Richard Setterberg

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

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Q: Clean Install of Yosemite on Snow Leopard iMac

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  • by Barney-15E,Solvedanswer

    Barney-15E Barney-15E Jan 2, 2015 8:43 AM in response to Richard Setterberg
    Level 9 (50,344 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jan 2, 2015 8:43 AM in response to Richard Setterberg

    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.

  • by Richard Setterberg,

    Richard Setterberg Richard Setterberg Jan 2, 2015 8:47 AM in response to Barney-15E
    Level 2 (169 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jan 2, 2015 8:47 AM in response to Barney-15E

    Yeah, that's what I figured.  Fortunately, I think I have located all the install disks, so I'll do that.  I'll be back with any issues.  Thanks.

  • by Barney-15E,

    Barney-15E Barney-15E Jan 2, 2015 9:16 AM in response to Richard Setterberg
    Level 9 (50,344 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jan 2, 2015 9:16 AM in response to Richard Setterberg

    What year are the iMacs? Some 2011 and later can use a firmware update to allow them to use Internet Recovery. I'm not sure if that is any more beneficial than having the Snow Leopard disks. It think it will install Lion on a bare (or erased) drive, so you are not any closer to Yosemite than you are with the DVD.

    Also, from what I've read, you can no longer use the DVDs. So, that may not be better at all.

  • by Richard Setterberg,

    Richard Setterberg Richard Setterberg Jan 2, 2015 1:03 PM in response to Barney-15E
    Level 2 (169 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jan 2, 2015 1:03 PM in response to Barney-15E

    One is a 12,2 and the other is an 8,1.  I guess I'd be surprised if the install disks that came with the computer no longer work.  How would you ever repair or install new systems on it?

  • by Barney-15E,

    Barney-15E Barney-15E Jan 2, 2015 2:46 PM in response to Richard Setterberg
    Level 9 (50,344 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jan 2, 2015 2:46 PM in response to Richard Setterberg

    Apple has switched to a partition on the hard drive for repair and reinstallation instead of DVDs. You have to have an internet connection to reinstall the OS, though there are ways to make a bootable recovery drive, one of which I mentioned above. Internet Recovery boots from Apple's servers instead of the partition on the hard drive. That allows you to reinstall if your hard drive dies or is otherwise completely erased.

    OS X: About OS X Recovery - Apple Support

     

    The 12,2 can upgrade the firmware to use Internet Recovery. Here is the info on the firmware update: Computers that can be upgraded to use OS X Internet Recovery - Apple Support

     

    The other one cannot use the Internet Recovery feature. You will have to keep the DVDs or create a bootable USB installer.