bhaskar50

Q: wipe the HD clean and reinstall OS X

I want to wipe my old "slate clean" and start all over with my MacBook Pro which now runs Yosemite. Initially came with Snow Leopard. But the OSX install through App Store (Apple won't let me install from a bootable USB drive I have created , based on a  third party website article), but over and over again, the OS X installs itself with ALL the existing user info, and data TOTALLY intact. Which in normal circumstances is great, but since I am trying to wipe the entire data clean and create a new, system, how am I to accomplish it, if it won't let me?

 

Should I be creating a new admin account user, and delete the old user account with all its files and folders? Will that work?

iMac, Mac OS X (10.7.4)

Posted on Dec 31, 2014 3:48 PM

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Q: wipe the HD clean and reinstall OS X

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  • by Niel,

    Niel Niel Dec 31, 2014 3:51 PM in response to bhaskar50
    Level 10 (313,390 points)
    Mac OS X
    Dec 31, 2014 3:51 PM in response to bhaskar50

    Restart the computer with the Command and R keys held down, use the Disk Utility to erase the main partition, and then install an OS.

     

    (119250)

  • by bhaskar50,

    bhaskar50 bhaskar50 Jan 1, 2015 12:00 PM in response to Niel
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Desktops
    Jan 1, 2015 12:00 PM in response to Niel

    That's nice. But before I do that, I also have Windows 7 on Bootcamp. What will happen to it when I use the Disk Utility? Thanks.

  • by Niel,

    Niel Niel Jan 1, 2015 12:01 PM in response to bhaskar50
    Level 10 (313,390 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jan 1, 2015 12:01 PM in response to bhaskar50

    If you erase only the partition with Mac OS X on it, nothing. Back it up anyway.

    If you erase both partitions or the entire drive, it'll be erased.

     

    (119302)

  • by david.lski,

    david.lski david.lski Jan 1, 2015 12:23 PM in response to bhaskar50
    Level 1 (85 points)
    Jan 1, 2015 12:23 PM in response to bhaskar50

    If you want to wipe the whole disk, you can also do it from Internet Recovery mode. Here are the general steps:

     

    1. Shut down the machine.

    2. Press power just as you normally do.

    3. Immediately after you let go of power, hold down ⌘ + Option + R

    4. A screen will show up soon after saying "Starting Internet Recovery. This may take awhile..."

    5. When it comes to the OS X Utilities screen, choose Disk Utility.

    6. On the left, choose the top-level Macintosh HD or, sometimes, it has the name of the manufacturer and size of the HDD as the title. This won't be the indented hard drives.

    7. Choose the 'Erase' tab to the right.

    8. Make sure the format is 'Mac OS Extended (Journaled). Then name the new partition whatever works. Click 'Erase'.

    9. Give it a minute or so, and ta-da! Wiped HDD.

     

    If the machine is pre-Mid-2011, then Internet Recovery isn't an option. Follow these instructions:

     

    1. Shut down the machine.

    2. Insert the original OS X Install DVD.

    3. Press power just as you normally do.

    4. Immediately after you let go of power, press and hold down the 'C' key. This will boot to the install DVD.

    5. Once you've gotten to the first window asking you if you want to install OS X Snow Leopard, look at the menu bar on the top left side.

    6. Choose Utilities > Disk Utility.

    7. Go to step 6 from above and go from there.

  • by bhaskar50,

    bhaskar50 bhaskar50 Aug 30, 2015 7:44 PM in response to david.lski
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Desktops
    Aug 30, 2015 7:44 PM in response to david.lski

    I am trying to do that thing again. I have the Leopard (not Snow Leopard) OS DVD (that came with the iMac - 2GHz Intel Core 2 Duo - first batch to come with Tiger and Leopard OS X DVD to go). Now the startup, as instructed (with holding C key after turning the Mac on) takes me to installation screen that says " in order to upgrade to 10.5 you must have an OS X that is 10.4 or greater " and " MAC OS X can not be upgraded to 10.5 on your computer. Mac OS X 10.4 or greater could not be found on your computer ".

     

    I guess I don't have the Tiger (10.4) OS X DVD. Am I doomed?

  • by Niel,

    Niel Niel Aug 31, 2015 7:39 AM in response to bhaskar50
    Level 10 (313,390 points)
    Mac OS X
    Aug 31, 2015 7:39 AM in response to bhaskar50

    Phone Apple and order a replacement, or buy a Snow Leopard DVD from the online Apple Store.

     

    (132642)