How to format a Mac?

[Inferno]

The Mrs has sold her Mac, but wants to delete all the data on it before it goes. She dragged everything to the trash can (some 550,00 files) and pressed delete. I worked out from the speed it was taking that it would have been about 4 days to complete!

So what's the fast way (if there is one)? I've tried going into the Hard drive>Applications>Utilities>Disk Utility, here there are two drives listed - 76.7GB IBM-IC325L09OA.. and Macintosh HD, but the drop down menu for Volume format is greyed out, as is the name. All the Erase options are greyed out too?!

What's going on? Help Please!

 

[sn00p]

1.) Boot from the install dvd.
2.) Fresh installation.
C.) Profit.

 

[Inferno]

And if you don't have an install disk?

 

[Revels]

If you're running Lion, you won't have an install DVD.

So boot, hold Alt. Select the recovery drive. Disk Utility. Erase. Fresh install.

 

[Inferno]

If you're running Lion, you won't have an install DVD.

So boot, hold Alt. Select the recovery drive. Disk Utility. Erase. Fresh install.

How do I know if it's running Lion? Please excuse my ignorance!

 

[Revels]

Has she updated it/bought it recently?

Top left, click the Apple logo and then 'About this Mac' is the first option. What number does it say as the version?

 

[Inferno]

Not sure about updates, but it says Mac OS X version 10.5.1

 

[Revels]

Ah, that's Leopard then. So it's old. Lol.

You sure she has no discs anywhere?

What I originally said should work still for Leopard, but I'm not 100% certain.

 

[Inferno]

OK, tried pressing Alt, and it shows a screen with a small round arrow button, a small picture of a hard drive, and a small arrow button pointing left. What now? (Mrs. still searching the house for a disk! Lol!)

 

[Inferno]

Clicking the hard drive icon does nothing, clicking the round arrow just brings up a little watch and the other arrow takes me to the normal home screen.

Hang on... She's found a disk!

 

[Revels]

Lol. Put the disc in. Turn it on.

It should give you the option for a fresh install.

 

[Inferno]

Put the disk in and it's booted up, the only difference I see is the disk icon is on the desktop though - just go in via that?

 

[JJ!]

Put disc in, reboot and hold C.

Click on small arrow that appears under the disc icon (probably be icon on the right)

May be a few steps about language etc... cant remember!

Then go to disk utilities which will be at the top of the screen before you start fully installing software - you can wipe HD from there then proceed with fresh install of SL.

 

[Ex-User (19928)]

Should give you the option to format to military grade compliance when you goto format lol (need the disk for Leopard).

 

[Inferno]

Thanks gentlemen, I'll buy you all a beer if you're ever in the area. It's installing now. Ta.