How to Erase the Hard Drive on a Mac Mini

Restore your Mac Mini with the computer's OS installation CD to remove sensitive information.

The restoration process for your Mac Mini erases the hard drive's existing content and reinstalls the preinstalled software onto your computer. According to Apple, this process requires the use of the computer's original installation CD, as the disc includes system files specifically for the Mac Mini. Back up any valuable information to a disc or USB drive, as once your hard drive's information is erased it cannot be restored without the use of a data recovery application.

Things You'll Need

• Mac OS X installation CD
• Keyboard
• Mouse
• Monitor

Instructions

1. Insert the Mac OS X installation CD into the Mac Mini's disc drive and press the power button on the back of the Mac Mini. Click "Restart" on the pop-up menu.

2. Hold down the "Option" key on your Mac Mini's keyboard while the computer restarts. Release the key when the "Install Mac OS X DVD" icon is displayed. Click the icon and click the arrow button underneath to start the computer from the disk.

3. Click "Utilities" at the top of the menu and click "Disk Utility." Click the name of your Mac Mini's hard drive and click the "Erase" tab.

4. Click "Mac OS Extended (Journaled)" in the volume format menu and click "Erase."

5. Click "Erase" on the pop-up menu to start the hard drive restoring process. Click "Disk Utility" at the top o the screen and click "Quick Disk Utility."

6. Click "Continue" in the Mac OS X installation window and click "Agree." Click "Macintosh HD" as the destination disk and click "Install." Click "Continue" and click "Restart" on the pop-up menu after the installation is complete.

References

• Apple: Mac Mini User's Guide
• Apple: Mac OS X v10.6: How to "Erase and Install"

Resources

• Apple: Mac Mini