Q: Guidance on clean install of El Capitan
After install El Capita, I've had nothing but slow response throughout my iMac, spinning beach bal.
First, I had a time machine back up of yosimite, and proceeded App Store to download El Capita. The download took hours, use about 800gb of 1tb hd.
Now, all my files are present but my external hd (backup 2tb) is empty. I don't know what happened to my backup, but they are gone.
System as been buggy since upgrade (release date), I want to perform a clean install of El Capitan. I have a TM back up now.
Is a clean install in order for me, and gradually pull from back up (mostly musi/photos/video)?
Posted on Oct 9, 2015 7:31 AM
Community Specialists
Hello sguerra,
Thanks for using Apple Support Communities.
From your post it looks like you want to erase and install OS X El Capitan on your computer, and then selectively restore information back to it. Since you have a backup, you can erase the hard drive and reinstall a clean copy of El Capitan, and then use Migration Assistant to bring over selected categories of items from your backup.
Erase your drive and install OS X
Generally you don't need to erase your startup disk to reinstall OS X. The OS X Installer is designed to allow you to perform an install in place over the same version or earlier versions of OS X. If you're transferring your Mac to a new owner, you might want to erase your built-in startup disk before reinstalling OS X.
Important: Before you erase and reinstall, back up your important files. If you’re using a MacBook, MacBook Air, or MacBook Pro, make sure the power adapter is connected and plugged in while performing these steps.
You can use these steps to erase the files on your startup disk and install a new copy of OS X:
- Before you begin, make sure your Mac is connected to the Internet.
- Restart your Mac. Immediately hold down the Command (⌘) and R keys after you hear the startup sound to start up in OS X Recovery.
- When the Recovery window appears, select Disk Utility then click Continue.
- Select the indented volume name of your startup disk from the left side of the Disk Utility window, then click the Erase tab.
- If you want to securely erase the drive, click Security Options. Select an erase method, then click OK.
- From the Format pop-up menu, select Mac OS Extended (Journaled). Type a name for your disk, then click Erase.
- After the drive is erased, close the Disk Utility window.
- If you’re not connected to the Internet, choose a network from the Wi-Fi menu.
- Select the option to Reinstall OS X.
- Click Continue and follow the onscreen instructions to reinstall OS X.
How to reinstall OS X on your Mac - Apple Support
Transfer info from a Time Machine backup or other storage device
Transfer information from another disk on your Mac, a disk connected to your Mac, a disk on the same network, or another Mac (with OS X v10.8 Mountain Lion or earlier) connected to your Mac using a Thunderbolt cable.
If you’re using a Thunderbolt cable, connect the cable to the computers, hold down the T key while restarting the Mac that has the info to transfer, then follow the steps below on your other Mac.
Open Migration Assistant, click Continue, then follow the onscreen instructions to transfer info from a Time Machine backup or other disk.
Select the disk, then select what to transfer.
Apps: Select the Applications checkbox.
Incompatible apps or apps with newer versions already installed may not be transferred or may not be usable.
Computer settings: Select the Computer & Network Settings checkbox.
Your desktop picture, network settings, and more will be transferred.
To begin the transfer, click Continue.
OS X Yosemite: Transfer your info from a computer or storage device
Take care.
Posted on Oct 9, 2015 11:11 AM