[Discuss] [OT] [Mac related] Wiping an old Mac

[Richard Pieri]

On Nov 2, 2011, at 4:36 PM, Edward Ned Harvey wrote:
> 
> Oh yeah - I just looked it up - that model was produced from 1997 to 2000
> and ran MacOS 9.  It's a dinosaur, and I'd feel safe saying it won't do
> target disk mode either.

Any Macintosh with FireWire version 2.3.3 or later can be started in target mode:
http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1661

The PowerBook G3 FireWire, can be started in target mode.  The earlier models in the line cannot.  More information about the line here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PowerBook_G3

> I bet it's a pain to pull out the hard disk.  And I'll bet it's a pain to
> find ANY thing that will boot on a PPC that old.  I would suggest either a
> sledgehammer, or a "don't care" with regards to data destruction on it...

Debian PPC should work.  All of the PowerBook G3 line will boot early versions of OS X, although the first model needs outside assistance.

--Rich P.