Erasing External Hard Disk

[barney db]

Hi
I have an old WD 160gb external hard disk that I want to dispose of. Iv'e erased it via Disk Utility, but when I try to overwrite it securely via DD, after a while a note states that the secure overwrite failed.

Iv'e attempted this in the first, second, and third overwrite secure stage but it still fails. See the attached screen shot.

I'd appreciate any info available. Thanks.

 

[maverick100]

Can you format encrypted? that is how I erase all my drives now. I format Apfs encrypted; then I format in the format I need to use. I think that will securely erase it.

 

[barney db]

Hi thanks for your response. As it was an old disk and just 160gb, I wanted to bin it securely and for some reason it wouldn't allow a secure overwrite wipe.Finally sorted with an estwing. Not the best way, but effective.

 

[BrianBaughn]

I think for encrypted to help with security…in these type of situations…it has to be done to the data before it's "erased".

If you're disposing of that drive because it was malfunctioning then perhaps that's why a secure erase won't work.

But…try a secure erase using the "MacOS Extended (Journaled)" option.