Reformatting a Hard Drive with Mac OS X 10.5

Here's how to reformat a hard drive with Mac OS X 10.5 (Leopard). Using "zero" security, 7-pass, and 35-pass. GUID Table formatting for Intel Mac start up disks.

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• Levi
• Asay
• Cold
• Render
• Mac
• OS
• 10.5
• Reformat
• Hard
• Drive

[rotvalo]

If I've already been backing up my Mac hard drive to my new hard drive via enclosure, how do I know when I am done backing up all my files?

[leviasay]

@rotvalo I'd recommend using Time Machine. It's the easiest way to keep a backup. I do all of may backups manually, but that's because i do a a ton of video editing, so Time Machine isn't a good solution for me. But for regular users, it's an easy way to keep your files safe.

[Beanboyy]

i just used the method of erasing that you used on this video on my hard drive and when i went back on it i cant see my files, theyre ot the most important files but some i do wish to have back, however i did hear you say that it wont get to the data if i click dont erase data, can you please let me know if their is anyway to recover theses files, thanks!

[leviasay]

@Beanboyy reformating destroys the table of contents on the disk that lets you access the files. so effectively your data is gone, but you can try a disc recovery software that might be able to index the hard drive and recover some of the data. the purpose of reformatting is to clear off a hard drive and destroy the data on it. never reformat a drive that you don't have backed up.

[dwward]

@Beanboyy why on earth did you do that?

I hope you got back your stuff.

[leviasay]

@MfTroyboii if you don't think it's the hard drive, then definitely try the retail version of 10.6.

[MfTroyboii]

@leviasay Soo what should i do?Should i go out and buy snow leopard and see if that installs?

Because when i put the other disk in,and go to disk utility,i can see my hard drive,but i cant verify permission or whatever i can only verify disk and repair disk,cant click on the left side where it says verify permission and repair permission.Soo i dont think the hard drive is ruined,i think i just deleted the operating system,but then again i dont know lol

[leviasay]

@MfTroyboii there's a good chance you may have the wrong discs. in recent years, apple has made installation discs that are specific to the machine they are sold with. so you can't install the new os on the other computers. if you get a retail version, it should install on any machine. i think i would try the software first, but if it is the hard drive, they are super easy to replace. ifixit.com has great repair guides.

[MfTroyboii]

I bought a black macbook on ebay,and it didnt come with the disks,soo i borrowed my friends mac os x disc and i got it to format but now it shows a folder with a question mark in the middle of it and it blinks,and its not letting me instal,do i need to buy snow leopard or a new hard drive??

[leviasay]

@MakeEveryMomentCount GOOD! haha! i was starting to think you were completely retarded! cause who actually reformats their hard drive the week before finals. but with that said, i hope you have everything backed up. ;)