Erasing hard drive - Disk utilities

Question

Erasing hard drive - Disk utilities

I am trying to sell my MacBook Pro. I have followed all the steps necessary to prepare the device to sell, except wipe the hard drive clean. I would like to do a secure wipe to ensure none of my information is accessible. However, while in Disk Utilities, after I click on the disk I would like to erase, then the Erase tab, the necessary buttons/tabs for security options aren't illuminated. I'm not able to actually click on anything under the erase tab. Please help, I have a buyer ready!

MacBook Pro with Retina display

Posted on Sep 2, 2017 3:54 PM

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Answer 1

Best reply

Miss Smartie Partie

Level 4

2,943 points

Sep 4, 2017 2:29 PM in response to risingphoenix100

Hey.

You can't erase the drive if you're using it. You'll need to boot to recovery mode to do it. You'll need either the original software disc (if the computer shipped with OS X 10.6 or earlier) or an internet connection (if it had OS X 10.7 or later).

You can get more information on erasing and reinstalling here: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204904

If your computer shipped with 10.7 or later, you'll need to use *Internet* recovery to install the original OS. Updates from the original are tied to your Apple ID, so the new user will run into problems if you reinstall a later OS update.

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Answer 2

Klaus1

Level 9

52,749 points

Sep 2, 2017 4:51 PM in response to risingphoenix100

You cannot erase the drive you are operating from. You need to do this either from an external HD or from the original install disk.

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Answer 3

Dec 24, 2017 10:22 AM in response to risingphoenix100

I want to disable a Imac 5 and do not have any disks from the install.

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