How to wipe a mac using target mode?

[Username5281]

Hi
I have an old mac mini (~2015), and a new M1 one.
The old one has thunderbolt v2 ports
The new one has the superior versions
Both have an ethernet port.

I'm not able to boot old one (kinda messed it up using windows/bootcamp etc)
I want to format the old one.

Gone to an IT store today, i didn't find thunderbolt v2 to usb.
But there is a thunderbolt v2 to Ethernet.


Could you suggest me something to format my old mac mini please?
I was thinking i could boot the old one in target mode, then connect a thunderbolt to usb and that's it, use disk utility.

I searched a bit this cable on internet, i feel i'm missing something...

 

[Mr_Brightside_@]

Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) to Thunderbolt 2 Adapter

Effortlessly connect your Mac to a Thunderbolt 2 device with the Apple Thunderbolt 3 Adapter. Buy now at apple.com/uk

www.apple.com

Apple Thunderbolt Cable (0.5 m) - White

Thunderbolt technology supports fast data transfers with two independent channels of 10Gb/s each. And Thunderbolt 2 technology can bond the two channels for a super-fast 20Gb/s. Use this cable to connect Thunderbolt-enabled devices to the Thunderbolt or Thunderbolt 2 port on your Mac.

www.apple.com

Boot old while holding T on the keyboard, you should see the Thunderbolt icon
Connect both Macs with the adaptor and cable
Open Disk Utility on the new and select the old one's drive, wipe it

 

[chrfr]

Hi
I have an old mac mini (~2015), and a new M1 one.
The old one has thunderbolt v2 ports
The new one has the superior versions
Both have an ethernet port.

I'm not able to boot old one (kinda messed it up using windows/bootcamp etc)
I want to format the old one.

Gone to an IT store today, i didn't find thunderbolt v2 to usb.
But there is a thunderbolt v2 to Ethernet.


Could you suggest me something to format my old mac mini please?
I was thinking i could boot the old one in target mode, then connect a thunderbolt to usb and that's it, use disk utility.

I searched a bit this cable on internet, i feel i'm missing something...

I think you'll find using internet recovery to be much less trouble, and will require fewer expensive cables and adapters.

 

[Username5281]

Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) to Thunderbolt 2 Adapter

Effortlessly connect your Mac to a Thunderbolt 2 device with the Apple Thunderbolt 3 Adapter. Buy now at apple.com/uk

www.apple.com

Apple Thunderbolt Cable (0.5 m) - White

Thunderbolt technology supports fast data transfers with two independent channels of 10Gb/s each. And Thunderbolt 2 technology can bond the two channels for a super-fast 20Gb/s. Use this cable to connect Thunderbolt-enabled devices to the Thunderbolt or Thunderbolt 2 port on your Mac.

www.apple.com

Boot old while holding T on the keyboard, you should see the Thunderbolt icon
Connect both Macs with the adaptor and cable
Open Disk Utility on the new and select the old one's drive, wipe it

Awesome thank you very much!

I think you'll find using internet recovery to be much less trouble, and will require fewer expensive cables and adapters.

I tried but my HDD is not recognized (even using gparted)
I completely messed up the "partition table"(?) by dual booting Windows in the past and trying to remove it recently.
_________________________________

I want to do this to sell the old mini, it did cost me ~$500 new
I'm afraid that buying this cable+adapter only for this, would make the operation not really interesting

So i guess I should try to find>buy the screw drivers to connect to the hdd directly, using "sata"(?)


Thanks guys!

 

[chrfr]

Awesome thank you very much!



I tried but my HDD is not recognized (even using gparted)
I completely messed up the "partition table"(?) by dual booting Windows in the past and trying to remove it recently.
_________________________________

I want to do this to sell the old mini, it did cost me ~$500 new
I'm afraid that buying this cable+adapter only for this, would make the operation not really interesting

So i guess I should try to find>buy the screw drivers to connect to the hdd directly, using "sata"(?)


Thanks guys!

If the disk isn't recognized at all from internet recovery, it won't be recognized in target disk mode either. It's not clear which Mac you have exactly, but it sounds like a 2014 or earlier. The disks can be replaced in all of these; it's only when the 2018 was released that the storage was soldered onto the logic board.

 

[Fishrrman]

There was no 2015 Mini.
There was a 2012 Mini, then a 2014 Mini. Then a 2018 Mini.

All of these can do "internet recovery".

You haven't told us what you want to do after you format the internal drive.

Be aware that if it's a 2014 Mini with only 4gb of RAM, it's not worth much (it's not worth much anyway).

If you can't get target disk mode to work, here's another way:

Power down, all the way off. You need a keyboard, mouse, and display hooked up.
Connecting directly to ethernet works best.

PRESS and HOLD these three keys:
Command-OPTION-R
... and touch the power button.

KEEP HOLDING THE 3 KEYS DOWN for a while, until you see the "spinning globe". The internet utilities take a while to load, be patient.

When you get to the utilities, open disk utility.
VERY IMPORTANT: go to the "view" menu (if there is one) and choose "show all devices". (you can't see the internal drive unless you do this!)

Look at the list on the left. The topmost item should be the internal drive.
Click on it and click "erase".

Choose "APFS, GUID partition format".

When the erase is done, quit disk utility and open the installer.

Begin clicking through. The Mac will restart one or more times, and the screen will go dark for a minute or more with no other indication of activity.
BE PATIENT.

When the install is done, you should see the initial setup screen (choose your language).

If it's going to be sold, at this point just press and hold the power button until the screen goes dark and the Mini shuts down.

It's ready to hand over to the next owner.

PRINT OUT THESE INSTRUCTIONS and follow them carefully.

Good luck.

 

[Username5281]

If the disk isn't recognized at all from internet recovery, it won't be recognized in target disk mode either. It's not clear which Mac you have exactly, but it sounds like a 2014 or earlier. The disks can be replaced in all of these; it's only when the 2018 was released that the storage was soldered onto the logic board.

Do you mean the disk has a hardware issue?
I was thinking the mac "firmware"(?) is not able to communicate with the disk anymore, because i did the windows dual boot setup badly, and tried to remove it badly too.
It worked fine before, and after like a year in a box, it didn't want to boot anymore, maybe i should just had to reset nvram? anyway i went into hurry wiping attempts and there i think i messed it up.

It's a mac mini 2014.
I didn't know that the storage is soldered since 2018, thanks for info.

You haven't told us what you want to do after you format the internal drive.

I want to reinstall macOs, like if it is new.

VERY IMPORTANT: go to the "view" menu (if there is one) and choose "show all devices". (you can't see the internal drive unless you do this!)

Look at the list on the left. The topmost item should be the internal drive.

I really appreciate your help

The drive doesn't appear when doing this
If i recall corectly, the first time I attempted to do this, the disk appeared, then I think i tried to wipe it there, but now, nothing.

(it's a 4gb for sure. i5 i think, i hope to get around $100 for it...)

 

[chrfr]

Do you mean the disk has a hardware issue?

It's certainly possible. Beyond that it's impossible to say.

 

[Username5281]

It's certainly possible. Beyond that it's impossible to say.

if i manage to see if it was just a "bad configuration" issue, i would tell on this thread
and if i see that i'm unable to access the disk by removing it and using a sata cable, i would tell too.



One curious thing i noticed, is that when creating the gparted bootable usb, using rufus, as FAT32:

only the gparted boot option icon appears

But when creating as ntfs, then when booting the mac in boot options, then my old Windows boot option icon appears too!

Anyway, gparted can't see the disk.

I think I might have converted the whole disk to ntfs when setting up the windows dual boot, something like that...

(the windows won't boot, anyway i think i erased the data during my first attempt) i think it shows a question mark.
Btw i tried to make the gparted bootable usb using Balena Etcher and I think it never get listed in the boot options...

 

[CraigJDuffy]

if i manage to see if it was just a "bad configuration" issue, i would tell on this thread
and if i see that i'm unable to access the disk by removing it and using a sata cable, i would tell too.



One curious thing i noticed, is that when creating the gparted bootable usb, using rufus, as FAT32:

only the gparted boot option icon appears

But when creating as ntfs, then when booting the mac in boot options, then my old Windows boot option icon appears too!

Anyway, gparted can't see the disk.

I think I might have converted the whole disk to ntfs when setting up the windows dual boot, something like that...

(the windows won't boot, anyway i think i erased the data during my first attempt) i think it shows a question mark.
Btw i tried to make the gparted bootable usb using Balena Etcher and I think it never get listed in the boot options...

boot into internet recovery and from utilities up the top select terminal


Run “diskutil list” without the quotes. does the disk show up? If no, hardware issue.

 

[Fishrrman]

OP wrote:
"The drive doesn't appear when doing this
If i recall corectly, the first time I attempted to do this, the disk appeared, then I think i tried to wipe it there, but now, nothing."

OK, let's pause for a moment and assess.

It sounds like you were successful at getting it booted to internet recovery.

But, when you tried to use disk utility, the internal drive "isn't there".

Try booting to internet recovery again, please.
Repeat the steps (yes I realize you did all this once already).

Get booted, get to disk utility.

After choosing "show all devices" in the view menu... what exactly does the top line in the list on the left say?
Write it down or take a picture and post it here.

A base model 2014 Mini would have come with a 5400rpm platter-based drive, probably a Seagate or WD. These weren't great to begin with, and at 9 years or so old, it could be failing (or completely failed).

If disk utility won't "see it" using internet recovery, I see your choices as:
- sell it with the information that the internal drive is non-working and will require replacement
- open it up and remove the internal drive. You can either replace it (not worth it), or sell it without any drive at all (again, worth little).

I don't see continued efforts with target disk mode changing anything.
If the drive is non-functioning in internet recovery, using target disk mode isn't going to change anything.

One last thought...
Do you happen to have another spare USB drive around?
Could be platter-based HDD or SSD.

WHY I'm asking:
You could:
- connect the USB drive
- boot to internet recovery
- erase the drive (APFS)
- open the os installer and install an OS ONTO THE EXTERNAL DRIVE
- now the Mini can boot and run from the external for the moment
- now you can "attack" the internal drive to see if anything can be done with it.

My estimation is that this old Mini is about all done... time for retirement.

 

[Username5281]

I never used diskutil list before

I just did boot into internet recovery mode to try this command, the disk appeared
Attached is a text file of the output

I'm not sure if I usually tried using the normal recovery or the internet one, but i remember it took a while with a loading bar, like it was downloading something.
But the interface of this one seemed different, dark, and more modern/minimalist maybe

___________

Then I closed the terminal, and opened the Disk Utility gui app to see if the disk appeared too, it did appear too.

I clicked "Erase": APFS GUID
Got stuck on "Waiting for partitions to activate"
Couldn't close the app, had to shutdown the mac.

I then made some researches about when was APFS introduced: 2017
When setting up the Windows dual boot, I remember I think had to use (J?)HFS+ for the dual boot to work.

_________________

I booted again into internet recovery mode to try HFS+ instead, the disk doesn't appear anymore using the diskutil command, either using the gui.

I think it's ultra-corrupted! But I have the felling it's not a hardware issue.... but hardware is not my field at all.
___________________________________________________

@Fishrrman
I don't have any external drive
I have some internals, but I don't have any usb<>sata adapter to connect them
But i like your idea and I would try it

______

I don't give up right now, I'll continue to try, with your help i hope

 

[Username5281]

-

 

[Username5281]

Write it down or take a picture and post it here.

Please find attached the picture

I tried to take a screenshot without success, sorry for the quality
As always, "show all devices" is selected.

So i rebooted into internet recovery mode, the disk now appears again in terminal, but doesn't in the gui app.
I used the eraseDisk command, with HPFS+, but I'm again stuck on "Waiting for partitions to activate" (50%)

I will try other file systems to see if that helps

 

[Username5281]

I've been able to pass this "Waiting for partitions to activate" by adding "GPT" to the eraseDisk command

Now macos gets stuck when trying to mount the disk
Even the Disk Utility gui won't load anymore
I will tell if i figure this out

 

[chrfr]

I've been able to pass this "Waiting for partitions to activate" by adding "GPT" to the eraseDisk command

Now macos gets stuck when trying to mount the disk
Even the Disk Utility gui won't load anymore
I will tell if i figure this out

I would just write off this disk at this point and replace it, or just sell the mini as-is.

 

[Username5281]

I would just write off this disk at this point and replace it, or just sell the mini as-is.

hmm i would like to understand what is happening

attached is a screenshot, of when the disk appears...

I did run first aid, but it said something like "Done" after 3 seconds and that's it

 

[chrfr]

hmm i would like to understand what is happening

attached is a screenshot, of when the disk appears...

View attachment 2232604

I did run first aid, but it said something like "Done" after 3 seconds and that's it

You just need to click erase and that should allow it to be used. However, if it doesn’t always appear then you can be sure it’s failing.

 

[MallardDuck]

You just need to click erase and that should allow it to be used. However, if it doesn’t always appear then you can be sure it’s failing.

If erase doesn't work, you can use partition too.

But a system of that era? Yeah, it's likely the drive is failing. Cheap and easy to replace - ifixit.com has instructions.

 

[Username5281]

I tried to click Erase using GPT + APFS: got stuck "Waiting for partitions to activate"
same with GPT and HFS+.

I think Partition is greyed as you could see in the photo
Sorry again for the quality

It's a 2014 mac mini, I bought it around 2018, it was new under plastic.
I used it for like 2 years, maybe 3, that's a reason i struggle to accept it would be dying because being too old/used...

I heard about ifixit.com
I will probably try to find the required tools and find the tutorial there, thanks

I think sometimes, some os are better to format some drives than others
Probably the fact of having installed Windows on it, and especially the way i did it, make it fixable only using windows..........
Anyway at this point i guess best is to find the screw driver/tools and try to connect directly using another pc and a sata to usb cable

I would tell how it goes here

But i have the feeling that using the good commands in the terminal in recovery mode, it could be fixed without being removed from the case etc

 

[Fishrrman]

OP:

I'm looking at the image in reply 17 above.

This is what one should see when you select "show all devices" from the view menu.

The topmost item IS the internal hard drive.

In the pic it's already selected.
The next thing you should do is click the erase button.
Erase to APFS, GUID partition format.

If that doesn't work, try erasing to "Mac OS extended, journaling enabled, GUID partition format".

If THAT doesn't work, I'd try erasing it to ExFAT.
IF it erases to ExFat, THEN try to erase it to APFS again.

If you can't get it erased at all, then I'd say the drive is toast.
Don't waste any more time with it.
Either replace the drive, or put the Mini in the closet or sell it.

 

[chrfr]

I tried to click Erase using GPT + APFS: got stuck "Waiting for partitions to activate"
same with GPT and HFS+.

I think Partition is greyed as you could see in the photo

Just replace the disk.

 

[Username5281]

Hi

@Fishrrman
I tried to erase to ExFAT, got stuck on "Waiting for partitions to activate" too

Just once I managed to pass this message using the command "diskutil eraseDisk HFS+ hdd GPT /dev/disk20" i think

but it won't anymore.

Yesterday I found this thread which i thought would fix my issue, but it didn't

For now I give up using the mac to fix the issue
__________________________

I think I will buy the tools listed on ifixit website, would cost around $20

And a usb<>sata cable/adapter, would cost around $20 too, i wanted to have this cable anyway since a while so it's cool

I would tell how it went, I have the feeling that diskpart would fix this in a minute.

 

[MallardDuck]

IF you can't even format it as exfat, that's likely the drive is dying.

Note that you can replace it with an SSD, and get a massive performance boost. OWComputing has replacement drives that are sorted by mac model.