wiping hard drive

[Kirstin]

hi, im trying to sell my imac but before i do i want to completely wipe the hard drive. i have Mac OS X, 10.3.5 if that helps.
i've tried to do it by going into disk utilities then erase but none of the options seem to be active!
any help would be much appreciated!!
thanks
kirstin

 

[powermac]

You can't erase the disk, if the Operation System is running on it. You will have to boot up using your install CD, and use disk Utl. from that install CD to erase the disk. The options to overwrite the drive will be available as well.

 

[MacDieHeart]

heh...heh...heh..
You can't ask a Mac to labotomize itself like the Wintel PCs

 

[Qfxz]

Load the install disk, , when recognized go to system preferences, open, then open start up disk , click the instasll disk as the start up disk, restart the computer while holding down the option key. the computer syarts up on the install disk, go to Utilities in the Application's folder, open disk utility, click on your drive and do a full re-install. Opt out, do not select a "previous system" folder that should reduce a lot of your files. I would still, carefully, look through the system for traces of 'you', delete those and secure emptied trash.

 

[ElDiabloConCaca]

Load the install disk, , when recognized go to system preferences, open, then open start up disk , click the instasll disk as the start up disk, restart the computer while holding down the option key.

This is rendundant -- either choose the Intsall CD/DVD as the startup disk in System Preferences and restart, OR restart holding the option key.

If you choose the install CD/DVD as the startup disk and restart, then it will start from the CD/DVD without further interaction (ie, holding down keyboard keys, etc.).

If you skip that step and simply restart, then hold down the option key when you restart to be presented with a menu of bootable volumes, where you can select the install CD/DVD.

Selecting the install CD/DVD in the Startup Disk preference pane and then holding down the option key is redundant and unnecessary.

the computer syarts up on the install disk, go to Utilities in the Application's folder, open disk utility, click on your drive and do a full re-install.

This is impossible -- if you boot from the Install CD/DVD, then you do not have local access to your hard drive -- meaning, it would be impossible to navigate to /Applications/Utilities. The install CD/DVD does not include a fully bootable installation of Mac OS X, meaning when you boot from the Install CD/DVD, you are not presented with a "Finder" as you would be when you boot from your hard drive -- and, thus, cannot navigate to /Applications/Utilities.

Instead, select "Disk Utility" from the "Installer" menu once the CD/DVD is fully booted.