iMac - Preparing my iMac for donation

rnpowell · rnpowell #1 (**permalink**)

03-24-2009, 04:38 PM

I am donating my old iMac G3 to charity and I want to be sure all my sensitive data is deleted. What is the quickest and most thorough way to clear my hard drive?

Thanks!

louishen · louishen #2 (**permalink**)

03-24-2009, 04:47 PM

reformat it from the install cd, you can access disk utility from the menu bar when the install screen comes up and have various options when reformatting for secure reformats

then do a clean install

Mac SK · Mac SK #3 (**permalink**)

03-26-2009, 11:46 PM

Yes you should try to leave the hard drive in it, as I go and deal with lots of folks at thrift stores and if they can't fire it up it goes in the dumpster. Last week I got an Epson rx680 out of the dumpster,all it needs is ink.

Ruyuk · Ruyuk #4 (**permalink**)

03-28-2009, 02:45 PM

Wow. All it needs is ink? Cool.

Mac SK · Mac SK #5 (**permalink**)

03-29-2009, 11:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ruyuk

Wow. All it needs is ink? Cool.

I have already got my ink and installed it and the printer works great,its missing the CD print tray,have to hunt one up. Hey theres some awesome architecture in Sofia,welcome to the U.S. You will discover we throw lots of good stuff away here,right in the dumpster it goes.

milessthomas · milessthomas #6 (**permalink**)

03-30-2009, 12:40 AM

Personally it depends on how sensitive your data is. Whenever I donate a computer I take out my hard drive and replace it with a cheap replacement from newegg.com or tigerdirect.com. Nor would I ever sell a computer with my hard drive in it.

With the low price of hard drives now, its worth it to protect your sensitive information and just replace it with a new one and destroy the disks on the old one.

louishen #2 (permalink)
Member Since: Oct 22, 2007 Location: London Posts: 8,652 Mac Specs: Mac Mini Core i7 2012 \| White 2009 MacBook 2 Ghz \| 733 Mhz G4 Quicksilver	03-24-2009, 04:47 PM reformat it from the install cd, you can access disk utility from the menu bar when the install screen comes up and have various options when reformatting for secure reformats then do a clean install Member of the Month September 2008 & August 2012 \| Found advice useful? – use the rep system
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rnpowell #1 (permalink)
Member Since: Mar 09, 2009 Posts: 9	03-24-2009, 04:38 PM I am donating my old iMac G3 to charity and I want to be sure all my sensitive data is deleted. What is the quickest and most thorough way to clear my hard drive? Thanks!
	QUOTE Thanks

Ruyuk #4 (permalink)
Member Since: Mar 28, 2009 Location: USA, Though I am Romanian Posts: 18 Mac Specs: 2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo MacBook Pro	03-28-2009, 02:45 PM Wow. All it needs is ink? Cool.
	QUOTE Thanks

milessthomas #6 (permalink)
Member Since: Feb 28, 2007 Location: Outer Banks, NC Posts: 763 Mac Specs: MBP 3.06Ghz, MBP 2.2Ghz, Mini G4, B/W G3 (Media Server), Toshiba Laptop, LCII, Beige G3	03-30-2009, 12:40 AM Personally it depends on how sensitive your data is. Whenever I donate a computer I take out my hard drive and replace it with a cheap replacement from newegg.com or tigerdirect.com. Nor would I ever sell a computer with my hard drive in it. With the low price of hard drives now, its worth it to protect your sensitive information and just replace it with a new one and destroy the disks on the old one.
	QUOTE Thanks

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