Disk Utility Erase Option - Greyed Out

I want to donate my iMAC so I am trying to erase the hard drive using Disk Utility. However, when I click on my hard drive and go to "erase" the option is greyed out, not letting me select this option.

Any suggestions regarding how to have the "Erase" option activate?

I am using OS X 10.3 and Disk Utility 10.4.4

Thanks very much!

I'm using OS X and Disk Utility, trying to erase my hard drive before giving my old imac to charity. However, when I have launched Disk Utility, the "erase" option is greyed out and doesn't allow me to click on the button to erase the disk.

Does anyone have any suggestions?

Thanks,

[hayne]

You can't erase the disk that you are booted from.
You need to boot from some other disk (e.g. the Install DVD) in order to erase the hard disk.

[benwiggy]

Don't forget to include the installer disk with the computer, when you give it away.

[trevor]

You cannot erase the hard drive that you are currently booted to. That's like removing your floor while you are standing on it.

Boot to your OS X Install DVD or CD, then select Disk Utility from one of the menus (in recent versions of OS X, it's in the "Utilities" menu). While booted from your Install disc, you can erase your hard drive.

Trevor

[trevor]

Merged the two identical threads. signofthefour, please do not double post questions.

Trevor