Apple: Delete Files On Another Mac?

November 9, 2007 6:52 PM

How do I delete files on one Mac that I am connecting to via Firewire target disk mode?

My five month old MacBook Pro's display is dead. I woke up this morning to find the display just didn't. Apple support was, um, unsupportive (an "I'm so sorry" would have been nice, but I digress) so I spent $40 on a Firewire cable and now have access to my MacBook Pro via my PowerBook. Tomorrow I will take the MacBook to the Apple store, but in the mean time I have very sensitive documents on the MacBook that I don't want anyone to see. (OK, I'm stupid, but who can remember every password to every site, so I kept a list, and there are bank account numbers, and, honestly, my personal journal, which, while not terribly exciting, still is personal.)

I can copy files and backup whatever I need, but I can't figure out how to delelte.

I just want to delete some files before I hand over my (digital) life to someone.

Any ideas? I have unsuccessfully scoured the Internet, but no luck!

Thanks!

posted by davidinmanhattan to computers & internet (6 comments total)

Throw them in the trash and empty it?
posted by sbutler at 6:56 PM on November 9, 2007

If you put it in Target Mode, you should be able delete files from the attached hard drive — you have full access to the attached drive; permissions are ignored.

That said, even deletion is not entirely secure. If you have the Remote Access service enabled, you could use Apple Remote Desktop to get in and do a Secure Empty Trash action.

If you're comfortable with the command-line and Terminal, you could use srm to do the same thing.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 6:57 PM on November 9, 2007

The advice above is good. In Firewire Disk Mode, consider your macbook as you would an external hard drive. Connect to it, find the files you want to delete, drag them to the trash and EMPTY the trash...

And, unless you've got something on the hard drive that will convict you as a terrorist, the techs really aren't interested in your last date, what you think of your ex, and probably won't take time trying to dig out your bank account numbers... Don't worry about it.
posted by HuronBob at 7:01 PM on November 9, 2007

Look for secure empty trash, and use Disk Utility to 'erase free space' on the target drive with security options set.
posted by Dipsomaniac at 7:12 PM on November 9, 2007

Also be aware that the techs may reformat your hard drive, just to rule that out as a cause of the problem. Crazy, I know.
posted by adamrice at 7:42 PM on November 9, 2007

Oh.
Yes, just dragging them to the trash worked.
It's been a tough day. You guys are great, and I am a bone-head.

You mean no one is interested in what I think of my ex? No 'Dear Diary' purloiners?
It has been a tough day!

Thanks again, everyone!
posted by davidinmanhattan at 9:12 PM on November 9, 2007