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abetterbell · Dec 12, 2006, 10:02 PM

I'm selling my 14" ibook and want to erase everything on the hard drive. Using the CDs that came with my ibook disk utility ver.10.2(v86) I am unable to locate where the zero all data option is. Can someone guide me though this please?

shifuimam · Dec 13, 2006, 07:46 AM

Check out this thread. It contains a decent amount of information on zeroing out a hard drive for resale.

rjt1000 · Dec 13, 2006, 08:12 AM

This Apple document notes that the zero all data feature became available in OS X 10.2.3

If your restore disks have an earlier system version, you will need to use a more recent system disk to do this.

Another option would be to use another Mac with a more recent system and connect your iBook in target disk mode.

abetterbell · Dec 13, 2006, 03:13 PM

thank you for the help. my powerbook's disk should do the trick then. Even though the software cannot be installed, the disk utility is still available to use. Is this still ok to do?

shifuimam · Dec 13, 2006, 03:42 PM

Yes. In fact, to zero out the system disk (e.g. the disk that OS X is installed on), you have to use the Disk Utility accessible when you boot off your OS X CD/DVD. Boot up, find the disk utility in the "Install OS X" display that comes up, erase, reboot, and you can then reinstall OS X for resale (or leave the disk clean with no OS installed).

abetterbell · Dec 13, 2006, 03:47 PM

Ok. I'm choosing to do a 7-pass erase from the powerbook's utility disk. I'll install my system software that came with the ibook originally. Thanks again. Happy Holidays!