Q: How can I uninstall OS X Yosemite and return to OS X Mavericks?

Well, a clean install is super easy to do. You just erase your hard drive and install Yosemite. End of easy part.

Now you will need to create everything else from scratch, including your User, all settings and all third party apps from original source that are Yosemite compatible. You should be able to restore many of your user data files by dragging or restoring them from backup, of course, as long as you know where to find them.

A somewhat easier approach is to do the clean install followed by migration of certain things from your backup drive. Your choices will be:

• Users
• Applications
• Computer Settings

Details can be found at OS X Yosemite: Transfer your info from a computer or storage device.

To some extent this will negate the advantages of a pure clean install in that you will be migrating some files that are either unnecessary or at worst will not be Yosemite compatible. The Migration Assistant does it's best to weed out problematic items, but it's not perfect so anything it doesn't know about will be copied over.

There are a few unsolved issues that only affect selected Yosemite users, but at first blush it would seem that those who did clean installs are less likely to see them.

Thank you for your help MadMacs. Should I create a DVD-Rom copy of a Yosemite's download, before I erase my drive? I'm just asking, because if my drive is blank, I won't be able to access the internet, to download Yosemite  I also just checked out the article. Unfortunately when I choose the Yosemite transfer link, I get a message that says 'There is no application set to open the URL x-help-script://com.apple.machelp/scpt/OpnAppBndID.scpt?open,com.apple.MigrateA ssistant.' Also when I search the app store, I can't find an app entitled Migration assistant.

greenmind wrote:

 

Should I create a DVD-Rom copy of a Yosemite's download, before I erase my drive?

That's a little tricky as it would have to be a bootable ROM, which a simple Finder copy won't create for you. Most users I know create a bootable USB Thumb Drive so they can boot from that and do the install. There are intructions for how to do that using the Terminal app, but I find it easier to use DiskMakerX to do that. The current Yosemite version 4b4 is still a beta and the developer indicated he had some "issues" he needed to work on next week, but I know several people who were able to create such a drive and use it successfully for an installation, so I'm not sure whether you should wait or not. In any case, make certain you test it out before erasing your hard drive.

Another approach to getting a clean install would be to install whatever version of OS X that came with your Mac. As long as it is 10.6.3 or above you can then upgrade it directly to Yosemite. Not perfectly clean, but the next thing to it. If your Mac did not come with an installation DVD, then you can do an Internet Rostral by rebooting while holding down the <Command>-<Option>-R keys. That will allow you to erase the drive and download whatever version of OS X came with your Mac, then upgrade from there.

greenmind wrote:

 

I also just checked out the article. Unfortunately when I choose the Yosemite transfer link, I get a message that says 'There is no application set to open

You don't say what link, but it sounds like you tried the "Open Migration Assistant for me" link. You won't be able to use the link until Yosemite is installed but you should not need to. During the installation process, you will be asked if you want to migrate data and give you a choice of where you want to get it from. It will then launch Migration Assistant automatically and allow you to choose the source, then walk you through it. Migration is built into OS X, not anything available from the App Store.

Yes I was trying to use the "Open Migration Assistant for me" link, you provided me.  I'm guessing that the link only works during the migration process, and then only after I install Yosemite. My Mac actually came wt Safari installed 10.5, so from what you wrote, it doesn't look I'll be able to use the second approach.

I'm thinking that I should probably create a USB drive using DiskMakerX . Thank you for the link. I was thinking about waiting till next, when a newer version is released, but I think I really need a fresh start for my mac. I don't remember if I have had a clean install, since my mac was brand new, and it's been five years.

Thank you for your help

Since installing Yosemite, all my applications run perceptibly slower. Also, internet times have slowed to the rate of an old PC. The address bar no longer lists the entire internet address of a link. What happened? Did Apple hire a bunch of MicroSoft people?

Ignoring your snide cut at Apple, I am going to suggest you download and install EtreCheck from http://etresoft.com/etrecheck

Run EtreCheck and publish report here

Allan

I can share:

My camera is no longer recognized at all by anything. Spoke with Apple and did several SMC resets, hard resets, and even formatted disk and re-installed Yosemite (as per Apple). I have filled out the feedback form, and I can't visit an Apple store as I'm on an island and it would require a drive-on ferry trip ($200 return) and a visit to an Apple Genius in Vancouver (all day commitment).

If there is something you or any one else here or on any other forum can do to help I would be very grateful. I have posted on other forums about "Camera not recognized after Yosemite upgrade, etc...". Nothing works and it was perfect on every OS since purchase. All apps/services and even the system report claims "no camera installed" yet this only happened immediately after Yosemite.

So I too would love to downgrade back to a functioning OS but can't.

Mad Macs - ! any idea why all these agents and daemons aren't loading?? would reinstalling yosemite clean help? when i installed it first i had to do it in 2 sessions since it crashed while downloading....

EtreCheck version: 2.0.11 (98)

Report generated November 4, 2014 at 9:03:06 AM EST

Hardware Information: ℹ️

  iMac (27-inch, Late 2012) (Verified)

  iMac - model: iMac13,2

  1 3.2 GHz Intel Core i5 CPU: 4-core

  8 GB RAM Upgradeable

  BANK 0/DIMM0

  4 GB DDR3 1600 MHz ok

  BANK 1/DIMM0

  4 GB DDR3 1600 MHz ok

  BANK 0/DIMM1

  empty empty empty empty

  BANK 1/DIMM1

  empty empty empty empty

  Bluetooth: Good - Handoff/Airdrop2 supported

  Wireless:  en1: 802.11 a/b/g/n

Video Information: ℹ️

  NVIDIA GeForce GTX 675MX - VRAM: 1024 MB

  iMac 2560 x 1440

System Software: ℹ️

  OS X 10.10 (14A389) - Uptime: 5 days 0:48:30

Disk Information: ℹ️

  APPLE HDD WDC WD10EALX-408EA0 disk0 : (1 TB)

  S.M.A.R.T. Status: Verified

  EFI (disk0s1) <not mounted> : 210 MB

  Macintosh HD (disk0s2) /  [Startup]: 999.35 GB (796.43 GB free)

  Recovery HD (disk0s3) <not mounted>  [Recovery]: 650 MB

USB Information: ℹ️

  Apple Inc. FaceTime HD Camera (Built-in)

  Western Digital My Book 1140 3 TB

  S.M.A.R.T. Status: Verified

  disk1s1 (disk1s1) <not mounted> : 210 MB

  My Book (disk1s2) /Volumes/My Book : 3.00 TB (50.56 GB free)

  Apple Inc. BRCM20702 Hub

  Apple Inc. Bluetooth USB Host Controller

Thunderbolt Information: ℹ️

  Apple Inc. thunderbolt_bus

Configuration files: ℹ️

  /etc/hosts - Count: 20

Gatekeeper: ℹ️

  Mac App Store and identified developers

Problem System Launch Agents: ℹ️

  [failed] com.apple.AirPlayUIAgent.plist

  [failed] com.apple.CallHistoryPluginHelper.plist

  [failed] com.apple.CallHistorySyncHelper.plist

  [failed] com.apple.cmfsyncagent.plist

  [failed] com.apple.EscrowSecurityAlert.plist

  [failed] com.apple.icloud.fmfd.plist

  [failed] com.apple.rcd.plist

  [failed] com.apple.SafariNotificationAgent.plist

  [failed] com.apple.sbd.plist

  [failed] com.apple.scopedbookmarkagent.xpc.plist

  [failed] com.apple.telephonyutilities.callservicesd.plist

  [failed] com.apple.xpc.loginitemregisterd.plist

Problem System Launch Daemons: ℹ️

  [failed] com.apple.AssetCacheLocatorService.plist

  [failed] com.apple.awdd.plist

  [failed] com.apple.ctkd.plist

  [failed] com.apple.GSSCred.plist

  [failed] com.apple.ifdreader.plist

  [failed] com.apple.installd.plist

  [failed] com.apple.nehelper.plist

  [failed] com.apple.periodic-daily.plist

  [failed] com.apple.periodic-weekly.plist

  [failed] com.apple.softwareupdate_download_service.plist

  [failed] com.apple.softwareupdated.plist

  [failed] com.apple.tccd.system.plist

  [failed] com.apple.wdhelper.plist

Launch Agents: ℹ️

  [not loaded] com.adobe.AAM.Updater-1.0.plist Support

  [running] com.epson.ecrp.launcher.plist Support

  [running] com.epson.Epson_Low_Ink_Reminder.launcher.plist Support

  [loaded] com.epson.esua.launcher.plist Support

  [running] com.epson.eventmanager.agent.plist Support

  [loaded] com.oracle.java.Java-Updater.plist Support

Launch Daemons: ℹ️

  [loaded] com.adobe.fpsaud.plist Support

  [loaded] com.microsoft.office.licensing.helper.plist Support

  [loaded] com.oracle.java.Helper-Tool.plist Support

  [loaded] com.oracle.java.JavaUpdateHelper.plist Support

  [running] com.syniumsoftware.CleanAppDaemon.plist Support

User Launch Agents: ℹ️

  [loaded] com.adobe.AAM.Updater-1.0.plist Support

  [loaded] com.adobe.ARM.[...].plist Support

  [loaded] com.google.keystone.agent.plist Support

User Login Items: ℹ️

  iTunesHelper Application (/Applications/iTunes.app/Contents/MacOS/iTunesHelper.app)

Internet Plug-ins: ℹ️

  FlashPlayer-10.6: Version: 15.0.0.189 - SDK 10.6 Support

  QuickTime Plugin: Version: 7.7.3

  Flash Player: Version: 15.0.0.189 - SDK 10.6 Support

  Default Browser: Version: 600 - SDK 10.10

  SharePointBrowserPlugin: Version: 14.1.0 Support

  Silverlight: Version: 5.1.30317.0 - SDK 10.6 Support

  JavaAppletPlugin: Version: Java 7 Update 71 Check version

User Internet Plug-ins: ℹ️

  Google Earth Web Plug-in: Version: 7.1 Support

3rd Party Preference Panes: ℹ️

  CleanApp Logging Service  Support

  Flash Player  Support

  Java  Support

Time Machine: ℹ️

  Auto backup: YES

  Volumes being backed up:

  Macintosh HD: Disk size: 999.35 GB Disk used: 202.92 GB

  Destinations:

  My Book [Local]

  Total size: 3.00 TB

  Total number of backups: 99

  Oldest backup: 2013-08-10 04:35:37 +0000

  Last backup: 2014-11-04 13:53:53 +0000

  Size of backup disk: Excellent

  Backup size 3.00 TB > (Disk size 999.35 GB X 3)

Top Processes by CPU: ℹ️

      2% WindowServer

      2% bluetoothaudiod

      1% coreaudiod

      1% fontd

      1% iTunes

Top Processes by Memory: ℹ️

  223 MB iTunes

  163 MB Finder

  146 MB com.apple.WebKit.WebContent

  137 MB mds_stores

  69 MB WindowServer

Virtual Memory Information: ℹ️

  4.58 GB Free RAM

  1.82 GB Active RAM

  738 MB Inactive RAM

  1.25 GB Wired RAM

  39.63 GB Page-ins

  67 MB Page-outs

readytorun wrote:

 

any idea why all these agents and daemons aren't loading?? would reinstalling yosemite clean help? when i installed it first i had to do it in 2 sessions since it crashed while downloading....

The advise I got from the developer of EtreCheck was to re-install Yosemite, not a clean install, just run the installer a third time.  Don't know for certain that will fix it, but it is something that I have done successfully in the past to solve other issues.

IN ORDER TO REVERT TO MAVERICKS, YOU NEED TO HAVE A CLEAN MAVERICKS BACKUP OF YOUR DATA.   If you have already installed Yosemite and then did a backup while running Yosemite, you are out of luck, as the data will not be easily converted back to a form that Mavericks can read. 

i downgraded to mavericks but the wifi problem exists. Maybe i will downgrade to os x lion, see what happens there.

Maybe it is not an operating system problem. There are other things besides the operating system that case problems.

Great thanks !

Yo - did a reinstallation of yosemite. those startup agents and daemons seems to be taken care of but whats this "com.apple.Kerberos.digest-service.plist" ? thats really my only question.. except does mail usually take up 65% of the cpu? might i need to reset the pram etc again? disk permissions?

anyway thanks for the help - think things are about as next to normal as theyre gonna be till the next yosemite fix. thanks

EtreCheck version: 2.0.11 (98)

Report generated November 4, 2014 at 4:33:12 PM EST

Hardware Information: ℹ️

  iMac (27-inch, Late 2012) (Verified)

  iMac - model: iMac13,2

  1 3.2 GHz Intel Core i5 CPU: 4-core

  8 GB RAM Upgradeable

  BANK 0/DIMM0

  4 GB DDR3 1600 MHz ok

  BANK 1/DIMM0

  4 GB DDR3 1600 MHz ok

  BANK 0/DIMM1

  empty empty empty empty

  BANK 1/DIMM1

  empty empty empty empty

  Bluetooth: Good - Handoff/Airdrop2 supported

  Wireless:  en1: 802.11 a/b/g/n

Video Information: ℹ️

  NVIDIA GeForce GTX 675MX - VRAM: 1024 MB

  iMac 2560 x 1440

System Software: ℹ️

  OS X 10.10 (14A389) - Uptime: 0:12:47

Disk Information: ℹ️

  APPLE HDD WDC WD10EALX-408EA0 disk0 : (1 TB)

  S.M.A.R.T. Status: Verified

  EFI (disk0s1) <not mounted> : 210 MB

  Macintosh HD (disk0s2) /  [Startup]: 999.35 GB (791.60 GB free)

  Recovery HD (disk0s3) <not mounted>  [Recovery]: 650 MB

USB Information: ℹ️

  Apple Inc. FaceTime HD Camera (Built-in)

  Apple Inc. iPhone

  Western Digital My Book 1140 3 TB

  S.M.A.R.T. Status: Verified

  disk1s1 (disk1s1) <not mounted> : 210 MB

  My Book (disk1s2) /Volumes/My Book : 3.00 TB (47.95 GB free)

  Apple Inc. BRCM20702 Hub

  Apple Inc. Bluetooth USB Host Controller

Thunderbolt Information: ℹ️

  Apple Inc. thunderbolt_bus

Configuration files: ℹ️

  /etc/hosts - Count: 20

Gatekeeper: ℹ️

  Mac App Store and identified developers

Problem System Launch Daemons: ℹ️

  [failed] com.apple.Kerberos.digest-service.plist

Launch Agents: ℹ️

  [not loaded] com.adobe.AAM.Updater-1.0.plist Support

  [running] com.epson.ecrp.launcher.plist Support

  [running] com.epson.Epson_Low_Ink_Reminder.launcher.plist Support

  [loaded] com.epson.esua.launcher.plist Support

  [running] com.epson.eventmanager.agent.plist Support

  [loaded] com.oracle.java.Java-Updater.plist Support

Launch Daemons: ℹ️

  [loaded] com.adobe.fpsaud.plist Support

  [loaded] com.microsoft.office.licensing.helper.plist Support

  [loaded] com.oracle.java.Helper-Tool.plist Support

  [loaded] com.oracle.java.JavaUpdateHelper.plist Support

  [running] com.syniumsoftware.CleanAppDaemon.plist Support

User Launch Agents: ℹ️

  [loaded] com.adobe.AAM.Updater-1.0.plist Support

  [loaded] com.adobe.ARM.[...].plist Support

  [loaded] com.google.keystone.agent.plist Support

User Login Items: ℹ️

  iTunesHelper Application (/Applications/iTunes.app/Contents/MacOS/iTunesHelper.app)

Internet Plug-ins: ℹ️

  FlashPlayer-10.6: Version: 15.0.0.189 - SDK 10.6 Support

  QuickTime Plugin: Version: 7.7.3

  Flash Player: Version: 15.0.0.189 - SDK 10.6 Support

  Default Browser: Version: 600 - SDK 10.10

  SharePointBrowserPlugin: Version: 14.1.0 Support

  Silverlight: Version: 5.1.30317.0 - SDK 10.6 Support

  JavaAppletPlugin: Version: Java 7 Update 71 Check version

User Internet Plug-ins: ℹ️

  Google Earth Web Plug-in: Version: 7.1 Support

3rd Party Preference Panes: ℹ️

  CleanApp Logging Service  Support

  Flash Player  Support

  Java  Support

Time Machine: ℹ️

  Auto backup: YES

  Volumes being backed up:

  Macintosh HD: Disk size: 999.35 GB Disk used: 207.75 GB

  Destinations:

  My Book [Local]

  Total size: 3.00 TB

  Total number of backups: 99

  Oldest backup: 2013-08-10 04:35:37 +0000

  Last backup: 2014-11-04 20:23:24 +0000

  Size of backup disk: Excellent

  Backup size 3.00 TB > (Disk size 999.35 GB X 3)

Top Processes by CPU: ℹ️

      65% Mail

      19% WindowServer

      2% NotificationCenter

      1% bluetoothaudiod

      1% launchservicesd

Top Processes by Memory: ℹ️

  225 MB com.apple.MediaLibraryService

  198 MB helpd

  189 MB ocspd

  155 MB iTunes

  129 MB mds_stores

Virtual Memory Information: ℹ️

  3.91 GB Free RAM

  2.91 GB Active RAM

  794 MB Inactive RAM

  977 MB Wired RAM

  1.57 GB Page-ins

  0 B Page-outs

readytorun wrote:

 

whats this "com.apple.Kerberos.digest-service.plist" ?

Don't know much. Here's somebody's idea of what digest-service is. Kerberos is used by Apple for a lot of authentication purposes. I don't recall ever seeing it fail with my setup, but running EtreCheck just now I see that "com.apple.Kerberos.kdc.plist" is currently "failed." What that means is that the last time that LaunchDaemon was used by the System it ended in failure of some sort. Your system.log at the time would have told you exactly what it was doing. If you reboot, chances are it won't show up.