How do you do a  Clean install lion

How do you do a clean install of lion? My iMac is 8 yr old and has gotten sluggish. At one point it was suggested that I might want to do a clean install but no one ever told me how to do that since we don't have a disk!

Assuming you already have Lion installed, boot into Recovery Mode (Command-R). From there you can reinstall Lion. Note, however, that a clean install means you first erase the drive you want to do the clean install on, and unless you have a complete backup of everything that's currently on it, you'll lose it all; the clean install will leave you with a fresh operating system but nothing else. To get it all back, make that external clone, then when the clean install is finished on the internal, Setup Assitant will run and you can point it at the external clone to get all your stuff back.

Similar Messages

  • HT1338 how do you perform a clean install for imac

    How to perform a clean install for imac, because I cannot upgrade to version 10.6?

    Here are the technical requirements for Snow Leopard:
    http://support.apple.com/kb/sp575
    If your iMac meets the requirements, then you will have to purchase the Snow Leopard disk from apple:
    http://store.apple.com/us/product/MC573/mac-os-x-106-snow-leopard
    To reinstall your OS, insert the original OS disk that came with your iMac and start up the iMac holding the C key.  Start the installation process and when you see the menu bar, select 'Utilities'. From the drop down menu, select Disk Utility.  Erase the HDD and the continue the installation.
    Note that this will erase all data on the HDD so have it backed up before you start.
    Ciao.

  • How do you do a clean install of adobe air for Lion

    I have deleted the adobe air files but when I try and re install I get the message that adobe air is already installed. I am trying to download BBC iplayer and i think this adobe air file is corrupted
    Is there a code I can use or a link to adobe air uninstaller for mac
    any assistance would be appreciated, thanks.

    try switching off automatic graphics switching, in energy saver (system preferences) and try again. you can switch it back on again after the install.

  • 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 do I do a clean install of Mountain Lion?

    I already have Mac OS X Mountain Lion on my MacBook Pro A1126, but how can I do a clean install on it? Do I have to buy a installation disc or from Mac App Store?
    Thanks in advance!

    I differentiate between a 'clean' installation and a 'fresh' installation by this meaning: a 'clean' installation means that you're going to erase the boot drive and 'cleanly' install everything, including OS X anew, whereas, for me, a 'fresh' installation means only that you're NOT going to erase the entire drive, but only install a 'fresh' version of OS X.
    So which do you wish to do?
    Either way, you should just be able to boot into your Recovery partition (hold down the command and R keys whilst booting) and then either install a 'fresh' version of OS X, or erase the contents of the drive, using Disk Utility, and do a 'clean' install of OS X.
    Mountain Lion does not come on a disc - you should have purchased it via the App Store and you may need your Apple ID to install again from the Recovery partition.
    Does that help?

  • How do I do a clean install from Lion download

    how do I do a clean install from Lion download ?
    My old tower will only stretch to Lion which I have had to download and installed it following the instructions.
    My local Applestore genius has told me to do a clean install but I don't have or can't find a copy of the Lion osX to use.
    Applegadge

    Welcome to the Apple Support Communities
    If you are already using OS X Lion, use OS X Recovery to reinstall OS X and erase the disk. See > http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4718
    Follow these steps:
    1. Make a backup of the data you don't want to lose after erasing the hard disk.
    2. Start your computer holding Command and R keys to start in OS X Recovery, and open Disk Utility.
    3. Choose "Macintosh HD" or the OS X partition in the sidebar, go to the Erase tab and erase the disk.
    4. Close Disk Utility and reinstall OS X

  • 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.

  • How do I do a clean install of iTunes ?

    how do I do a clean install of iTunes ?
    One of the guys at apple support suggested I do this after I upgraded itunes - now it shuts itself down after 2 seconds !!!
    When is apple going to fix this ?

    Is there something Apple needs to fix? While you and a handful of other people are having problems there are  millions of others who do not come here and post simply because they are not having problems.  Given the complexity of computers there is likely some small file that is not being installed properly or there is something else you have installed that is conflicting with other software, or your computer file management is having problems and something is not where it should be.
    First, I would check if it is really a problem with the application. You do not provide details on what is happening so it is hard to help.  Try starting itunes in Safe Mode:
    iTunes Safe Mode - http://hints.macworld.com/article.php?story=20090915214613484
    iTunes: Troubleshooting issues with third-party iTunes plug-ins - http://support.apple.com/kb/TS3430 - hold down the Option and Command keys (on Mac OS X) or holding down the Shift and Control keys (on Windows) while opening iTunes
    If that doesn't help (short-term), restart normally but hold down the option key and make a new, blank library.  If itunes starts that way then you have a corrupt library file and it will need to be rebuilt (more information later if that is indeed the issue).
    If you're determined to reinstall itunes, I don't know if this works with Lion since I believe they really tied itunes into the operating system rather than leaving it as an independent application, but try dragging the iTunes application in your Application folder to the trash, then empty the trash.  Back up your computer before installing any new software.  If the update does something you don't like this is the only way to revert.
    Verify your hard drive with Disk Utility's First Aid.  If it reports problems then that has to be dealt with before you do anything else.
    Use Disk Utility to repair permissions.
    Download the update from Apple.  Some of us don't use Software Update to actually update, just so we know the installer file is safe and sound on our computers for use.
    Install the update.
    Repair permissions again.
    Restart your computer.
    There are also preferences files that could be the issue. Those are hidden from you in Lion and again, it's a separate post on how to deal with those.

  • Clean install lion when already on Lion?

    How do I clean install lion when i'm already on lion?

    Your best bet would be to create a Lion Boot Disc which is actually quite easy with the OS X Lion installer and Disk Utility.  The problem is that since your are already running Lion, I don't think it will allow you to re-download it to make the boot disc.  One option would be to clean install Snow Leopard, download the OS X Lion installer from the Mac App Store and make the boot disc.  It would be easier to use another computer that already has Snow Leopard installed and fully updated to make the boot disc.  All you would have to do is sign into the App Store on the other computer and Lion should be under purchased, just don't forget to log out if the other computer is not your own.  Regardless, here are the instructions on making a Lion Boot Disc:
    Performing a clean install of Lion is easy once you create a Lion Boot Disc.  How do I create a Lion Boot Disc, you ask?  That's easy too! Just follow these instructions:  http://www.macrumors.com/2011/07/18/make-an-os-x-lion-boot-disc/
    The fact is that the Lion installer is packaged around a bootable disk image that can easily be burned to a standard 4.7GB DVD.  With the boot disk you can run disk utility to erase your Mac, and then clean install just like you could with every other version of Mac OS X.  Just don't forget to backup all your data!!! 

  • Clean installing Lion- have some questions.

    I'm gonna clean install Lion on my macbook pro and have some questions regarding the same...
    should I update to 10.7.2 and then clean install or will i have to update again anyway after a clean install?
    is it true that downloading mac app store apps again from the app's page reincurrs the charges?
    any best/worst practices i should consider while reinstalling Lion? I'm gonna perform a clean install.
    most important... how do i initiate a clean install?!
    Thanks for your time, in advance.
    Neerav

    Thank you, that definitely suggests that it isn't actually doing anything useful!
    I switched it off, cleared the PRAM and re-formatted the drive unencrypted (I found the option, it was in the dropdown for filesystem).
    That appears to have been the issue, as the download and install immediately identified the disc name, which it wasn't doing before. Guess it was having an issue with my encrypted drive. I guess it's handy I'm not a secret agent or an political dissident I shall run unencrypted...

  • How do I do a Clean install of Tiger and Classic?

    My G4 came with Jaguar. OS 9 was part of the complete installation, that you could install or choose not to install. My computer has been having a lot of issues lately and I think that a clean install would be a good idea, especially, since I used an upgrade to install Panther and then installed Tiger on top of Panther. I want to install classic and Tiger. How do I do this properly? Thanks

    I plan to back up my personal files and any
    downloaded software I have.
    Amazing that. You've told us that numerous times, but
    you've failed to provide us with information on
    HOW you're going to do this. That is, please
    explain WHAT you're using for the backup and
    WHERE you're planning on using to store the
    backup.
    All Power Macs come with the capability of burning CD's today. Mine can also burn DVD's, so backing up MY files is NOT a problem. I just can't clone my whole drive. Now, I'm not sure how this is pertinent in answering my question about how to properly do a clean install of Tiger and be able to install Classic. My son however, just told me he thinks that all I need to do is to clean-install Tiger. Then, insert the installation CD with classic on it that came with my computer. Find the invisible file, which is a disk image and drag the contents of the disk image to my computer. If anyone can tell me if this is correct, I would appreciate it.

  • Clean Install Lion Dsik Mount Problem - "(Illegal Seek)"

    I'm trying to create a bootable USB so I can clean install Lion on my mac. However, when I try and burn the .dmg file onto my USB I get an error message along the lines of "Unable to create "installesd.dmg - (Illegal seek)".
    The USB (4GB) is Mac formatted. I have tried using my Mac formatted iPod (60GB) as well but that doesn't work either.
    Does anyone have any ideas?
    Thanks

    Hi Arun, have you migrated any data into your clean Lion installation yet? I'm curious to learn about the startup speed of such a clean installation.
    While i simply updated from Snow Leopard i'm experiencing a significantly slowed-down startup. I wonder whether it's worth to start from scratch and first update to Lion and then manually install all my applications and data.
    Thank you.

  • How do you run Server Assistant on Lion?

    Hi, all,
    I am trying to migrate from a 10.5.8 server to a new Mini running Lion Server and I'm unable to complete the migration as described in the documentation. There have been other threads covering this issue but I can't find a clear answer.
    To explain further: I have installed Lion and the Server app from the app store but deferred the migration from the previous server. I am now trying the migration and on page 26 of this document:
    http://images.apple.com/macosx/server/docs/Upgrading_and_Migrating_v10.7.pdf
    it states:
    3  If this is a new server with Lion Server already installed, proceed to Server Assistant instructions in step 8.
    4  On the server you are going to install Lion Server on, open the App Store, find Mac OS X Lion, and install it.
    7 Click Install.
    During installation, progress information appears.
    After the installation is complete, the computer restarts and Server Assistant opens so you can perform initial setup.
    8 Move through the assistant’s panes, following the onscreen instructions.
    In the Transfer Existing Mac Server pane, select “Transfer the information from an existing Mac server” and click Continue.
    However, there seems to be no way to launch anything called 'Server Assistant'. I've looked around inside Server.app and Server Admin.app and can't find anything. The documentation for Snow Leopard server says it is in System > Library > Core services but it isn't there on Lion.
    It is tempting to try using the Migration Assistant but there are dark warnings in the Snow Leopard documentation about this resulting in data loss.
    Anyone out there know a solution to this one? Any help gratefully received.
    Gordon.

    This is how i fixed it:
    Shut down.
    Hold 'command + S' to boot into single user mode
    type exactly as is below
    mount -uw /
    rm /var/db/.AppleSetupDone
    rm /var/db/.ServerSetupDone
    reboot
    once the machine reboots it will allow you to go through the Server setup Assitant process.

  • Clean install Lion and CS5.5 resulting in some programs in 5.1 version

    I've formatted my drive and clean installed Lion (without 10.6 first) and directly Adobe Creative Suite 5.5.
    But the stange thing is that some versions are not 5.5 but 5.1.
    These are Bridge, Contribute, Encore, Fireworks, Illustrator, Onlocation and Photoshop!
    What could be happened, but better.... how to solve this so I have my 5.5 versions.
    Tnx

    This is correct. No all applications were upgraded to 5.5.
    There's nothing wrong at all.
    Bob

  • Remove Data & Clean Install Lion

    Hi folks
    I recently received a replacement iMac from Apple Care, when it arrived it had the wrong configuration but I did not discover this until after I had migrated all my data back. I am getting ready to return this to Apple and I am wanting to remove all my data and clean install Lion before I return it.
    What is the best way to make sure all my data has been removed and re-install Lion (it came installed with Lion). Sorry if this has already been asked but just want to make sure my data has been wiped.
    Thanks

    Restart, holding down the CMD+R keys, select Disk Utility, and erase the HD, then select zero out data. When finished, reinstall Lion. This assumes that you've backed up your data to an external HD so you can restore it when the new machine arrives.

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