bratman91
Level 2 (203 points)
Mac OS X

Q: Why different methods of clean install?

I am considering doing a clean install of El Capitan following a spate of seemingly random crashes and stalls. A search of the internet results in two basic methods. One is on the Apple Support site and seems very straightforward and simple, involving little more than using the Recovery menu How to reinstall OS X on your Mac - Apple Support. The other method involves formatting a thumb drive or other external storage device, and seems to be a lot more complicated (a U-tube tutorial lasted 10 minutes to describe the method). Apart from masochistic amusement, what is the advantage of using the second of these two methods or, put another way, what are the flaws in the Apple technique?



iMac (21.5-inch, Late 2012), OS X Yosemite (10.10.1)

Posted on Jul 6, 2016 10:02 AM

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bratman91

Q: Why different methods of clean install?

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  • by Niel,Helpful

    Niel Niel Jul 6, 2016 10:15 AM in response to bratman91
    Level 10 (314,528 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jul 6, 2016 10:15 AM in response to bratman91

    The first method requires downloading the installer each time the procedure is carried out, and therefore waiting several hours for it to be downloaded, in addition to having a reliable Internet connection. The second one doesn't.

     

    (143313)

  • by Csound1,Helpful

    Csound1 Csound1 Jul 6, 2016 10:15 AM in response to bratman91
    Level 9 (51,432 points)
    Desktops
    Jul 6, 2016 10:15 AM in response to bratman91

    Method 1 is only a clean install if you erase the internal disk first

    Method 2 can be (but only if you erase the internal disk before installation)

     

    A clean install requires an empty disk before you do it, whichever method you use.

  • by bratman91,

    bratman91 bratman91 Jul 6, 2016 10:18 AM in response to Niel
    Level 2 (203 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jul 6, 2016 10:18 AM in response to Niel

    Thank you, Niel, and also Csound1 for your explanations. It sounds as though Method 1 will be the best for me as I have only one computer to do the clean install on and I have a fast, reliable internet connection (OK, I know that there's no such thing but it comes close).