AirPort Utility 6.x: Erase an AirPort Time Capsule disk

Erase an AirPort Time Capsule disk

If you’re using an AirPort Time Capsule, you can use AirPort Utility to erase its disk.

  1. Open AirPort Utility, located in the Utilities folder in the Applications folder. Select the Time capsule you want to erase, then click Edit. Enter the password if necessary.
  2. Click Disks, then click Erase Disk.
  3. Choose a security level from the Security Method pop-up menu, and then click Erase.

    You can choose the following levels of security when erasing the internal disk:

    Option Description
    Quick Erase (non-secure): Quick Erase erases directory information from the disk so that the data is no longer accessible. The data remains on the disk until additional data is written over it. Data is potentially recoverable, so this choice is the least secure.
    Zero Out Data: This option writes zeros over all the data on the disk. Zero Out Data provides good data protection in a short amount of time. This option writes to the entire disk, so it takes longer than the Quick Erase option.
    7-Pass Erase: This option writes zeros over the entire disk seven times. 7-Pass Erase provides highly secure erasure of data, and takes seven times longer than the Zero Out Data option.
    35-Pass Erase: 35-Pass Erase provides the most secure erasure of the disk. 35-Pass Erase writes zeros to the entire disk 35 times. It takes 35 times as long as the Zero Out Data Option.

The AirPort Time Capsule status light blinks amber while the disk is being erased. You won’t be able to change settings, update the firmware, or restart the AirPort Time Capsule until the disk is erased and becomes available again.

Last Modified: Nov 6, 2013
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