[mbperk]

I sold my PowerMac. What is the safest, qucikest way to remove my personal files from my computer? i was thinking of running the software restore, but that seemed like it might take a while. My other thought was to delete my user under the users folder.

Thanks for any comments.

[MindFad]

Why not just format the drive and reinstall whatever OS you have on their now? Boot from your OS install disk, toast the drive, and reinstall. That cool beans?

[mbperk]

Mindfad:
Thanks...refresh me what do I hold down to boot from the CD?

[MindFad]

Originally posted by mbperk:
<STRONG>Mindfad:
Thanks...refresh me what do I hold down to boot from the CD?</STRONG>

No prob. Insert your disk and hold down C until your Mac starts up. A bunch of CDs will show up as a background to let you know you're starting up from a CD-ROM. Use Drive Setup to initialize your HD, then reinstall your OS! I think you can also use your Special menu to erase your HD. Good luck!

[DaedalusDX]

Originally posted by mbperk:
<STRONG>I sold my PowerMac. What is the safest, qucikest way to remove my personal files from my computer? i was thinking of running the software restore, but that seemed like it might take a while. My other thought was to delete my user under the users folder.

Thanks for any comments.</STRONG>

The system restore (from the CDs that came with your G4) doesn't take that much longer than reinstalling the operating system, and it leaves the computer "clean" the way the computer was like out of the box.

Same results, but the restore makes sure you don't miss installing something... applications, etc.

[mbperk]

Thanks guys. I appreciate the help.

[Cipher13]

Err... none of that removes your files.

A computer literate person can salvage them all (except the minority which were overwritten by the install).

Format your HD and "zero all data", or use an app in OS9 like Burn which will write random 1's and 0's all over your HD.

THEN restore.

[Apple Pro Underwear]

Originally posted by Cipher13:
<STRONG>

Format your HD and "zero all data", or use an app in OS9 like Burn which will write random 1's and 0's all over your HD.

THEN restore.</STRONG>

but what if they break the code and steal your precious info?

format the damn thing and reinstall, unless your trying to cover up gigs of porno it's dumb to do all that work

[Cipher13]

"All that work"?

Set a single option and then go to bed or have dinner...

[DaedalusDX]

Originally posted by Cipher13:
<STRONG>Err... none of that removes your files.

A computer literate person can salvage them all (except the minority which were overwritten by the install).

Format your HD and "zero all data", or use an app in OS9 like Burn which will write random 1's and 0's all over your HD.

THEN restore.</STRONG>

I don't think he is concerned with the next owner of the computer stealing his files... all he wants is the drive formatted.... and zeroing the drive takes WAAY too much time.... this isn't classified data we're talking about... he just wants the computer clean for the next user.

[Jansar]

Zeroing the drive gets your computer ready for selling, though. If there is a concern about removing files for that purpose, then that would be the only alternative.

[agentz]

Originally posted by Jansar:
<STRONG>Zeroing the drive gets your computer ready for selling, though. If there is a concern about removing files for that purpose, then that would be the only alternative.</STRONG>

Not the only alternative Jarrod.

Do what I do in this situation - spend a few bucks and swap out the hard drive and put a clean install on it. That way I can be damn certain that I've got all my files and not forgotten to back up something seemingly trivial but that later turns out to be life or death important. Its not that difficult and its sooooo cheap.

[machappy]

right..thats what id do..stick another drive in it and sell that one. keeping your drive. seriously.

[Cipher13]

That's an even better idea.

But WHATEVER you do make SURE the HD you give away is CLEAN.

[michaelb]

Another way if you want to keep the existing system without reformatting / installing is to delete your personal files, empty the trash, then fill the hard drive with new data.

This new data can be anything that you can use to fill the drive -- eg, duplicating the iMovie sample movie (~150 MB) a couple of hundred times.

If you fill it to within an inch of its life, then this new data will overwrite the sectors previously containing your deleted, potentially recoverable files.

I used this method when I sold a G4 secondhand - the buyer rang and said he'd be over in 20 mins.

But then, it's not like I work for the Taliban or anything... (They found a computer on a market in Kabul and recovered al-Qaeda files from it. The idea of Osama Bin Laden using Windows on a Compaq -- something seems so expected about that picture.)