HT201475: Upgrade to OS X El Capitan

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RichBP
Level 1 (8 points)
Mac OS X

Q: How do I wipe my hard drive clean before a new system install

I would like to wipe my hard drive clean of all it's contents and then reinstall El Capitan. I have backups for all my documents etc. and will reinstall all programs as new installations. If I remember correctly, the installer no longer includes Disk Utilities, which allowed you to do that before a new install.

iMac, OS X El Capitan (10.11.5), MacBook Pro 2.2ghz i7

Posted on Jul 4, 2016 1:28 PM

by Niel,Apple recommended
Niel Niel
Level 10 (311,961 points)
A:

If you're currently using El Capitan, restart with the Command and R keys held down, use the Disk Utility to erase the main partition, and install the OS.

If you're using an older Mac OS X version, you'll need to either create an installation thumbdrive, or use the Disk Utility from the main partition to create a second one on the internal drive, or install onto an external one.

 

(143289)

Posted on Jul 4, 2016 1:31 PM

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RichBP

Q: How do I wipe my hard drive clean before a new system install

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  • by Niel,Apple recommended

    Niel Niel Jul 4, 2016 1:31 PM in response to RichBP
    Level 10 (311,961 points)
    Jul 4, 2016 1:31 PM in response to RichBP

    If you're currently using El Capitan, restart with the Command and R keys held down, use the Disk Utility to erase the main partition, and install the OS.

    If you're using an older Mac OS X version, you'll need to either create an installation thumbdrive, or use the Disk Utility from the main partition to create a second one on the internal drive, or install onto an external one.

     

    (143289)

  • by VikingOSX,

    VikingOSX VikingOSX Jul 4, 2016 1:39 PM in response to RichBP
    Level 7 (20,618 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jul 4, 2016 1:39 PM in response to RichBP

    Backup your home directory before you do that clean install. Might sound obvious, but many have forgotten, or did not understand the implications of the word “clean” in clean install.