk Mode, to connect them and do the erase from Disk Utility on the newer Mac. The iBook g4 would function essentially as a connected hard drive.

Share files between two computers with target disk mode - Apple Support

Reply