|
Removing files from Decommissioned Computers?
|
|
OP
Joined: Aug 2009
|
TinkerTool System allows one to: “Remove System-Specific Files of Decommissioned Computersâ€.
In my case, 5 locations with a total of 68 files were found.
Is it safe to remove these? TTS cautions to remove these only if you know what you’re. And I don’t.
How does one determine if it’s safe?
Harv 27" i7 iMac (10.13.6), iPhone Xs Max (12.1)
Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities. ~Voltaire
|
|
Re: Removing files from Decommissioned Computers?
|
Joined: Aug 2009
Likes: 8
|
Joined: Aug 2009
Likes: 8 |
Well, you could remove them and see if the computer still functions! While it is more work, why not erase and reinstall the System off of the original discs? Then there is no doubt about the computer working and there is nothing personal left behind.
On a Mac since 1984. Currently: 24" M1 iMac, M2 Pro Mac mini with 27" BenQ monitor, M2 Macbook Air, MacOS 14.x; iPhones, iPods (yes, still) and iPads.
|
|
Re: Removing files from Decommissioned Computers?
|
Joined: Aug 2009
Likes: 16
Moderator
|
Moderator
Joined: Aug 2009
Likes: 16 |
I agree with Ira. My habit is to erase the hard drive with a seven pass security erase (it takes a lot of time, but the drive is clean enough to withstand all but someone like the National Security Agency lab recovering anything from it). Then I perform a basic install using the discs and OS X version that came with the Mac from the factory. Then when I sell or pass the computer along I know my data is safely long gone and there is a legal set of genuine install discs that go along with it.
This is very probably overkill, but all it costs me is a little time and very minimal effort.
If we knew what it was we were doing, it wouldn't be called research, would it?
— Albert Einstein
|
|
Re: Removing files from Decommissioned Computers?
|
|
OP
Joined: Aug 2009
|
Sorry for the confusion I caused.
I am not decommissioning any of my computers. I just ran that TTS "feature" to see what happens / what would be found.
I had thought that what would be found are files unique to other computers and that theses files were somehow imported/migrated when I transferred data from an older machine to my current one.
Ignorance is bliss-feh!
Harv 27" i7 iMac (10.13.6), iPhone Xs Max (12.1)
Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities. ~Voltaire
|
|
|
|
|