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Looking for ways to erase my 2010 iMac

The info I have found is that I need to use the Disk Utility on the install DVD, but the DVD player no longer works and I don't have the startup disks any more.


It's running El Capitan 10.11.16


Any ideas? Thank you!

iMac 21.5″, OS X 10.11

Posted on Jan 22, 2023 2:28 PM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Jan 23, 2023 9:54 PM

Hi tamikowrites,

Welcome to the Apple (user-to-user) Community.


Wondering if you want to still use the Mac, or just want the hard-disk erased.


Re: Any ideas :-)


Am no expert, but seems this article has possibilities (no mention of DVD's):

Use Disk Utility to erase an Intel-based Mac – Apple Support


All the best :-)

6 replies

Jan 24, 2023 4:22 PM in response to tamikowrites

Open it up, remove the hard drive and take it in for recycling. Then you can destroy the drive and put it in a recycling bin.


You can get info on replacing the drive here: iMac Hard Drive Disk Replacement 2009 2010 2011 21 5" Apple or here: 21.5" inch iMac Mid 2010 A1311 Hard Drive SSD Upgrade


Don't worry about putting it back together neatly. If you have to just stuff the loose parts in the body and take the screen on.


Looking for ways to erase my 2010 iMac

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