Can you do a "clean install" of Yosemite without installing via USB drive?

[Mr. RPG]

I just want this to be clear.. After downloading Yosemite from the Mac App Store, can you do a clean install without using a a USB boot drive? I only own one Mac so I don't have any need for a USB boot drive.

 

[deviant]

I just want this to be clear.. After downloading Yosemite from the Mac App Store, can you do a clean install without using a a USB boot drive? I only own one Mac so I don't have any need for a USB boot drive.

i kinda doubt it because the installer is located on your internal hdd so you can't format it. just buy a usb stick, it's like 3 bucks

 

[Mr. RPG]

I have one, I was just asking because some sites are really unclear on this and keep acting like you can do a "clean install" without a USB drive...

Thanks.

 

[-BigMac-]

I have one, I was just asking because some sites are really unclear on this and keep acting like you can do a "clean install" without a USB drive...

Thanks.

yes you can do a clean install without using a usb thumb drive. its called dvd

 

[crjackson2134]

Sure you can, boot from a different drive, run the installer from there. During the install process the installer asks you if you want to pick a different drive. The default is the drive you are booted from, but the drive picker lets you install it elsewhere.

 

[deviant]

I have one, I was just asking because some sites are really unclear on this and keep acting like you can do a "clean install" without a USB drive...

Thanks.

you sad you didn't have one because you only had 1 mac or something.

 

[tywebb13]

yes you can do a clean install without using a usb thumb drive. its called dvd

I put instructions for making a bootable dvd of yosemite here: https://forums.macrumors.com/posts/20113597/

 

[SoloStyle]

Yes you can, this is exactly what I did. First I upgraded to Yosemite, then backed up any files I needed to save. Then restart, holding CMD+R to boot into recovery. Select Disk Utility, choose Macintosh HD, then select Format as Mac OS X Extended (Journaled). Click Erase.

When it’s finished, close out Disk Utility and select “Reinstall OS X” from the menu. It will ask for your iTunes password to redownload OS X Yosemite and start installing.

You must be connected to the internet for this to work.

 

[deviant]

Yes you can, this is exactly what I did. First I upgraded to Yosemite, then backed up any files I needed to save. Then restart, holding CMD+R to boot into recovery. Select Disk Utility, choose Macintosh HD, then select Format as Mac OS X Extended (Journaled). Click Erase.

When it’s finished, close out Disk Utility and select “Reinstall OS X” from the menu. It will ask for your iTunes password to redownload OS X Yosemite and start installing.

You must be connected to the internet for this to work.

that's worse than watching flies f4ck though. install-format-install?

 

[cosminsel]

Yes you can, this is exactly what I did. First I upgraded to Yosemite, then backed up any files I needed to save. Then restart, holding CMD+R to boot into recovery. Select Disk Utility, choose Macintosh HD, then select Format as Mac OS X Extended (Journaled). Click Erase.

When it’s finished, close out Disk Utility and select “Reinstall OS X” from the menu. It will ask for your iTunes password to redownload OS X Yosemite and start installing.

You must be connected to the internet for this to work.

I did this too. Took a while because the Yosemite installer had to downloaded again but it worked.

 

[3lite]

Yes you can, this is exactly what I did. First I upgraded to Yosemite, then backed up any files I needed to save. Then restart, holding CMD+R to boot into recovery. Select Disk Utility, choose Macintosh HD, then select Format as Mac OS X Extended (Journaled). Click Erase.

When it’s finished, close out Disk Utility and select “Reinstall OS X” from the menu. It will ask for your iTunes password to redownload OS X Yosemite and start installing.

You must be connected to the internet for this to work.

Going to do this right now.

 

[Jedi]

You CAN NOT nuke`n-pave a startup sys. folder.

Simple

That is why you need a way to boot externally

Later ,

Gary *

 

[Weaselboy]

Yes you can, this is exactly what I did. First I upgraded to Yosemite, then backed up any files I needed to save. Then restart, holding CMD+R to boot into recovery. Select Disk Utility, choose Macintosh HD, then select Format as Mac OS X Extended (Journaled). Click Erase.

When it’s finished, close out Disk Utility and select “Reinstall OS X” from the menu. It will ask for your iTunes password to redownload OS X Yosemite and start installing.

You must be connected to the internet for this to work.

You CAN NOT nuke`n-pave a startup sys. folder.

Simple

That is why you need a way to boot externally

Later ,

Gary *

You can do it from the recovery partition like SoloStyle described. No external boot is needed if you don't mind the double DL of the OS.

 

[m4v3r1ck]

I put instructions for making a bootable dvd of yosemite here: https://forums.macrumors.com/posts/20113597/

Thanks for your post! Always clean cut workflow

Cheers