Formatting Mac vmware / parallels

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Level 1

4 points

Formatting Mac vmware / parallels

I recently formatted my dad's 2009 Macbook Pro to help him sell it. After formatting, I found out he used either vmware or parallels to run Windows programs.

After formatting, there was about 300MB being space used (prior to re-installing OSX). I was wondering when I use the disk utility to format, does it also format and erase the vmware/parallels as well? I want to make sure all his past information is completely formatted/erased prior to selling it for him.

Thanks

MacBook Pro, OS X El Capitan (10.11)

Posted on Jan 12, 2017 3:29 PM

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Answer 1

Jan 12, 2017 7:35 PM in response to OmegaOyster

Windows requires its own partition, which seems a lot like an additional drive (outside of Disk Utility). To erase absolutely everything, you have to erase the Hardware-Name of the drive (the top line for that drive in Disk Utility) not just Macintosh HD. [Or you could take care to erase the Windows partition as well.]

One way to ERASE the entire drive is by using a bootable USB-stick Installer, then using its Disk Utility. This allows you to Erase the entire boot Drive and eliminate all the partitions on it.

Please be sure you re-install some version of MacOS, preferably the version that shipped on that Mac. Otherwise the buyer will be really lost. I don't think that Mac has Internet Recovery in its ROM firmware, you you would have to use another drive or USB-stick Installer.

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Answer 2

Jan 12, 2017 7:49 PM in response to kahjot

kahjot, that is subtle, but you are right.

I forgot that Parallels or VMWare could install the Windows partition in a way that resembles a Windows partition inside a Mac File, rather than as a separate partition.

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Answer 3

kahjot

Level 4

2,469 points

Jan 12, 2017 7:32 PM in response to OmegaOyster

Disk utility erases everything. The virtual machines are gone.

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Answer 4

kahjot

Level 4

2,469 points

Jan 12, 2017 7:44 PM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

It would help to know whether the original owner used Bootcamp, as opposed to Parallels or VMware Fusion. 300MB doesn't sound like a Bootcamp partition.

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