disk utility mac erase format for windows

Zero Out Data-There are forensics utilities that, albeit expensive and time consuming, can retrieve zeroed-out data.Files can be recovered by forensics, disk utilities, and other advanced recovery software. Don't Erase Data-This option only rewrites the headers on the disk.

In the Name field, highlight the existing text and type the name the hard drive is to have after it is formatted.įollowing are the available security options:.From the Volume Format drop-down menu, select Mac OS Extended (Journaled).In the right pane of the Disk Utility window, click the Erase tab.In the left pane of the Disk Utility window, click the drive you want to erase.From the Installer Menu Bar, click Open Disk Utility.You will then see the Welcome to the Mac OS X Installer window. Hold down the C key during the startup process.You must reboot your computer using the OS X system CD that came with your Macintosh. If you need to erase a disk so that the files cannot be recovered, you can select security options within the utility to do so (i.e., write zeros over the disk space). Therefore, the erased files can be recovered. Therefore, before you erase the hard drive, if you want to keep any files, copy them to a form of external media (e.g., an external hard drive or a CD).īy default, Disk Utility erases only the information used to access the files, not the data in the files themselves. Erasing a hard drive deletes all the volumes and files on the drive.

Disk utility mac erase format for windows