How do I wipe a mac ibook G4 hard drive file system?

Answer 1

You can do a clean reinstall of the Mac OSX operating system, but you will lose all your data and installed programs.

If you are having problems, there is an easy fix to verify and repair the main volume on your hard drive.

So first let's try the fix.

Find your Mac OSX install CD or DVD and insert it into the drive. Restart the computer and hold down the "C" key to start up the computer with your CD/DVD. It takes a little while but it will do it. Now the install screen will come up with your language selection, select your language and hit next.

Don't hit next again or you will reinstall your OS.

Okay, go to file in the finder and open disk utility (on pre-os 10.3 it's under file, on OS 10.4 it's under utilities.) On launch it will scan installed hard drives, select your hard drive and hit the button Verify or Verify and Repair. It will scan your hard drive and correct any format errors. Once done, remove your disk, restart and see if this fixed things.

If not do a clean reinstall, again start your computer from the CD/DVD and follow the install instructions. At one point it has options for install, select erase and install and you will have a clean version installed.

Mac OS X .4 Tiger has about 6 updates that have to be installed after you reinstall the OS. Just go to software update under preferences and download all recommended updates.

Hope that helps

Answer 2

Boot from software install cd or dvd. Select disk utility from pull down menu and follow instructions to initialize the disk.