SOS-how to securely erase external hard drives?

Ilana Braun

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Mar 23, 2026, 5:47:26 PMMar 23

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I have 10 external 2tb drives that I want to erase so file recovery programs will not work. I have erased them with disk utility. We had at one time three computers at home-that’s how we ended up with all these drives , and now I want to donate them or recycle them.

I would appreciate suggestions very much!

Thank you

=============

Ilana Braun

650-283-1310

Speak the truth but ride a fast horse. A West Texas cowboy saying.

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 MacMind 

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Mar 23, 2026, 6:33:52 PMMar 23

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Ilana,

Howdy,

First question: are these 'normal' rotating platter hard disk drives (HD), or are they solid state disks (SSD)?

If they are 'normal' rotating platter hard disk drives (HD), did you just do a 'standard' erase, or did you have the option to click upon 'secure erase', and choose that option? Newer versions of macOS may not have that option.

Lastly, if you choose to 'erase as encrypted', provide a complex randomized password, and erase it as encrypted, that should prevent anyone from accessing any data, all data would be encrypted and non-recoverable then. This is probably the best option, and it works for both HD & SSD kinds of disks.

Lastly, once erased, they can probably be donated to some groups that take old computer equipment, I don't know what groups may exist in your area, something like the 'GreyBears' that are in the Santa Cruz area:

https://greybears.org/our-programs/recycle/electronics-recycling/

Lastly, there may also be an E-waste recycling option in your area, I would just try google searches to find one near you.

https://www2.calrecycle.ca.gov/electronics/eRecycle/

https://allgreenrecycling.com/electronics-recycling-santa-cruz-county/

Thanks,

Daniel Feldman

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MacMind
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On Mar 23, 2026, at 2:47 PM, 'Ilana Braun' via SVMUG <sv...@googlegroups.com> wrote:

I have 10 external 2tb drives that I want to erase so file recovery programs will not work. I have erased them with disk utility. We had at one time three computers at home-that’s how we ended up with all these drives , and now I want to donate them or recycle them.
I would appreciate suggestions very much!
Thank you

=============
Ilana Braun
650-283-1310
Speak the truth but ride a fast horse. A West Texas cowboy saying.

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