Do you have or know how to create a backup? You will need a spare drive on which to save the backup. You only need to backup your files - that is your entire Home folder - Desktop, Documents, Downloads, Library, Movies, Music, Pictures.
Once you have completed making a backup the remainder is pretty easy:
Install El Capitan or Later from Scratch
If possible, back up your files.
- Restart the computer. Immediately, at or before the chime hold down the Command and R keys until the Apple logo appears. When the Utility Menu appears:
- Select Disk Utility from the Utility Menu and click on the Continue button.
- When Disk Utility loads select the volume (indented entry, usually Macintosh HD) from the Device list.
- Click on the Erase icon in Disk Utility's main window. A panel will drop down.
- Set the Format type to APFS (SSDs only) or Mac OS Extended (Journaled.)
- Click on the Apply button, then wait for the Done button to activate and click on it.
- Quit Disk Utility and return to the Utility Menu.
- Select Install OS X and click on the Continue button.
When the above is finished and you have re-booted the computer, and if all seems OK, you can restore your files by copying them from the backup to the corresponding folders on the computer.