Clean install for the 1st time from Macbook late 2008

Question

Hi all!
I'm doing a clean install for the first time before installing Maverick. I have a Macbook from late 2008, which came  with Leopard, but I always  did an upgrade whenever installing Snow Leopard, Lion or Mountain Lion.
My question is when I do the clean install, the laptop goes back to factory settings, right? Do I need to install all the operating systems or can I go straight to Maverick?
I'mthinking of creating a bootable usb drive with Maverick or should I just install it from the Apple store?
It's my first time erasing the hard drive, I don't want to damage anything, just trying to be extra careful.
Thank you in advance for the help

Answer 1

The hard drive is wiped clean, but the hardware is the same. There is no "factory settings" until you actually install an operating system. In your case it will be Mavericks. Your laptop did not come this way from the factory.
To return to true factory conditions you have to install the OS that came with your computer. I know this seems like nitpicking, but it's better to have the facts straight.
Make Your Own Mavericks, Mountain/Lion Installer
1.  After downloading the installer you must first save the Install Mac OS X application. After the installer downloads DO NOT click on the Install button. Go to your Applications folder and make a copy of the installer. Move the copy into your Downloads folder. Now you can click on the Install button. You must do this because the installer deletes itself automatically when it finishes installing.
2.   Get a USB flash drive that is at least 8 GBs. Prep this flash drive as follows:
         a. Open Disk Utility in your Utilities folder.
          b. After DU loads select your flash drive (this is the entry with the mfgr.'s ID and size) from the leftside list. Click on the Partition tab in the DU main window.
          c. Under the Volume Scheme heading set the number of partitions from the drop down menu to one. Set the format type to Mac OS Extended (Journaled.) Click on the Options button, set the partition scheme to GUID then click on the OK button. Click on the Partition button and wait until the process has completed.
          d. Select the volume you just created (this is the sub-entry under the drive entry) from the left side list. Click on the Erase tab in the DU main window.
          e. Set the format type to Mac OS Extended (Journaled.) Click on the Options button, check the button for Zero Data and click on OK to return to the Erase window.
          f. Click on the Erase button. The format process can take up to an hour depending upon the flash drive size.
3.          Use Lion DiskMaker 3.0 or DiskMaker X to put your installer clone onto the USB flash drive.
Make your own Mavericks flash drive installer using the Mavericks tool:
You can also create a Mavericks flash drive installer via the Terminal. Mavericks has its own built-in installer maker you use via the Terminal:
You will need a freshly partitioned and formatted USB flash drive with at least 8GBs. Leave the name of the flash drive at the system default, "Untitled." Do not change this name. Open the Terminal in the Utilities folder. Copy this command line after the prompt in the Terminal's window:
sudo /Applications/Install\ OS\ X\ Mavericks.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia --volume /Volumes/Untitled --applicationpath /Applications/Install\ OS\ X\ Mavericks.app --nointeraction
Press RETURN. Enter your admin password when prompted. It will not be echoed to the screen so be careful to enter it correctly. Press RETURN, again.
Wait for the process to complete which will take quite some time.