[pcd2k]

I own a G3 b/w 350 mghtz with 384 of ram running mac os x (Jaguar)with a 6 gig drive that has my system and most often used net software. The other drive an 80 meg has an unfinshed (read corrupted) version of my osx. I want to erase this disc but when I run Disk Utility and select erase the program says 'can't proceed because volume is in use'.

This unfinished copy of my system was written there in the mayhem of switching drives from my older 40 gig . Anyway this unfinshed copy is taking up about 6 gig of space and has a heap of folders in the finder window, there is obviously more than meets the eye left on this drive which is why I want to get rid of it.

I am an elementary user and know nothing about Unix or Terminal someone a while back when I first trundled out this problem suggested some kind of Terminal Code intervention which I should probably try and learn something about, but am presently pressed for time at the moment.

Is there any easy solution to erase my 80 gig ?

[reader50]

Select the volume in question from the Finder, and drag to the trash. This will close all Finder usage of the volume, which is the likely culprit, and Disk Utility will be willing to format.

[pcd2k]

just tried it
no can do
dialogue box says

'The operation could not be completed because the disk 80 gig is in use'

[reader50]

Something else is using the drive after all. Boot from the OSX install CD, and use the copy of Drive Utility on the CD.

[pcd2k]

Thanks
After erasing disk, went to get info
80 Gig Drive
Capacity 74.52
Available 74.49
Used 34.3 MB

So what does used mean ?
Does it mean that 34.3 has already been written on the Disk but its somehow made redundant and probably available as recoverable ?

I attempted a 'zero disk erase' but have discovered that my drive is not an Apple recommend disk and therefore can't perform this. Conducted a search for third party ware to do this but the only two apps I found are for the corporates.
Anyone heard of a freeware or shareware app that performs 'zero disk erase' ?