Can't get to Mac OS Utilities screen..

Question

Level 1

9 points

Can't get to Mac OS Utilities screen..

Hello, I am trying to erase the hard drive on my girlfriend's old Mac (version 10.5.8) so that she can sell it, but I can't seem to get to the Mac OS Utilities screen. I have tried holding down Command-R, Option-Command-R, and Shift-Option-Command-R on start-up, but none of those work. Other key combinations for other services on start up seem to work fine : Command-V, Command-S, for example. I have tried plugging our Ethernet cable into the mac because I read somewhere that it possibly needs to be connected to the Internet. Any other ideas?

I wonder if her computer is so old it does not have Mac OS Utilities?

MacBook, Mac OS X (10.5.8)

Posted on Mar 4, 2018 3:12 AM

Reply

Answer 1

Best reply

Community User

Mar 4, 2018 3:26 AM in response to ryan4568

Use the Mac OSX 10.5 (Leopard) installation disk. Insert it into the machine, hold down the Option key while it reboots. Select the installation disk from the boot menu and navigate through to the Welcome page of the installer. On the menu bar, you can access Disk Utility and erase the hard disk from there.

Reply

Answer 2

Mar 4, 2018 7:22 AM in response to ryan4568

What specifically is the MacBook you have? Model and year?

One possibility is to contact Apple Support and inquire if you could take the MacBook to a local Apple Store and have them boot 10.5 for you so you can wipe the disk. An Authorised Apple Dealer may be able to do the same thing.

If you're able to upgrade the machine to a newer version of OSX that supports Internet Recovery then you can use that to wipe the disk.

You could purchase a copy of the 10.5 disk on eBay. But whatever you do, do not try downloading a copy from the internet as there is no guarantee that whatever you download is safe to use.

Another option, if you're comfortable doing so, is to obtain a replacement hard disk and swap it for the one in the MacBook, then physically destroy the old one at your leisure.

Reply

Answer 3

ryan4568 Author

Level 1

9 points

Mar 4, 2018 7:08 AM in response to Community User

unfortunately, that is long gone.

Reply

Answer 4

Mar 7, 2018 10:24 AM in response to ryan4568

I doubt if Mac OS X Leopard uses Recovery Mode. You’ll likely need the install disk it came with.

Reply

Can't get to Mac OS Utilities screen..

Similar questions