I’m trying to erase the hard drive on my very old Mac laptop (15 yrs) and I keep getting this error. Can anyone help me out?
@see_the_sus Have you tried Thermite™?
Sorry I can't be any more help than trying to raise a smile. 😁
I'm sure the #CosoTech nerds will be along with some actual sensible advice shortly.
😂
@see_the_sus
What operating system?
Either a name or a number.
@corlin
shit shit SHIT! I accidentally unplugged it, (from the computer port), while I was moving stuff around on the desk. The battery died ages ago and I never bought a new one. Anyway, it gave me the dreaded ? when I turned it on and so I'm trying the reset the NVRAM but so far all it's doing is spinning with the Apple logo. 😖
Do you know the name, and year of the laptop?
You should be able to do a
"restore"... Can it get online??
I'm just gonna take out my anger on it. Hell, my best friend is coming over tomorrow and she's got a lot of pent-up anger so maybe we'll both have some fun. 😏
@see_the_sus
Also
Are you comfortable using the command line?
I am, mostly. lol I've used it when I have detailed instructions.
@see_the_sus if it’s 15 years old, you might prefer swapping in an SSD, and using this one as target practice, or to stabilize a rocking table or something. SSD’s have gotten wicked cheap. I’m buying 250GB from Amazon for less than a thumb drive- like $15.
I jsut want to erase it and put it in e-recycling.
@see_the_sus well then there are always hammers/rocks/magnets. :)
@see_the_sus
Have you tried formatting it?
I have no clue how to do that. Will have to look around. Right now I can't even get it restarted. I accidentally pulled out the plug (computer port) and now it won't start back up. There's no battery anymore. I just want to erase the machine and recycle it.
@see_the_sus Is the utility trying to work in the same volume it's trying to clear? What percentage of the volume is in use? If the utility needs a lot of free space to create a temp file, that might be an issue. There could also be a permissions issue if the utility is trying to create the file in a directory with insufficient permissions. You might try running it with sudo or the like . . . .
I'm sorry but I haven't a clue. I know the basics about the innards of computers and that's about it. I just want to erase it and take it to recycling
@see_the_sus https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/how-to-format-a-mac.373999/ for a few ideas. Someone mentions the available free space on the drive. Also, if your OS is actually using the drive you're trying to get it to erase . . . that could easily be a problem. If I even want to do a file-system fix on the machines I usually use, the machine has to reboot and proceed in a low-level mode for it too work. That's a on a Windows machine, but a Mac might have similar considerations.
Unfortunately, I accidentally unplugged it and now it won't start up at all. Well, it's giving me the lovely ?. I tried to do the NVRAM reset startup trick and all I get from that is the spinning wheel.
I think I"m just going to take a hammer or drill to it.
@see_the_sus Or take it to Mordor, to melt it in the fires of Mount Doom.
Only if I had Viggo to go with me. 😉
@see_the_sus
* Put it on a newer computer that works and do a low level format
* Take it to an electronics recycler you trust to chop up the platters so data is irretrievable
* Your idea, hammer. Safety glasses
The only place I can take e-waste to and not have to pay a fee is Staples.
I think I have safety glasses.
@see_the_sus The University of San Diego used to take e-waste. They'd repair and donate to schools whatever they could, and securely destroy and recycle everything else. Loved them! But they stopped 😥
State law says all batteries must be recycled and many places used to accept them. Then instead of giving them a tiny subsidy they started charging them money and now nobody takes them.
Oh FFS! 😡 It's all so damn ridiculous.
Indy had a pretty decent free e-waste program but here in Albuquerque, the city charges. I found out about Staples' recycling program thru my brother and turns out they take darn near anything. I've got a bunch of markers & pens that have dried up on me so I'll take those to there.
@see_the_sus This is funny, partly true, and I really hope is a gross exaggeration. Maybe you should watch after you get something to eat, or tomorrow.
https://youtu.be/_riGg2BW8Jw
I don’t know about the accuracy of the percentages he throws out but for the most part, he’s 100% truthful. And let’s not forget that most of what Americans send off to the recycling bins, doesn’t get dealt with in America.
AARRRGHHHH!!!!
I think I'm just gonna take a hammer or drill to it. All I wanted to do is erase the dang thing and then take it to be recycled, but dumb old me accidentally unplugged it, from the computer side, and now it won't start back up. 😖 🤬 I had to go and fiddle around with other stuff on the desk and hit the damn cord.