Just totally out of the blue question, although I'd like to install my OS again (probably not in MS-DOS format, would that be possible though?). It feels like I own the machine more when I set ALL of the stuff myself. Would that force me to download OS X El Capitan from some hidden partition or something?
Thanks in advance.
MacBook Pro with Retina display, OS X El Capitan (10.11)
To install OS X, the disk HAS to be formatted as Mac OS Extended (Journaled).
To install OS X, the disk HAS to be formatted as Mac OS Extended (Journaled).
Just as NTFS is required to install Windows 7 or later on a PC, Mac OS Extended (Journaled) is required for OS X.
And what would formatting to MS-DOS mean? Would a laptop force me to format the correct way or could I install Windows for example (sorry for my questions being so demanding, but I like my knowledge to be complete in a given direction)?
What does "I'd like to install my OS again (probably not in MS-DOS format,..." mean? Your OS is not installed in MS-DOS format on Apple nor Windows computers.
I did not insist OS X is installed in the MS-DOS format. I know for a fact it's Mac OS Extended one. My question is - does formatting the internal hard drive delete the OS, so I need to head out to the Apple Store to get it installed again?
If you format the disk or volume in MS-DOS, the volume will be usable only by Windows. Even modern Windows no longer default to that format.
I f you are interested in installing Windows on your Mac drive, Apple provides a utility called Boot Camp (it's in your Applications folder). BC will format and prepare a partition compatible with Windows and even help with Windows installation.
I admire your desire to understand what's going on on your computer, but your effort in attempting to install manually, are quite misgided. Modern operating systems are way too complicated for manual mocking around. And too dangerous to do so.
You have a Mac. It's quite good at taking care of itself without you investing your time in maintaining it.
What happens when you format the main internal hard drive to MS-DOS?
