Q: Clean Install of Yosemite on Snow Leopard iMac
I want to do a clean install of Yosemite on two of my iMacs currently running Snow Leopard.
Do I have to begin, after reformatting the drive, by first installing Snow Leopard (or maybe even earlier installation disks plus upgrade disks), or is there a more direct way?
I know I can upgrade via the App Store once I get 10.6 installed; I just wondered if there was an easier way.
iMac, Mac OS X (10.6.8)
Posted on Jan 2, 2015 6:03 AM
You must install Snow Leopard from dvd first, then software update to 10.6.8, then use App Store to Upgrade to Yosemite.
You could try making a bootable USB installer of Yosemite, but I don't know if that will work. You have to download the Yosemite upgrade after having installed it previously.
Create a bootable installer for OS X Mavericks or Yosemite - Apple Support
If you can't download it yet, you could install on first iMac, then download the Installer from Purchases in App Store, then create bootable installer.
It may not be useful the first time, but if you need to recover those Macs again, it would be handy.
Posted on Jan 2, 2015 8:43 AM