The error message “Disk Erase Failed With The Error: Wiping Volume Data to Prevent Future Accidental Probing Failed” typically occurs on MacOS when you’re trying to erase or format a hard drive, SSD, or USB flash drive using Disk Utility, and MacOS can’t complete the task due to various reasons. The error message is somewhat obscure, but it essentially means that MacOS was unable to securely erase the drive’s data to prevent it from being accidentally discovered or “probed” by future data recovery efforts.
Here are some potential causes for the error wiping volume data to prevent future accidental probing failed.
- File System Corruption: The existing file system on the drive could be corrupt, and MacOS can’t make sense of it.
- Physical Drive Failure: If the drive is failing physically, it may not be able to be properly accessed or formatted.
- In Use by System: The drive could be in use by the system or an application, preventing Disk Utility from making changes.
- Permission Issues: Disk Utility may not have the necessary permissions to erase the drive.
Here’s what you can do to try to fix wiping volume data to prevent future accidental probing failed
1. Try again in Disk Utility
Sometimes, the process might fail due to a minor glitch, and simply retrying could be enough.
2. Restart your Mac
Restarting can often resolve minor software glitches that might prevent the drive from being erased.
3. Use Disk Utility in Recovery Mode
If the above steps don’t work, try using Disk Utility in Recovery Mode:
- Restart your Mac and immediately hold down Command + R until you see the Apple logo.
- From the macOS Utilities menu, select Disk Utility.
- Choose the drive you wish to erase.
- Click Erase, then confirm your decision.
4. Use Terminal to Erase the Disk
As a last resort, you can try erasing the disk from the Terminal. Be very careful when using Terminal because incorrect commands can lead to data loss. Here’s how:
- Open Terminal from the Utilities folder in Applications.
- Enter the command diskutil list and press Enter. You will see a list of all drives and volumes on your Mac.
- Find the disk identifier for the drive you want to erase (like disk2, disk3, etc.).
- Then, type sudo diskutil eraseDisk JHFS+ ‘NewName’ GPT disk#, replacing ‘NewName’ with the name you want to give to the drive and ‘#’ with the disk identifier number.
5. Reconnect or replace the hard drive cable
f your Mac features a detachable hard drive, consider unplugging and then re-plugging the SATA cable. A loose connection might be the cause behind the unsuccessful hard drive wipe. If you’re hesitant about opening your Mac, it’s advisable to consult a professional technician.
If, after re-seating the hard drive cable, you continue to face error 69825 on your Mac, it may be time to invest in a new hard drive cable. Prolonged use could have led to wear and tear, making the existing SATA cable defective.
6. Format the drive on another Mac
If you’re looking to initialize a new drive for your Mac, using another functional Mac for the formatting might help you circumvent the error. You can remove the drive, attach it to the second Mac using an external enclosure, and once successfully formatted, return it to your original Mac.
Alternatively, if you prefer not to physically shift your hard drive, activate your Mac’s Target Disk Mode and link it to another Mac using a FireWire, Thunderbolt, or USB-C cable.
7. Switch to another hard drive
There’s a chance that the hard drive you’re attempting to wipe or partition isn’t suited for your Mac. For example, if you’ve placed a SATA III drive in your Mac’s optical bay, it might not function properly since not every Mac is designed to support SATA III drives in that slot. In such instances, you should consider using a drive compatible with SATA II speeds.
Spreading these solutions can assist other users in addressing the problem.
8. Unmount the disk first
Unmounting a drive on macOS ensures that data is not being read or written when you physically disconnect the drive.
I have written a guide on how to unmount a drive on macOS.