Can I do a clean install on a older model of Macbook Pro if I back up my files to an external hard...

using TIME MACHINE. Can I erase, format, and petition the hard drive then reintall the Operating System using time machine files store on an external hard drive. All WITHOUT ANY SL DISK.

No, I don't think you can. You need a viable OS to boot to in order to restore from TM; either an installer disc or the Lion Recovery Partition.
Check out Pondini's FAQ;
http://pondini.org/TM/14.html

Similar Messages

  • How do I restore all of my itunes content onto my newly installed computer drive? All my purchase are no longer in my account but I did back up the files onto an external hard drive. Now how do I get them back? Please

    how do I restore all of my itunes content onto my newly installed computer drive? All my purchase are no longer in my account but I did back up the files onto an external hard drive. Now how do I get them back? Please

    Ummals wrote:
    ...I did back up the files onto an external hard drive. ...
    Did you follow all the steps as detailed here...
    http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1751

  • I replaced my hard drive and I backed up my files on an external hard drive but when I reloaded my iweb to my imac none of my files were on it so I can't make changes to my Published web site have I lost my files what can I do

    I replaced my hard drive and I backed up my files on an external hard drive but when I reloaded my iweb to my imac none of my files were on it so I can't make changes to my Published web site have I lost my files what can I do

    By default iWeb keeps its data in (user)/Library/Application Support/iWeb in a file named Domain. Without this file you cannot proceed (other than by recreating the site from scratch using the published version as a reference) so you need to locate it on the original disk.
    To confuse matters, Apple have hidden the user’s Library folder in Lion and Mountain Lion to casual viewers, in an attempt to stop new Mac users messing their machines up. To access it, in the Finder go to the ‘Go’ menu and hold down the Option (Alt) key; the Library folder will appear as a choice.

  • IMac 10.5.8 is stuck on Apple logo loading screen , how can I back up my files with an external hard drive ?

    so my iMac (10.5.8 its pretty old ) got stuck on the apple logo loading screen (as I call it lol) and it will not go beyond that .I've already made and appointment for the genius bar but now would I back up my files with an external hard drive ? No unfortunately I don't have any other laptop or computer just the external hard drive. how would I back it up? Does it have something to do with "target disc mode"?

    Hi,
    Thank you for great advice re SuperDuper.
    You wasnt to know we didnt live in  USA.  We will try to get the full retail version of Leopard off the net.  We will also phone round the apple resellers.
    In the meantime, we are happy running Tiger with the knowledge that SuperDuper has cloned our hard drive in case of a disaster.
    SuperDuper recommended backing up the hard drive with a new user account if we were using filevault on the master account.  We backed up our hard drive without creating a new user with filevault as we could not read the pdf `Instuctions as preview was not responding.
    Is this copy safe to use as a bootable drive or should we copy our entire HD again using a new user account without filevault?
    Keith & Shem  

  • How can I do a clean install of Mountain Lion?

    I have an older MacBook Pro that I'm selling. I upgraded to Mounbtain Lion, but there was not an option to do a clean install (wiping everything clean and starting fresh). I want to do this to make sure all of my data is removed before I sell it. How can I do a clean install of Mountain Lion in order to accomplish this? In the past, from DVDs, it was easy. Thanks!

    Budrew wrote:
    Sure, but I would imagine that it will be common for people to sell their Macs with upgraded OSs.
    That was only OK when you bought the Upgrade DVD and included both the original system discs and the disc you used to upgrade the OS.
    Since Apple has now gone to the Download only model of OS X you now always need to install the Original OS or an Upgraded version that you have the DVD disc for.
    If a Mac came with Leopard and you upgraded to Snow Leopard and then to Lion or Mt Lion you must remove Lion or Mt Lion and reinstall either Leopard or Snow Leopard and include all the discs for that system, Originals and the Upgrde Snow Leopard DVD.
    If your system came Snow Leopard and you installed Lion or Mt Lion thenn again you remoeve Lion or Mt Lion and reinstall Snow Leopard and include the original discs that came with the system
    If your system came with Lion and you upgraded to Mt Lion then you remove Mt Lion and reinstall Lion.
    The reason for all of that is because with the Download only OS all upgrades are TIED to YOUR Apple ID, not to the computer. So the new owner can not reinstall Lion or Mt Lion, whichever you upgraded to, without using your Apple ID.

  • How can I do a clean install after doing an update using a volume purchase license?

    My question is this:  We purchased 20 licenses of Lion through the Volume Purchase program.  2 of the users installed it first doing an upgrade - now they have decided they want to do a clean install.  How can they do a clean install - I can't give them the installer cd we created because I have been informed by Apple Sales that it will use another license from our quantity of 20 - but they offered no other solution.
    We would rather not waste another license just to do a clean install.
    Thanks!

    Install or Reinstall Lion from Scratch
    If possible backup your files to an external drive or second internal drive.
    Boot to the Recovery HD:
    Restart the computer and after the chime press and hold down the COMMAND and R keys until the menu screen appears. Alternatively, restart the computer and after the chime press and hold down the OPTION key until the boot manager screen appears. Select the Recovery HD and click on the downward pointing arrow button.
    Erase the hard drive:
    Select Disk Utility from the main menu and click on the Continue button.
    After DU loads select your hard drive (this is the entry with the mfgr.'s ID and size) from the left side list. Note the SMART status of the drive in DU's status area.  If it does not say "Verified" then the drive is failing or has failed and will need replacing.  SMART info will not be reported  on external drives. Otherwise, click on the Erase tab in the DU main window.
    Set the format type to Mac OS Extended (Journaled.) Click on the Erase button and wait until the process has completed.
    Quit DU and return to the main menu.
    Reinstall Lion: Select Reinstall Lion and click on the Install button.
    Note: You can also re-download the Lion installer by opening the App Store application. Hold down the OPTION key and click on the Purchases icon in the toolbar. You should now see an active Install button to the right of your Lion purchase entry. There are situations in which this will not work. For example, if you are already booted into the Lion you originally purchased with your Apple ID or if an instance of the Lion installer is located anywhere on your computer.
    This method relies on the Internet Recovery system. This is the standard procedure when you don't have an installer or Lion came pre-installed.

  • Can I do a clean install of Lion, onto my Mac Book Pro4,1, that is currently running 10.5.8? I have seen U-tube videos on how to do a clean install to Snow Leopard, and another from SL to Lion, but can zero out my HD, and do a clean install to Lion?

    Can I do a clean install of Lion, onto my Mac Book Pro4,1, that is currently running 10.5.8? I have seen U-tube videos on how to do a clean install to Snow Leopard, and another from SL to Lion, but can zero out my HD, and do a clean install to Lion?

    See this article.

  • HT1338 Can I do a clean install after using time machine backup?

    Can I do a clean install after using time machine backup?

    Hi, if I understand correctly yes, but may I ask the purpose of doing so?

  • Can you do a "clean install" after an auto update install of 10.10?

    Can you do a "clean install" after an auto update install of 10.10?
    If yes, how?

    I suppose it depends on what you define as a “clean install."
    You can erase the startup drive and install Yosemite in Recovery.
    Boot into Recovery (cmd-r on startup).
    From there, use Disk Utility to Erase the startup volume (Macintosh HD).
    Quit Disk Utility, then Install OS X.
    You should obviously have a backup prior to attempting this.

  • I am using an Mac PPC version 10.5.8 and I am trying to download the correct version of Flash Player.  I did once but I had to install a "Clean Install" of my computer and when finished I had put back the new Flash Player I just installed well every time

    I am using an Mac PPC version 10.5.8 and I am trying to download the correct version of Flash Player.  I did once but I had to install a "Clean Install" of my computer and when finished I had put back the new Flash Player I just installed well every time I try install the new player it is place in my Trash Folder and I can not get Player to work.  I did everything I was to install it correctly but it still does not install it correctly.  Can some help me.  Bob

    Some MacBook Pro versions cannot be upgraded past 10.6.8; others are maxed out at 10.7.5. newer models can go all the way to 10.10. So it is important to know exactly what version you have--there may be close to 40 variants produced since the MB made its debut in 2006.
    You can safely give us a snapshot of your model and its current config that will allow us to deternmmine your model and its upgrade potential, plus show it you have any software that may impede any upgrades. Please download and install this free utility:
    http://www.etresoft.com/etrecheck
    It is secure and written by one of our most valued members to allow users to show details of their computer's configuration in Apple Support Communities without revealing any sensitive personal data.
    Run the program and click the "Copy report to clipboard" button when it displays the results. Then return here and paste the report into a response to your initial post. It can often show if any harmful files/programs are dragging down your performance.
    Remember that, on leaving OS10.6.8, you lose the ability to run older softare written for older PowerPC Macs (yours in Intel-based). Programs such as Office 2004 will no longer work (min of Office 2008 needed to work on newer OS versions), and AppleWorks will stop working completely

  • After clean install of Snow Leopard, Time Machine did not restore all files.  When I try to restore these files I get "Not enough disk space" error.  What do I need to do to get these important files back onto my Mac from my external hard drive??

    After clean install of Snow Leopard, Time Machine did not restore all files.  When I try to restore these files I get "Not enough disk space" error.  What do I need to do to get these important files back onto my Mac from my external hard drive?? 

    Janet.b wrote:
    About 3 years old...pretty dated now I guess.  Am thinking I may just need to have it upgraded by a Mac tech.
    For what the Apple Store's charge you can buy almost buy a new computer.
    Just for giggles I brought my old laptop in for a drive upgrade and asked, they wanted $600 for a drive that only cost $120 at the time and it was a slow 5,400 RPM drive. The new Mac's of a similar make were going for $1000.
    I did the drive replacement myself, got a faster drive of better quality for $300 instead.
    Then another time I asked for a RAM upgrade from 4GB to 8GB, they wanted to charge $400 + $35 for the labor.
    The same RAM is on Crucial.com for $90 and all I need is a 00 micro phillips screwdriver.
    So you see what's going on here.
    I think what you should do, if your out of warranty/AppleCare, is to call up the local PC tech guy who also does Mac's and have them fix you right up.
    They can offer more personalized care which you need. Clone your old drive to the new and everything.
    With Apple they are overworked at the Genius Bar and just place roadblocks so you buy a new machine instead.
    For instance, all new iMac's now have proprietary drive software installed on the hard drives for heat monitoring. So now the only choice a user has is to bring their iMac into a Apple Store for a very expensive drive upgrade, which a person then decides the money is better spent buying a new machine.

  • I have just made a clean instalation of Lion, with a bootable disk, and I planned to restore my files (music, photos, etc.), but Lion doesn't find my backup files. So, I'm about to loose all of my iTunes library, work docum The installation run perfectly,

    I have just made a clean instalation of Lion, with a bootable disk, and I planned to restore my files (music, photos, etc.), The installation run perfectly, but Lion doesn't find my backup files. So, I'm about to loose all of my iTunes library, work documents (I'm a lawyer!!), my kid's photos.... How can I restore my files?? Help!!

    Since you seem to be using a new disk for Lion, Time Machine will consider previous backups to be for a "different" computer.  Try doing a control-click or click-and-hold on the Time Machine icon in the Dock, then choose "Browse Other Time Machine Disks".  This should allow Time Machine to see the previous backups.
    In the worst case you should be able to open those Time Machine backups and copy your documents from there to your home folder.
    By the way, you've been misled by poor field labeling on this forum into typing a large part of your message into the field intended for the subject.  In the future just type a short summary of your post into that field and type the whole message into the field below that.

  • How can i clean up my disk space on my MacBook Pro

    how can i clean up my disk space on my MacBook Pro something  like a disk cleanup on a pc?

    Those things you did on your PC you need not worry about on your Mac. Most is done behind the scenes.
    Kappy's Personal Suggestions About OS X Maintenance
    For disk repairs use Disk Utility.  For situations DU cannot handle the best third-party utilities are: Disk Warrior;  DW only fixes problems with the disk directory, but most disk problems are caused by directory corruption; Disk Warrior 4.x is now Intel Mac compatible. Drive Genius provides additional tools not found in Disk Warrior.  Versions 1.5.1 and later are Intel Mac compatible.
    OS X performs certain maintenance functions that are scheduled to occur on a daily, weekly, or monthly period. The maintenance scripts run in the early AM only if the computer is turned on 24/7 (no sleep.)
    If you are using a pre-Leopard version of OS X, then an excellent solution is to download and install a shareware utility such as Macaroni, JAW PseudoAnacron, or Anacron that will automate the maintenance activity regardless of whether the computer is turned off or asleep.  Dependence upon third-party utilities to run the periodic maintenance scripts was significantly reduced since Tiger.  (These utilities have limited or no functionality with Snow Leopard, Lion, or Mountain Lion and should not be installed.)
    OS X automatically defragments files less than 20 MBs in size, so unless you have a disk full of very large files there's little need for defragmenting the hard drive. As for virus protection there are few if any such animals affecting OS X. You can protect the computer easily using the freeware Open Source virus protection software ClamXAV. Personally I would avoid most commercial anti-virus software because of their potential for causing problems. For more about malware see Macintosh Virus Guide.
    I would also recommend downloading a utility such as TinkerTool System, OnyX 2.4.3, or Cocktail 5.1.1 that you can use for periodic maintenance such as removing old log files and archives, clearing caches, etc.
    For emergency repairs install the freeware utility Applejack.  If you cannot start up in OS X, you may be able to start in single-user mode from which you can run Applejack to do a whole set of repair and maintenance routines from the command line.  Note that AppleJack 1.5 is required for Leopard. AppleJack 1.6 is compatible with Snow Leopard. (There is no confirmation that this version also works with Lion or later.)
    When you install any new system software or updates be sure to repair the hard drive and permissions beforehand. I also recommend booting into safe mode before doing system software updates.
    Get an external Firewire drive at least equal in size to the internal hard drive and make (and maintain) a bootable clone/backup. You can make a bootable clone using the Restore option of Disk Utility. You can also make and maintain clones with good backup software. My personal recommendations are (order is not significant):
      1. Carbon Copy Cloner.
      2. Data Backup
      3. Deja Vu
      4. SuperDuper!
      5. SyncTwoFolders
      6. Synk Pro
      7. Synk Standard
      8. Tri-Backup
    Visit The XLab FAQs and read the FAQs on maintenance, optimization, virus protection, and backup and restore.
    Always have a current backup before performing any system updates or upgrades.
    Additional suggestions will be found in:    
          1. Mac Maintenance Quick Assist,
          2. Mac OS X speed FAQ,
          3. Speeding up Macs,
          4. Macintosh OS X Routine Maintenance,
          5. Essential Mac Maintenance: Get set up,
          6. Essential Mac Maintenance: Rev up your routines,
          7. Maintaining OS X, 
          8. Five Mac maintenance myths,
          9. How to Speed up Macs, and
        10. Myths of required versus not required maintenance for Mac OS X.
    Referenced software can be found at CNet Downloads or MacUpdate.
    Be sure you have an adequate amount of RAM installed for the number of applications you run concurrently. Be sure you leave a minimum of 10% of the hard drive's capacity or 20 GBs, whichever is greater, as free space.

  • I need to do a clean install of maverick on my 2010 mbp what disk do i use and how do i move certain files from an external hard drive

    I want to do a clean install of maverick on my 2010 mbp.  I need to know what disk to use and also how i take certain files off my external hard drive and put on my computer.  When I was having problems with my airport they did a clean install and they pulled files of my time machine.   however they forgot to put the partition back in for a windows side.  Originally I had Parellels on my computer.  After my external hard drive got corrupted i called apple and they fixed the problem but didn't have me set up the time machine except for the external hard drive.  Now my only back up is from the external not from the laptop.    I am not sure how to do any of this.  I am not computer savvy...PLEASE I NEED  HELP>

    First, you need to make a backup of your MBP onto your external drive. I suggest you start by cloning your MBP drive to the external drive:
    Clone Mavericks, Lion/Mountain Lion using Restore Option of Disk Utility
    Boot to the Recovery HD:
    Restart the computer and after the chime press and hold down the COMMAND and R keys until the menu screen appears. Alternatively, restart the computer and after the chime press and hold down the OPTION key until the boot manager screen appears. Select the Recovery HD and click on the downward pointing arrow button.
         1. Select Disk Utility from the main menu then press the Continue
             button.
         2. Select the destination volume from the left side list.
         3. Click on the Restore tab in the DU main window.
         4. Select the destination volume from the left side list and drag it
             to the Destination entry field.
         5. Select the source volume from the left side list and drag it to
             the Source entry field.
         6. Double-check you got it right, then click on the Restore button.
    Destination means the external backup drive. Source means the internal startup drive.
    This clone is fully bootable and also contains a clone of your Recovery HD.
    Second, you need to do a clean install of OS X onto your MBP as follows:
    Install or Reinstall Mavericks or Mountain Lion from Scratch
    Be sure you backup your files to an external drive or second internal drive because the following procedure will remove everything from the hard drive.
    OS X Mavericks- Erase and reinstall OS X
    OS X Mountain Lion- Erase and reinstall OS X
    OS X Lion- Erase and reinstall Mac OS X
    Note: You will need an active Internet connection. I suggest using Ethernet if possible
                because it is three times faster than wireless.
    This should accomplish your goals. You will have a clean install of OS X on your MBP and a bootable clone of your old system and all your files on the external drive.

  • How can I access files from a flash drive that were previously saved using a Windows computer? When I attempt to open the file on MacBook Pro, it is asking to "convert file to"; I also have Microsoft Word installed on the Mac as well.

    How can I access files from a flash drive that were previously saved using a Windows computer? When I attempt to open the file on MacBook Pro, it is asking to "convert file to"; none of the options I choose work. I also have Microsoft Office (with Word) installed on the Mac as well.

    Format the external drive as FAT32 or ExFAT. Both computers will then be able to read and write to it.

Maybe you are looking for