Apple Macbook Question

[afx]

I have Apple Macbook (not Pro) about to sell someone and want to erase my laptop before i sell, (complete format like PC's) i dont need to sell it with system so how can i format my apple completely? I have no system disc

[ocabj]

You don't have any OS install disc? Even one bundled with the laptop?

All you need to do is boot off an install disc, then in the menu (Finder), you can select the Disk Utility and do an erase. You can do a 7 pass erase which should be pretty decent as far as security.

[Casual_Shooter]

Not a perfect solution, but you can drag all important files to the trash and then "Secure Empty" the trash.

After that, open Disk Utility and "Erase Free Space".

Otherwise, maybe someone in your area has an OS disk....

[sfwdiy]

Where are you located?

--B

[afx]

Kinda late reply but @ pasadena

[madcount]

Not a good idea without a fresh OS install. There are many places that confidential information is stored. Your keychain, for example contains passwords including wireless networks, online accounts, and system information. There are also tons of preference lists, too. You would be handing over a lot of information about yourself.

[blackberg]

you can secure delete all your files, and then create a new admin user and delete the previous users as well, that will take care most of the stray files like keychain and stuff.

you have a buyer yet? I have a friend looking for a used macbook
-bb

[Telperion]

Do you have another mac or PC? Remove the HDD and connect it to a different computer and use something like dban or the UNIX utility dd to erase the drive.

[ENVYGREEN]

Ya because removing drives from macbooks is really easy for the average person

[lazyworm]

Another option -- go to an apple store, buy a copy of snow leopard for $29+tax, then do the reinstall/erase as described above.
... assuming it's a intel-based macbook.

[madcount]

Ya because removing drives from macbooks is really easy for the average person

Actually, if you remove the battery, the hard drive slides right out! Apple considers it user replaceable.

[JDay]

Use the dban livecd, it will do a secure wipe of your drive so that the data cannot be recovered.

http://www.dban.org/

Hold the "C" key when you turn it on to boot from CD.

[jarhead995]

i have the disk and im in pasadena..

will you pay me in bullets?

[1JimMarch]

If you're selling the laptop with no OS, you might seriously consider downloading a copy of Linux for free (of a type compatible with that rig) and let the installer completely re-format the disk in a Linux partitioning method.